Podcast appearances and mentions of sue chetwin

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 29th of May 2025, The Reserve Bank cut the OCR by 25 basis points, ASB bank Chief Economist Nick Tuffley shares his thoughts. International student numbers are down in Secondary schools and for vocational training, Minister for vocational education Penny Simmonds tells Ryan Bridge what the Government's doing to help. The New Zealand Initiative has come up with a plan to bring competition to the grocery sector, Sue Chetwin from the Grocery Action Group shares her thoughts. Plus US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on the US government halting international student Visa appointments. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Grocery Action Group is unconvinced by a proposal to rapidly add competition to the grocery sector. The New Zealand Initiative wants the Government to introduce a "fast track pathway" to allow new entrants to enter the market, rather than forcing any break-up of the existing supermarket companies. It includes streamlining rezoning, consenting and investment clearance processes. The group's Sue Chetwin told Ryan Bridge it's more of a nice to have. She says to get more competitors, the government will need to force existing supermarkets to give up some of their stores. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're going a little bit back to the future today because the annual report card into the grocery industry came out yesterday, and we were overrun with health talk. So we'll go back to that report and look at the ramifications for the industry, for the suppliers, and for us, the consumers.   So according to the report, we are paying higher prices, specials are confusing, and loyalty schemes aren't delivering overly significant rewards. Paying $10,500 for a glass container isn't really enough in terms of loyalty (if you're collecting the stickers from New World, you'll know what I mean). According to the ComCom's first annual grocery report all major supermarkets experienced an increase in price cost margins, which means retail prices were increasing faster than the cost of the goods. Those wanting to enter the market are not finding it easy. Despite 150,000 members signing up to Costco by March, Costco still suffered a $20 million loss. Restrictive land covenants were hampering new entry for new players and existing ones. The Commission has already prosecuted Foodstuffs North Island for historical abuses, grabbing land and holding on to it so nobody else can build there.   We also saw alternative grocery shopping places like Huckleberry shut down – that's been around forever and that's been placed into liquidation. Online retailer Supie failed, Bin Inn closed 5 stores, so it's tough, it's a tough market out there. And it's tough for Foodstuffs and Woolworths too, I'm sure. They've had to pay increased costs, and security guards, and thefts and the like, it has not been easy for them. They've had to look after their staff, who face relentless barrages of abuse, and probably this report card won't help.   So, it's not an easy industry to be in right now. It's a much, much tougher one to get into if you want to. While the number of covenants around land had decreased, the Commission has expressed concern at the more than 100 properties currently owned by major retailers that are not being used for stores, with no immediate plans to put a supermarket there. The Commissioner said, well, yes, I suppose some of these properties could be used for car parks or storage, but they certainly included potential expansion sites when properties held for more than 20 years were considered. Sue Chetwin from the Grocery Action Group, told Ryan Bridge on Early Edition that the government needs to show its teeth if we want to see any significant change to the market.   “All of the rules that they've put in place, all very well meaning, but have not worked. They have really just tinkered around the edge, so unless you make some structural change to encourage competition or to allow competition to happen, then we're just going to get more of the same.”  Yeah, and that's the thing. There was a Commerce Commission report, there were some prosecutions, the duopoly of Foodstuffs and Woolworths were put on notice, and nothing happened. If anything, it's got slightly worse. So the government is interested in turning up the heat, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says he plans to seek advice on the sites currently being land banked, alongside broader regulatory reviews that could lead to potential change, including the Overseas Investment Act and the Fair Trading Act.   