When the Facts Change

Going up after digging down

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Billions has been spent on the construction of Auckland’s City Rail Link, largely at the cost of taxpayers and ratepayers. The current Auckland council zoning rules, however, prevent the building of high-rise residential and commercial buildings at Mt Eden, Kingsland and Morningside stations. Sooner or later, something has got to give.

CBRE director of residential research Tamba Carleton joins Bernard Hickey to discuss the need for Auckland to grow up, and grow upwards, in order to make the most of it’s brand new tunnel.

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To cut or not to cut?

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 17:00:00 -0000

The Reserve Bank gets another chance to cut interest rates next week. So far 2025 has seen the RBNZ make three consecutive cuts to the official cash rate, which was widely expected by economists up and down the country. But next week, for the first time this year, there’s doubt.

Kiwibank economist Sabrina Delgado joins Bernard Hickey to assess our central bank’s options leading into next week’s monetary policy statement.

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Post Covid hybrid work

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Many bosses now want their workers back in the office full time, but for a while in the immediate aftermath of Covid, workers had the power to demand the flexibility to stay home. Now the jobs market has sagged, the balance has shifted and a new hybrid way of working is becoming more common. Bernard Hickey speaks on this week’s When The Facts Change with Robert Half NZ MD Megan Alexander about these trends, including those younger workers who prefer a nice open plan office to a pokey, mouldy flat.

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How big do we want to be?

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:00:00 -0000

It’s no secret that Aotearoa is facing a range of monumental infrastructure challenges — much has been made lately of the state of our water pipes, ferries, railways and roads. Successive generations of decision makers have kicked the infrastructure maintenance can down the road, and now we are facing a huge bill if we want to keep pace with our growing population.

Infrastructure NZ chief executive Nick Leggett joins Bernard Hickey to discuss the scale of the infrastructure challenge facing New Zealand, and how overseas countries have approached similar issues.

Ultimately, it all comes down to one key question: how big do we want our population to be in the future?

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An abundance of energy

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 17:00:00 -0000

‘Abundance’ is the hottest word in the political economy right now all around the world. A book by Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein called ‘Abundance: How we build a better future’ argues the centre-left should adopt urbanisation and electrification as central aims to improve affordability of housing and transport, rather than framing emissions reduction as an expensive and painful necessity that the right has successfully weaponised into electoral suicide. This week on When The Facts Change, Bernard Hickey talks to Rewiring Aotearoa about what could be done right now to electrify our transport fleet and the cost of living savings within our grasp.

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Dissension in the RBNZ ranks

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:00:00 -0000

The Reserve Bank cut the Official Cash Rate this week, as expected, but one of the six members of the bank’s rate setting committee voted to hold the OCR. That surprised markets and pushed up the wholesale interest rates that drive fixed mortgage rates. Bernard Hickey speaks with Kiwibank’s Mary Jo Vergara about a very uncertain outlook for rates in the wake of Donald Trump’s Liberation Day shock.

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Budget special: When The Facts Change x Gone By Lunchtime

Thu, 22 May 2025 05:27:00 -0000

In the year of growth, Nicola Willis has presented a growth budget. But does the Investment Boost initiative, which speeds up depreciation for businesses, promise the kind of growth that the economy needs? In this special Spinoff pod for budget day, Toby Manhire asks Bernard Hickey for his take on the headline changes, and whether or not David Seymour’s earlier commentary that his colleague Brooke van Velden had “saved the budget” through its controversial and hurried changes to the pay equiry scheme, has been proven true. Plus: what are the cumulative impacts of the changes to KiwiSaver and Best Start, as compared to the SuperGold cohort? And how much did the global political and economic volatility influence the documents published today?

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Let the Budget battles commence

Thu, 15 May 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Fresh off a pre-Budget speech that took aim at the recent changes to pay equity, Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins joins Bernard Hickey to discuss the government’s plans to cut $4.4 billion of spending over the next four years. What are the potential downsides of Nicola Willis’ austerity approach to budget management? What other types of debt might we be accruing without realising it? Listen in to find out.

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Warmer, drier - and cheaper in the long run

Thu, 08 May 2025 17:00:00 -0000

In 2010, the NZ Green Building Council introduced the Homestar sustainability certification, a framework that aims to allow designers, architects and builders to build better, more environmentally friendly, energy efficient housing. The upfront cost of building to the Homestar certification can be more, but the potential savings over time - not to mention the quality of life improvements - are significant.

Brad Olsen from Infometrics, an economic consultancy that has just published a detailed report on the Homestar certification, joins Bernard Hickey to dig into the broad range of benefits of Homestar-rated housing, for both the planet and the back pocket.

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Housing market psychology 101

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:00:00 -0000

This week, Bernard Hickey dives into the psychology of the housing market and talks to realestate.co.nz CEO Sarah Wood about why so many home sellers are holding on and simply not selling, rather than lowering their price to “meet the market” and “clear the market” in a way other markets do when there’s too much supply and not enough demand.

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How do we create the ‘2degrees Effect’ for supermarkets, banking and electricity?

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:51:00 -0000

More than half of consumer spending is dominated one way or another by a collection of monopolies, duopolies and quadropolies that generate higher prices and profits than would be normal if there was true and tough competition, as a myriad of market studies and inquiries have found for supermarkets, fuel retailing, building materials, electricity, banking, insurance and real estate agencies. Twenty years of finger-wagging and report writing has failed in all of these sectors, except for telecommunications, where an aggressive breakup of a monopoly (Telecom) and regulation of number portability and interchange fees, along with the arrival of third competitor in 2degrees, sparked a flourishing of competition and ever-lower prices for ever-more data. The Reserve Bank called it the “2degrees Effect” in creating deflation for a significant part of the economy.

Bernard Hickey talks to Monopoly Watch spokesman and one of the founders of 2degrees, Tex Edwards, about how to create the “2degrees Effect” for supermarkets, banking and electricity.

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An AI-powered startup

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey talks to the co-founders of Christchurch-based AI start-up, Contented. Lucy Pink and Hannah Hardy-Jones tell their story from meeting over coffee and jam, to working with US news publishers to turn live-streamed council meetings into news articles.

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The global aftermath of Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Donald Trump’s bigger-and-stupider-than-expected tariffs have upended the global trading system and are threatening to create a new financial crisis. Bernard Hickey talks with Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr about the latest day “when the facts changed”, and what might happen next.

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The green shoots and brown roots of our economy

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:00:00 -0000

If New Zealand’s economy was a grass paddock, it would be in pretty rough shape. We’re coming out of a pretty bad drought (economic recession) and there’s widespread political disagreement about how to get our worn-out field of brown grass back to the lush green pasture it once was.

Bernard Hickey speaks to Kiwibank economist Sabrina Delgado about what looks promising (green shoots) and what looks worrying (brown roots) in the meadow of our national economy.

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Planting the trees we’ll never sit under

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0000

For 30 years, a little-known number in government circles has quietly stymied investment for future generations. Set by Treasury, the ‘discount rate’ was once set at 10%, and it meant future benefits and costs were heavily devalued, becoming worth almost nothing after six or seven years. In a nutshell, higher discount rates discourage long-term investment and incentivise short-term projects. Treasury has recently reduced the discount rate to 5%, but is that enough?

Bernard Hickey talks with Arthur Grimes, senior fellow at Motu Research and professor at Victoria University, about a big shift to new discount rates that could make big future projects much more viable.

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New Zealand’s greatest invention: a monetary policy framework?

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey chews the monetary policy fat with returning guest Reserve Bank chief economist Paul Conway. Was inflation targeting (a policy framework first introduced in Aotearoa 35 years ago) actually our greatest invention? Was quantitative easing a success? Is inflation different now? And should Reserve Banks and Governments work more in tandem, rather than against each other? Listen in to find out.

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A handy Primer for the global AI economy

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0000

This week we dive deep into the worlds of AI, defence technology businesses and the great technological arms race between China and the US. Bernard is joined by Sean Gourley, a New Zealander who founded US-based tech success story Primer, an AI intelligence company helping governments understand the mathematical patterns underlying modern warfare.

Gourley shares his insights about New Zealand’s position in this great contest, along with the opportunities for New Zealand to grow high-value businesses (think Rocketlab) in the AI and tech space.

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Shock and Orr

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Adrian Orr resigned as Reserve Bank Governor this week after 7 years in the job, but three years early, effective immediately and without explanation. Bernard Hickey talks in an emergency edition of When The Facts Change with NZ Initiative executive director Oliver Hartwich, an Orr critic, about his legacy and how his replacement should change the bank, and with Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr about Orr’s operation of monetary policy.

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Mortgage rates, braking and accelerating

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Even as New Zealand’s economy was in the depths of a recession, the Reserve Bank kept a firm grip on monetary policy, only easing up in mid-2024. This week, Bernard Hickey sits down with Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr to discuss whether the Reserve Bank should be hitting the accelerator now, rather than simply lifting its foot off the brake.