What about the concerns of suppliers? We've looked at consumers and said, yep, you're paying more than you need to for food, even taking into account seasonal fluctuations, even taking into account everything's more expensive, what the report says is that the increase in price cost margins has given them a greater profit than they needed to have. The report says a monthly index of suppliers prices produced by Informetrics for Foodstuffs North Island and pumped out to the media —in fact it was referred to in the press release following the release of the ComCom report yesterday— has consistently failed to include the impact of so-called trade spend, the impact of rebates, discounts, and payments that run to billions of dollars annually on the prices supermarkets actually pay to their suppliers. The report stopped short of calling this lying, Business Desk said let's settle for embarrassing.   So what does this all mean? We are a very small country. We're not even as big as most cities in the United States, so anybody who's interested in coming here from overseas has to know that they'll make a profit. Even if the government arranged for a prime piece of real estate in the middle of Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, and earmarked it for an overseas player and said come, haere mai, haere mai, this land is yours, put your supermarket up there, fill your boots. I'm not entirely sure they'd make a profit. It's a huge investment. It's a huge investment in building up relationships that cannot happen overnight with suppliers. It takes time, and the reason that Foodstuffs and Woolworths are so successful is that they are old companies. They're very old. Certainly with Foodstuffs when you trace their whakapa back, they are part of the landscape back to the 60s. So this has taken time to build, to get into this position of strength. And while there might be huge players overseas, they don't have that network of contacts, that history, that the others do here. It's got to be worth their while. They've got to know that they're going to make money if they up sticks and invest here. How likely is that?   Is there any real likelihood of a third player? What's it going to take to get real competition? Is it going to take a coalition government that really doesn't like regulation? Are they going to have to swallow a dead mouse and say we'll have to regulate this industry because they're not doing it themselves?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Grocery Action Group wants more regulation in our supermarket sector.   The Commerce Commission's first annual report on grocery shows competition has not meaningfully improved.  Foodstuffs and Woolworths could now face hefty fines for failing to treat small suppliers fairly or breaking a new wholesaler code.  Group lead Sue Chetwin told Ryan Bridge we need structural change to split up this big duopoly.  She says the Government has to bite the metal here and say we need more regulation to address the state of the industry.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A consumer advocate's vowing to hold the Grocery Commissioner's feet to the fire on a shakeup to the supermarket duopoly.  A new lobby group's being formed, driven by the former Consumer New Zealand Chief Executive, Sue Chetwin.  It comes after struggles with The Warehouse supply of Weetbix and the fall of potential third player, Supie.  Chetwin wants to see action happening faster, telling Tim Dower that the Commerce Commission's found we aren't being treated fairly when we shop at the supermarket.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A woman who had her bowel removed while she waited for drugs that may have stopped that happening hopes the Pharmac review will lead to change. A review into the government drug buying agency has recommended 33 changes to make it more transparent, more patient focused and more equitable. Jessica Port was referenced by the review chair Sue Chetwin in her opening remarks as a woman whose courage took her breath away. She has the painful bowel condition, Crohns disease and was denied funding for a drug that's funded in 35 other countries. She told health correspondent Rowan Quinn that even when she met with Pharmac, she felt they never listened.