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The startup savant behind Trade Me and Xero

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Described by The Spinoff’s Duncan Greive as “the most important figure in New Zealand technology you’ve never hear of”, Rowan Simpson has had a guiding hand in Aotearoa’s most successful tech companies. His new book “How to be Wrong: a crash course in startup success” shares the close calls and near misses that happened on the way to success (read: the staggering purchase of Trade Me by Fairfax Media in 2006).

He talks to Bernard Hickey about his journey through tech, the keys to startup success, and whether he ought to have just bought in to residential property instead.

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‘Show me the money’: What Kiwi are buying this summer

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Retail spending figures from shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels and holiday hotspots over December and January are the ultimate barometer for spending appetites, income levels and general confidence in job security. Kiwibank senior economist Mary Jo Vergara joins Bernard Hickey to discuss a note she published this week, diving in to the latest spending data collected over the summer break.

How relaxed were Kiwi with their holiday spending money? What are the experts predicting for 2025? Listen in to find out.

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Rising tides and sinking boats

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Free trade agreements are the global political economy’s hottest topics at the moment, especially since a tariff-toting Donald Trump recently argued (to great political success) that the rising tide of global free trade wasn’t lifting all boats. While global economic growth has lifted many out of poverty, the benefits have been unevenly distributed, leading to increasing wealth inequality and stagnant wages for the middle-class in many parts of the world.

Inequality and wealth researcher Max Rashbrooke joins Bernard Hickey to discuss recent inequality trends here in Aotearoa, and to share an interesting idea he has to use KiwiSaver to jumpstart the personal wealth of every single New Zealander, right from the moment they are born.

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How do we measure the value of social investment?

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Our social welfare system is complicated, expensive - and incredibly necessary. How do we know when it’s working properly? And when it’s not? ImpactLab CEO Maria English joins Bernard to unpack the data and evidence-based metrics they use to assess the “social return on investment” of social services funding, and how the company uses their insights to help make Aotearoa a better place.

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Is 2025 the year to thrive?

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Last June the economists at Kiwibank published an article titled “Survive ‘til 25”, outlining what they saw as a tough six months ahead for our economy. Well we’ve made it to 2025, but is the economic year ahead going to be about surviving or thriving? Kiwibank economist Sabrina Delgado joins Bernard Hickey to try and find out.

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What austerity actually means

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

In order to reduce debt, the coalition government wants to cut spending from 34% of GDP down to 30%. In practice, that means cutting spending on people with disabilities, even though those cuts often increase hospital and care costs in the long term.

Bernard is joined this week by disability rights lawyer (and distant cousin) Huhana Hickey, for an in-depth look at what austerity actually means.

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A fast track to cronyism?

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Political and economic debates in 2024 were dominated by the Government’s new fast-track legislation, a controversial bill that aims to speed up infrastructure and development, which passed just before Christmas.

The debate, and the risks, were summed up in an impassioned plea in parliament by Labour MP Arena Williams, who said of the bill: “This is the closest New Zealand has ever come to cronyism through the legislative process.”

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“Tariffs are beautiful. They’ll make us rich”

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Donald Trump’s re-election was the defining moment (and the major shock) in the world of politics this year. His proposed tariff regime is set to upend global economics, which he has kicked off by threatening 25% tariffs on America’s two biggest trading partners: Canada and Mexico.

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It’s darkest before the dawn

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Finally, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand started cutting interest rates this year, having moved before everyone else and stayed higher for longer than everyone else. The economy slumped significantly early in the year, remaining firmly in recession since. By August 14, Adrian Orr felt safe enough to cut 25 basis points.

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What’s on Aotearoa’s shopping list?

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Kiwibank senior economist Mary Jo Vergara has dug through card-spending data to find out how retail spending has changed since Covid, and over the last year of high interest rates. Have we collectively tightened the purse strings in response to a cost-of-living crisis? Or are we taking advantage of online shopping payment options that have never been more convenient? Listen in to find out.

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Inside Wellington’s homeless crisis

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Homelessness in Aotearoa has hit an all-time high, forcing organisations like Wellington City Mission to adopt innovative new strategies. Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge joins Bernard Hickey to talk about the scale of the housing crisis in our capital city and how a couple of new approaches and buildings are making a difference for those worst affected.

Read more about the Wellington City Mission’s efforts in Joel’s MacManus’ Cover Story:

https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/11-11-2024/inside-the-urgent-race-to-solve-homelessness-in-aotearoa

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Home on the marae

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Motueka might appear sleepy and remote to visitors, but like much of Aotearoa, it faces a severe shortage of rental housing—often far pricier than expected. Bernard Hickey sits down with Miriana Stephens to discuss how her iwi is tackling this crisis by building dozens of affordable homes, with the marae at the heart of community life.

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The OCR grinch has turned into Father Christmas

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

In 2022, Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr told Christmas shoppers to “cool your jets”, as the bank scrambled to control inflation by hiking interest rates. This week - now inflation has been beaten back down - he delivered another whopper 50-basis point rate cut in the RBNZ’s latest monetary policy statement.

Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr joins Bernard Hickey to discuss the governor’s gradual transformation from OCR grinch to Father Christmas, and how many more rate cuts we can expect to see in the new year.

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How fair is our tax system?

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Victoria University professor of taxation Lisa Marriott talks to Bernard Hickey about the fundamental flaws at the core of our tax system, how they have produced historic levels of wealth inequality in Aotearoa - and how we can fix them.

Lisa is speaking at the Pakukore: Poverty, by Design conference at Victoria University, 21-23 November.

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Behind Porirua’s poverty

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

For decades, Pat Hanley has been a tireless advocate for the rights of beneficiaries, drawing attention to the persistent challenges they face. In this week’s episode of When the Facts Change, he sits down with Bernard Hickey to unpack the deep-rooted causes of poverty in Porirua. Hanley argues that both the underlying issues and society’s approach to addressing poverty demand a comprehensive overhaul, calling for transformative change to create a fairer, more supportive social landscape.

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The cost of prison

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Our prisons are bursting at the seams. They cost at least $2 billion per year to run – and that’s before we consider the longer-term and wider-reaching costs to our health, education, housing, justice and welfare systems.

University of Auckland indigenous studies professor Tracey McIntosh joins Bernard to interrogate the reasons why we, as a society, persist with ever-larger and ever-more-damaging institutions that are failing to reduce crime rates or recidivism (and, in fact, may actually be increasing them).

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How to give employees what they want, when they want it

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Fintechs are changing the way we spend and save, but they are also set to change the way we could be paid for work, or more correctly, how workers are paid benefits on the fringes. Bernard Hickey talks to Steven Zinsli, the founder of Extraordinary (formerly HealthNow) about his new payments card system to help employers deliver extra benefits to employees through electronic cards, rather than having to claim expenses or just get plain old cash paid straight into a bank account.

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An economic spring in our step

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 16:00:00 -0000

The animal spirits of the economy are stirring back to life after a whopper of an interest rate cut - with expectations of one more to come. Bernard Hickey talks with Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr about how businesses are feeling heading into the Christmas sales season, and what might upset the metaphorical applecart.

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The hidden battery in your home

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 16:00:00 -0000

What if your hot water cylinder could help solve New Zealand’s energy crisis? And how is an hour of free electricity helping with our notoriously problematic electricity market? Electric Kiwi co-founder and CEO Huia Burt sits down with Bernard Hickey to explore how they are helping New Zealanders tackle the cost-of-living crisis, all while reducing our national reliance on non-renewable energy sources. Tune in for a fascinating discussion about electricity, innovation, and the potential for real change.

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Is Nicola Willis cutting costs or cutting growth?

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:00:00 -0000

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.

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We’re all getting older and something has got to give

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:00:00 -0000

As our national population grows older (and the superannuation system becomes increasingly burdened by the growing ranks of retirees), how will the government balance the books? The ratio of tax-paying adults to superannuitants is steadily falling, and raising the age of eligibility for super won't cover the forecasted shortfall. So what kind of fiscal policy changes are needed before public debt starts getting scary?

Dominick Stephens, chief economic adviser at the Treasury, joins Bernard Hickey to discuss the long-term unsustainability of our current situation, the impacts of migration and outsized labour force participation by over-65s, and what’s at risk if we don’t make changes soon.

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Gazing into the infrastructure crystal ball

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Aotearoa’s biggest problems are largely caused by a lack of infrastructure - housing, transport, water, hospital and education - in the areas that need it most. So how could (or should) we plan the systems that keep our country running? And who is responsible for divining the future to make decisions that can have an impact for decades to come? Bernard Hickey is joined by Peter Nunns, acting general manager of Te Waihanga NZ Infrastructure Commission, to discuss the murky business of planning infrastructure projects for an uncertain future.

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When the interest rates change

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Kiwibank chief executive Steve Jurkovich joins Bernard to discuss the current economic landscape and what’s happening (and likely to happen) with interest rates. Steve also shares his thoughts on the future of Kiwibank, open banking and if he considers possible banking plays by likes of Apple and Google to be a legitimate threat.