The days of the independent republic of Pharmac are over, says Health Minister Andrew Little. The Minister was commenting on a new report into the drug-buying agency which found it has contributed to health inequities. The independent panel found Pharmac's model delivered significant benefits, but Maori, Pacific people, disabled people, and those with rare disorders were missing out. Panel chair Sue Chetwin spoke to Corin Dann.

The final review of Pharmac has found people with rare disorders, Māori and Pacifica are being failed by our drug buying agency.  While we secure drugs at some of the best prices possible, the review says the current model does not take into account new medicines. The Government has accepted the vast majority of the recommendations.  Sue Chetwin, chair of the Pharmac Review Panel, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE 

The drug-buyer Pharmac has been heavily criticised in an interim report into the agency, released on Thursday. The review, led by former Consumer chief executive Sue Chetwin, said the high-profile agency is under-performing in helping to remove inequitable health outcomes. There was an excessive focus on cost control, decisionmaking was opaque and slow, and many believed New Zealand was falling behind in terms of the medicines that are funded. Pharmac chief executive Sarah Fitt spoke to Susie Ferguson.

Pharmac is potentially a good model, but there are issues. A panel reviewing the drug buying agency has released its interim report on its operation. Review chair Sue Chetwin says told Heather du Plessis-Allan Pharmac's under increasing challenges from consumers, patient advocates and clinicians.  She said the big concerns are mostly the same from everyone.  They're all around access to medicine, the timing of medicines, the transparency of how Pharmac actually operates and, very importantly, equity issues.” A final report is due at the end of February, with recommendations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac is potentially a good model, but there are issues. A panel reviewing the drug buying agency has released its interim report on its operation. Review chair Sue Chetwin says told Heather du Plessis-Allan Pharmac's under increasing challenges from consumers, patient advocates and clinicians.  She said the big concerns are mostly the same from everyone.  They're all around access to medicine, the timing of medicines, the transparency of how Pharmac actually operates and, very importantly, equity issues.” A final report is due at the end of February, with recommendations. LISTEN ABOVE 

The drug-buyer Pharmac has been heavily criticised in an interim report into the agency, released on Thursday. The review, led by former Consumer chief executive Sue Chetwin, said the high-profile agency is under-performing in helping to remove inequitable health outcomes. There was an excessive focus on cost control, decisionmaking was opaque and slow, and many believed New Zealand was falling behind in terms of the medicines that are funded. Pharmac chief executive Sarah Fitt spoke to Susie Ferguson.

A review of the Government's drug buyer Pharmac will focus on the timeliness and transparency of its decisions.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister Andrew Little announced the independent review's terms of reference at Parliament today.The Pharmac review will focus on two areas:how well Pharmac performs against its current objectives and whether this could be improvedwhether Pharmac's current objectives maximise its potential to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders as part of the wider health system and whether these objectives should be changed.It will also consider factors including:the timeliness of Pharmac's decision makingthe transparency and accessibility of its decision makingequity - including access to medicines and devices for Māori and Pacific peoples.The independent review panel will be chaired by the former Consumer chief executive Sue Chetwin and will include corporate governance consultant Frank McLaughlin, experienced health and governance expert Heather Simpson, pharmacist prescriber Leanne Te Karu, preventative and social medicine professor Sue Crengle and disability advocate Dr Tristram Ingham.The review is intended to run until the end of the year with an interim report in August and a final report in December."I expect that the review committee will decide its own consultation process but that it will include at a minimum the appropriate input from consumers, Māori, Pacific peoples, clinicians and industry," Little said.The budget for the review is expected to be between $1.5 and $2 million.Ardern said the review would help New Zealanders have confidence in the system.Ardern said broadly the Pharmac model worked well but they'd heard concerns about the model and the Government believed there was scope to improve it."Pharmac is a model that's critically important to the health sector and viewed as world leading - but let's make it better if we can."Little said concerns raised about the drug-buying agency included access to new medicines, timeliness of decision making and its priorities."In addition there have been concerns about the safety of substituting medicines due to cost and availability, and access to products that are funded in other countries but not here in New Zealand."Nearly 4 million New Zealanders received medicines procured by the drug agency.The review was committed to by Ardern during an election debate with National leader Judith Collins who also promised to review the agency if elected.Ardern said when asked if Labour would commit to a review, she said: "If it gives people faith in our system, then yes."Newsroom reported this morning the review will investigate how the government drug-buying agency can better respond to specific government health priorities relating to emerging drugs and more.In 2019 the Health Select Committee voted against a politician-led inquiry into the agency. The National Party said it appeared Labour only committed to the independent review when it was "politically palatable".Little confirmed the Government was planning an independent inquiry into Pharmac and that Labour just didn't support it being led by politicians on the Health Select Committee.Little said they wanted it to be independent and considered it "inappropriate" for MPs to do it."It needs to be at arm's length from politicians. It's not right for politicians making political judgments about Pharmac and its decisions."There are high-level policy decisions but it is better that they are reviewed at arm's length and independently," he said last year.He said work is under way to establish terms of reference and an appropriate review body. 

Former CEO of Consumer Sue Chetwin has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to consumer rights. 