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Navigating our economy forward (by looking in the rear-view mirror)

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

As recently as late May, the Reserve Bank thought it wouldn't need to cut rates until well into 2025. However, a batch of leading indicators revealed a slump in economic activity through June, and the RBNZ decided to hit the brakes by lowering the official cash rate in its August monetary policy statement. Reserve Bank chief economist Paul Conway talks to Bernard Hickey about why the RBNZ decided to change course, what kinds of data they are lacking compared to other central banks, and what they can't change about our economy.

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This is Kiwi: Dane and Stacey on choosing adventures over assets

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Selling everything and booking one-way tickets to Thailand marked the beginning of an extraordinary life for popular travel vloggers Dane and Stacey. With over 200,000 followers on Instagram and YouTube, the digital nomads have built a thriving business by offering travel tips, guides and an authentic peek behind the curtain of their lives. Join us as we find out how Dane and Stacey make their relationship work and keep the money coming in, no matter where in the world they are.

Check out all the episodes from season three of This is Kiwi:

5th August - TJ Perenara

12th August - Kirsten Dodgen

19th August - Jess Quinn

26th August - Taylor Roche

2nd September - Jess Hong

9th September - Dane & Stacey

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network.

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An electrifying plan for Aotearoa

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Saul Griffith helped change the world a couple of years ago when he and a couple of "tech bro" mates convinced Joe Biden to rewrite the Democrats’ Green New Deal and pitch it as an Inflation Reduction Act to rewire America’s economy with renewable energy. Saul makes a pitch for Aotearoa to do the same, but much cheaper and much faster, instead of the government’s current plan to spend $1 billion importing gas over the next couple of years. He presents Rewiring Aotearoa’s paper on The Electrification Opportunity, which estimates cheaper power costs worth $10.7 billion per year by 2040.

https://www.rewiring.nz/tomorrow

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This is Kiwi: Jess Hong on chasing dreams as an introvert

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Most actors don’t go straight from performing lunchtime school shows to landing the lead role in a big-budget Netflix series, but Jess Hong isn’t most actors. Since being cast as Jin Cheng in the blockbuster sci-fi series 3 Body Problem, life has been a whirlwind for the self-confessed introvert. Jess might be living the Hollywood dream, navigating global career success and financial freedom, but the core of who she is remains the same. Find out how an attempt to overcome her shyness as a teenager took Jess Hong from school stages to Tinseltown.

Stay tuned for new episodes each Monday:

5th August - TJ Perenara

12th August - Kirsten Dodgen

19th August - Jess Quinn

26th August - Taylor Roche

2nd September - Jess Hong

9th September - Dane & Stacey

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network.

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Building better goal posts for emissions accounting

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Accountants often have low profiles and their accounts seem merely to keep score on the games of capitalism, but they can sometimes shape capitalism itself - and maybe even the atmosphere.

Bernard Hickey talks with Dr Amelia Sharman from the External Reporting Board. Typically an obscure setter of accounting standards nestled somewhere between the government and companies, she details how the XRB’s new standards for emissions accounting might just change the world.

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This is Kiwi: Taylor Roche on turning obstacles into opportunities

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0000

How do you become the most viewed New Zealand artist on TikTok? With over 46 million likes on the platform, Taylor Roche has shown that challenging the status quo and turning obstacles into opportunities can truly pay off. What began as posting funny videos online for fun has evolved into a thriving career, allowing him to grow his personal brand while making an impact with his music. Taylor’s story goes beyond his TikTok fame – join us as we explore the rise of one of our most dynamic content creators.

Stay tuned for new episodes each Monday:

5th August - TJ Perenara

12th August - Kirsten Dodgen

19th August - Jess Quinn

26th August - Taylor Roche

2nd September - Jess Hong

9th September - Dane & Stacey

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network.

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The lights have switched off at the Consumer Advocacy Council

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0000

In 2018, The Consumer Advocacy Council was set up by cabinet in response to a commissioned investigation into the nation’s problematic electricity market. It was designed to act as an independent advocate for residential and small business electricity consumers in Aotearoa. Then came Budget 2024. With the stroke of a pen, the council was scrapped by the coalition government to help balance the books.

Former chair Deborah Hart speaks to Bernard Hickey about what the loss of the council means for everyday consumers, what’s wrong with our electricity industry and how we can improve things in the future.

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This is Kiwi: Jess Quinn on normalising differences

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0000

There are few who embody resilience quite like Jess Quinn. Having suffered cancer and an amputation as a child, Jess has faced challenges most of us could never imagine. Now, just over two decades later, she can list model, writer, dancer and social advocate on her CV as she uses her channels to inspire hundreds of thousands online. Join us as we explore Jess’ journey, uncovering the struggles and triumphs that have seen her go from surviving to thriving.