The Cancer Society says it is in dispute with Consumer NZ over conflicting results on the rating of one of its sunscreen productsThe dispute is over the SPF (sun protection factor) rating of one of what the society says is one of its most important sunscreens - SPF 50+ Kids Pure sunscreen.The Cancer Society says it is in a dispute with Consumer NZ over testing of SPF 50+ Kids Pure sunscreen.Cancer Society Chief Executive, Mike Kernaghan told Kate Hawkesby after initial testing they were told the sunscreen didn't meet the requirements. "We were advised just prior to Christmas, that our Kids SPF 50+ Pure sunscreen had not met the SPF 50 claim on the label and that they had returned an SPF of 41.""In an effort to resolve the matter, the Cancer Society asked Consumer NZ to join it in having the product tested in a mutually agreed laboratory totally independent of either organisation," the society said in a written statement."Consumer NZ declined, saying an additional test on the Cancer Society's product would be unfair to other companies."The Cancer Society then carried out the test which came back with a result of SPF 60, which meets the requirements for the claim of 50+. However, Consumer NZ said they would still be printing the initial report saying the sunscreen didn't meet the requirements."On engaging with Consumer NZ last week when we had a meeting with them, they still maintain they were going to print the report saying that we had failed to meet the claim on the label. So we were a bit disappointed with Consumer NZ."  Kernaghan said he couldn't comment on how the first and second tests differed, but said they believe the product may have been compromised."In the consumer test, the product was decanted into another container  here in New Zealand prior to transportation to Australia for testing.""We maintain that has the potential to compromise the effectiveness of the product, because our sunscreen is manufactured in Australia where it is classed as a medicine, and the containers of sunscreen are specifically designed to ensure the sunscreen maintains its effectiveness over a three year period.""We are saying that if it does go into another container it has the potential to compromise it."He said Consumer NZ's response to the request for further testing was "disappointing"."I would have thought it was in everyone's best interest to make sure that our sunscreen does meet the claim on the label." Earlier, Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin said its test of the Cancer Society's Kids Pure Low Irritant Sun Lotion SPF50+ showed it provided high protection (SPF41), but not the very high protection claimed.Chetwin said the Cancer Society product was tested by an accredited lab and was a 10-person test carried out according to the voluntary Australian and New Zealand sunscreen standard (AS/NZS 2604:2012)."We provided the opportunity for the Cancer Society to send us its own test results for the product. It provided results for a three-person test, not the full 10-subject test we'd expect given the difference we found in the product's SPF."Chetwin rejected the Cancer Society's claim that Consumer NZ's results were compromised by the fact it decanted the sunscreen into a light-proof container before sending the sample to the lab."It's common for samples to be sent blind in this way and the sunscreen was packed according to the lab's instructions," she said."Rather than attacking us, we suggest the Cancer Society put its resources into its own sunscreen testing programme

Anyone who has listened to this programme this year will know they I have been calling for an inquiry into our banking and insurance industryThere have been a number of shows where we have looked at what consumers have been presented with, what they been denied, what they felt like they have been pressured into. We have seen the banks maintain particularly healthy profits. We have heard how they have linked their instruments meaning that for most customers to get one service you need to get another offered through the same organisation. We have heard accusations of double dipping.We have also heard allegations of bank and insurance offers being under pressure to upsell, even if it’s not in the customer's interest.And on top of it all was the shock I heard from callers when I told them that the bulk of the industry is self-regulating. The Insurance Ombudsman is funded by the industry and so the insinuation is always that the poacher is also the gamekeeperThe backdrop to these stories has been the Royal Commission of inquiry into the bank and insurance companies in Australia. Many of the companies investigated there own the companies here and again the insinuation is what would the banks here perform any differently to their parent companies across the ditch.So now Consumer NZ has joined the call for greater monitoring of banks and insurance companies, claiming Kiwis are being sold products they do not need by companies that are facing a Royal Commission in Australia.Yesterday Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin told the finance and expenditure select committee looking into the need for an inquiry that while the New Zealand financial institutions continue to maintain the Aussie problems are not here that’s exactly what the Australian banks said before the inquiry which uncovered bribery and fraud.Now I have never said that the banks are dodgy, but I have said where is the harm in having a look.I have plenty of correspondence from people in the industry suggesting that the amount of self-regulation in the finance industry is a worry. Not just for consumers but also for the reputational risk to the industry.When Chris Hipkins failed to turn up in the house yesterday with emails from the Prime Minister to Derek Handley that is actually a worse look than turning up with emails. We can now imagine that there are emails and we can also imagine them to be very bad.If there’s smoke around everyone wants to find out if there’s a fire. At the moment there appears to be a lot of smoke around the country on a lot of fronts.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to handle the notorious Boxing Day sales. Hosted by Frances Cook.Everyone loves to grab a bargain, but the problem is that shops know that.We're in an expensive time of year, but once you've cleared up the barbeque and polished off the Christmas cake, many people will then turn their attention to spending all of that Christmas money on the Boxing Day sales.Boxing Day is one of the most heavily discounted days of the year for New Zealand.It's also a top day for spending, but what really brings the craziness, is that people all turn up at once, right at the beginning of the day. Nobody wants to be the schmuck who only just misses out on the last of the heavily discounted stock.But in all the excitement, it's easy to lose your head. If you buy rubbish you don't need, it doesn't matter how good the bargain was. It's still rubbish you didn't need.I called up Sue Chetwin, chief executive of Consumer NZ, to find out how can you take advantage of the sales without the shops taking advantage of you.We talked about how to create a strategy for what you need, avoiding losing your head in the excitement, and the way to make sure you don't end up hating your loved ones.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have any questions about this podcast, or something you'd like me to look into in the future, get in touch. You can find me on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook . 

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to handle the notorious Boxing Day sales. Hosted by Frances Cook.Everyone loves to grab a bargain, but the problem is that shops know that.We're in an expensive time of year, but once you've cleared up the barbeque and polished off the Christmas cake, many people will then turn their attention to spending all of that Christmas money on the Boxing Day sales.Boxing Day is one of the most heavily discounted days of the year for New Zealand.It's also a top day for spending, but what really brings the craziness, is that people all turn up at once, right at the beginning of the day. Nobody wants to be the schmuck who only just misses out on the last of the heavily discounted stock.But in all the excitement, it's easy to lose your head. If you buy rubbish you don't need, it doesn't matter how good the bargain was. It's still rubbish you didn't need.I called up Sue Chetwin, chief executive of Consumer NZ, to find out how can you take advantage of the sales without the shops taking advantage of you.We talked about how to create a strategy for what you need, avoiding losing your head in the excitement, and the way to make sure you don't end up hating your loved ones.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have any questions about this podcast, or something you'd like me to look into in the future, get in touch. You can find me on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook . 

Richard Green speaks to Sue Chetwin from Consumer NZ about their Bad Taste Award winners for this year.

Richard Green speaks to Sue Chetwin from Consumer NZ about their Bad Taste Award winners for this year.

Wireless Watchdog Investigates The Tannery, Wilson’s Parking & What does Article 50 mean, and why are Scotland so disgruntled? Synopsis: Wireless Watchdog investigates The Tannery and their gift voucher scheme – Kenny talks to Sue Chetwin, CEO of Consumer NZ about this, Wilson’s Parking – can they really fine you? Then later, Wireless Watchdog looks […]

Redcliffs are REDDY to Return & Ticketing Fees from Ticketek Synopsis: Kenny speaks with Rose McInerney and Mark Robberds from Redcliffs School about keeping the school open. Kenny also speaks with Sue Chetwin, CEO of Consumer NZ about ticketing fees. Guests: Rose McInerney, Mark Robberds, Sue Chetwin

Unredeemed gift vouchers, perpetual sales, Dick Smith going into voluntary receivership, Trade Me putting its fees up. Professor of Law at Canterbury University Duncan Webb, and Chief Executive of Consumer New Zealand Sue Chetwin discuss summer consumer issues.