Stay tuned for new episodes each Monday:

5th August - TJ Perenara

12th August - Kirsten Dodgen

19th August - Jess Quinn

26th August - Taylor Roche

2nd September - Jess Hong

9th September - Dane & Stacey

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network.

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Finally, the RBNZ cuts the OCR

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The Reserve Bank cut the official cash rate this week for the first time since the beginning of Covid. Bernard talks with Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr about how the central bank changed its mind when the facts changed, and what it means for mortgage rates and the housing market.

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This is Kiwi: Kirsten Dodgen on proving the doubters wrong

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Kirsten Dodgen is a world-renowned dancer whose talent and dedication have taken her across the globe. Turning her hobby into a successful career has brought her financial independence and creative fulfilment. It’s also seen her perform with top music stars, appear on a hit Korean reality TV show, and build a social media following of over three million. But it hasn’t always been easy – Kirsten has had to lock into her vision and overcome the discouragement of others to achieve success. Join us as we explore Kirsten’s incredible journey and get to know the beautiful soul behind the dance moves.

Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes each Monday:

5th August - TJ Perenara

12th August - Kirsten Dodgen

19th August - Jess Quinn

26th August - Taylor Roche

2nd September - Jess Hong

9th September - Dane & Stacey

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network.

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Why insulation is such a hot topic

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A heated debate about insulation standards lately has had both health and construction experts up in arms. It's only part, however, of a wider debate about how we approach climate change and how we make decisions about our homes. NZ Green Building Council CEO Andrew Eagles joins Bernard Hickey to pull back the GIB board and take a look at how to build, and heat, cheaper homes over the longer run.

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This is Kiwi: TJ Perenara on speaking your truth

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0000

TJ Perenara is a rugby legend whose sporting career and status as the leading try scorer in Super Rugby are matched only by his iconic mullet. Beyond the field, TJ is a dedicated father, husband and passionate advocate for social equity – speaking boldly on issues like Māori fatherhood and pay transparency. If you’ve ever wondered what makes this Kiwi icon tick, then settle in to hear TJ Perenara as you’ve never heard him before.

Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes each Monday:

5th August - TJ Perenara

12th August - Kirsten Dodgen

19th August - Jess Quinn

26th August - Taylor Roche

2nd September - Jess Hong

9th September - Dane & Stacey

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network.

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How the world ran out of everything

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0000

What happened to the world’s supply chains during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, and how much of the damage caused is permanent? New York Times business journalist and author of ‘How the World Ran Out of Everything’ Peter Goodman joins Bernard Hickey to explain the complex international pathways of manufacturing and transportation that bring products to our doorsteps, through the example of one fledgling American toy startup.

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So much wealth... and poverty

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 20:05:49 -0000

Aotearoa has never been wealthier, yet demand for food parcels is skyrocketing and the Government won’t extend help to food banks so they can cope. Bernard talks to Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson about a surfeit of wealth at a time food banks are being defunded.

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We may have slain the inflation dragon

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Softer-than-expected inflation figures this week suggest the inflation dragon - the one that savaged real wages and borrowing costs for the last three years - may have finally been shoved back in it's cave. Kiwibank's Mary Jo Vergara joins the podcast to discuss what that means going forward for interest rates in our housing-market-with-bits-tacked-on economy. Markets are now saying that the Reserve Bank could now cut the Official Cash Rate by the end of this year, but how many cuts can we hope for? Listen in to find out.

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Bill English’s big ideas for Kāinga Ora

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Former PM and finance minister Sir Bill English is the intellectual driving force behind the new government’s plans for the country's biggest landlord. He tells Bernard why a full accounting of its running costs may prove to be too rich for the government.

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Will we see a rate cut from the Reserve Bank this year?

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey goes hunting for the Reserve Bank’s first rate cut in a discussion with Kiwibank economist Sabrina Delgado. It was supposed to be this year, especially now that the economy appears mired in a multi-dip recession with higher unemployment - but sticky local inflation has held the RBNZ back. Now, however, it is forecasting a rate cut in August 2025 at the earliest. Sabrina explains why she disagrees, why the central bank should be able to cut as early as November, and what that’ll mean for the housing market.

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A decade in charge of the national power grid

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:00:00 -0000

After ten years at the helm of Transpower, chief executive Alison Andrew is stepping down. She reflects on a tumultuous decade of managing Aotearoa’s most important network, and why she considers being relatively unknown in the public arena as a mark of success.

This interview was recorded shortly before a Transpower pylon collapsed in Northland on June 21st, causing widespread power outages in the region. The collapse was caused by contractors who failed to observe proper procedure while carrying out routine maintenance.

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What kind of homes do we actually want?

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Is the Kiwi dream to own a "McMansion", a "shoebox" or something else entirely? Bernard talks with The Urban Advisory’s MD Greer O’Donnell about a major new survey of what type of homes we actually want. She says it may not be the quarter acre "pavlova paradise" still assumed by many voters and politicians when they’re deciding on what should be be built and where.

If you'd like to take part in The Urban Advisory's housing survey, click here

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Bonus episode: When the most facts changed the fastest

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Bernard revisits the most revolutionary era in our political economy in conversation with Toby Manhire. Together they discuss how much the Labour Government of 1984 to 1989, portrayed in The Spinoff's new hit podcast series Juggernaut, created our modern economy, for good and ill.

Listen to Juggernaut here

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Listen Now: episode one of Juggernaut – I Love You, Mr Lange

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 02:32:00 -0000

We thought you might like a wee taster of our brand new #1 series, Juggernaut: The Story of the Fourth Labour Government, hosted by Toby Manhire. Click here to follow Juggernaut so you get every episode as soon as it's released!

1. I love you, Mr Lange

Fuelled by brandy and fury, Sir Rob Muldoon calls a snap election, sparking a 1984 campaign of contrasts – the menacing, protectionist National PM against the fresh, upbeat Labour leader, David Lange. The pretext for the election is the decision by Marilyn Waring, a young, gay MP, to back an anti-nuclear bill and quit the National caucus, prompting an earful from Muldoon. Lange, meanwhile, is joined at the hip by a hungry would-be finance minister, Roger Douglas. They are about to confront a profound crisis, and launch a revolution.

Includes previously unheard interviews with David Lange from the 84 campaign trail, and new and exclusive interviews with Marilyn Waring, Roger Douglas, Geoffrey Palmer, Richard Prebble, Peter Harris, Margaret Wilson, Bob Harvey and Gary McCormick.

Click here for full details of archive material used in this series

Juggernaut was made with the support of NZ On Air.

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Why is the Reserve Bank continuing to hold the OCR?

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Reserve Bank Chief Economist Paul Conway joins Bernard in the immediate aftermath of a surprisingly hawkish monetary policy statement, and just before the Budget. Together they discuss sources of inflation, why interest rates are staying high for longer than anyone expected, and whether the blunt instrument of the official cash rate can do anything about this extra-sticky inflation.

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How a cold snap almost caused an national energy crisis

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey goes deep into the mechanics of the electricity distribution system to find out what really happened during a cold snap in May that almost caused a national energy crisis. He talks to Electric Kiwi CEO Luke Blincoe about how to solve the dry winter and cold snap problem without spending billions of dollars on new generation and lines.

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Budget day special

Thu, 30 May 2024 04:41:11 -0000

Nicola Willis has delivered tax cuts in her first budget, largely as promised. But has the coalition government managed to square the circle of relieving cost of living pressures while avoiding the quicksand of encouraging inflation? In a special crossover episode of Gone By Lunchtime meets When the Facts Change, Toby Manhire quizzes Bernard Hickey on all that, plus: Is Willis right to say the tax cuts are not paid for by borrowing, and can she reasonably blame Labour for the bleak fiscal outlook?

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An interest rate bludgeoning

Thu, 23 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The Reserve Bank warned this week of high interest rates and high inflation for even longer, with sticky rental, rates and insurance inflation all partly to blame. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr joins Bernard Hickey to discuss the how blunt our central bank's main monetary policy tool can be, and the developing opinion that high interest rates actually increase, rather than decrease, the inflation.

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Floods knocked out Redclyffe, so why rebuild on the same flood-prone site?

Thu, 16 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The Redclyffe substation near Napier flooded during Cyclone Gabrielle and turning it off turned off the power for much of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti. Transpower has fixed it for now, but has faced a big decision: should it rebuild it where it is now, next to a stream? Or start again on higher ground? The choice tells us a lot about how to think about our climate future. Bernard Hickey talks about that decision with Transpower’s executive general manager grid delivery, Mark Ryall.

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How many lives is that tax cut worth?

Thu, 09 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The Government has repealed various smokefree measures to ensure it keeps collecting $1.2 billion a year in tobacco taxes, in order to pay for tax cuts already being delivered to landlords. But an economic analysis done by Otago University's public health department has found keeping the smokefree measures would have been of benefit not only for public health, but also for the economy. The university's Professor Nick Wilson joins Bernard to discuss the fascinating figures resulting from that research.

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Introducing Behind the Story: If you love a dog, you must also love disposing of its sh*t

Fri, 03 May 2024 20:00:00 -0000

The Spinoff has just launched a brand new series called Behind the Story, where site editor Madeleine Chapman sits down with a staff writer or contributor to gain more insight about a big story on The Spinoff from the week. We thought you might like to check out the first episode, and if you enjoy it please follow it wherever you get your podcasts!

On Friday, Bulletin editor Anna Rawhiti-Connell sent her final newsletter, and took the opportunity to share what she’s learned about the news over two years of curating it for thousands of New Zealanders. Earlier in the week, she’d seen reports of Auckland dog owners discarding their pets’ turds on the ground after Auckland Council removed bins across the city.

And so, the column “If you love a dog, you must also love disposing of its shit” was born. Anna joins Madeleine Chapman to talk about the power journalists have when framing a story and how to find the middle ground between boring and sensational.

For The Spinoff editor’s thoughts on the week that was, as well as a handpicked collection of the week’s best reads, subscribe to The Weekend with Madeleine Chapman newsletter at thespinoff.co.nz/newsletters

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The unreachable dream of the kiwi bach

Thu, 02 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey talks with property academic Deborah Levy about her research into the changes in the way bach owners feel about their holiday homes. Where once the bach was the centrepiece of 'the kiwi dream’, a place for friends and families to gather, relax and create memories, they have now become a financialised asset to be added to the portfolio of the increasingly wealthy few. What's behind this change? What insights can this research give into the rest of our dysfunctional national property market? Listen in to find out.

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The meaning of digital cash

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The Reserve Bank wants to know how the public feels about a potential new type of digital cash. This digital currency would be exchangeable one-for-one with ‘old’ forms of bank-issued electronic money and ye olde paper cash and metal coins, but would not outright replace the physical stuff. RBNZ’s Head of Money and Cash Ian Woolford joins Bernard to discuss what’s different with this new digital cash, what problems it could solve and how it might open up a whole new front in bank competition.

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The week the economic mood shifted

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr joins Bernard to discuss and dissect the trajectory of inflation and interest rates, both here in Aotearoa and around the globe. Inflation is stickier than expected and interest rates are likely to stay higher for longer, but what does that mean for the kiwi dollar? How do US Fed chair Jerome Powell's recent comments affect us? And what is going on with the price of gold?

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Who is being hit hardest by inflation?

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Kiwibank economist Sabrina Delgado joins Bernard to discuss the ways inflation affects various groups in Aotearoa. From homeowners and renters to beneficiaries and pensioners, they explore how inflation impacts everyone differently, and reveal who is being hit hardest by the current spike.

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When monopolies clash

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Auckland Airport wants to put up its landing charges to help pay for a multibillion dollar revamp of its terminals. Its biggest customer, Air NZ, is complaining that the airport is over-charging. So who is right? What is fair? And what happens when two effective monopolies butt heads? Bernard Hickey talks to Auckland Airport CEO Carrie Hurihanganui about the dispute, how the Commerce Commission factors in, and what the airport is planning to mitigate its long-term impact on the changing climate.

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How do we get over the electrification tipping point?

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 16:00:00 -0000

The evidence is clear: it's good for our pockets and for the planet, so what's stopping families and businesses from going electric? How do we address the electrification knowledge gap and other barriers that stand in the way of adopting cleaner, more affordable energy both as individuals and organisations? Bernard Hickey talks to Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey about their recent report 'Electric Homes', and how NZ is one of the first countries to reach the "electrification tipping point".

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Should philanthropic giving be a moral obligation?

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:00:00 -0000

With the majority of Aotearoa struggling to meet basic needs, philanthropic funding is more important than ever. Cheryl Spain, executive director of The Gift Trust, joins Bernard Hickey to explain why philanthropic giving needs to become part of New Zealand culture, where funding should be directed within an organisation for maximum effectiveness and how to navigate the complications that come with financial giving.

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A battle won in the War for Wellington

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 16:00:00 -0000

In a special edition of When The Facts Change, Bernard Hickey talks with The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus about the historic victory for YIMBYs in last week’s District Plan votes by the Wellington City Council. Who knew that town planning could be so important?

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Navigating the rising tide of electricity demand

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Transpower is taking a new approach to handling the massive increase in demand for electricity. Instead of building bigger power pylons (and a lot more of them), they want to reduce demand for electricity in the first place. Bernard Hickey is joined by Transpower’s John Clarke to discuss the state-owned power transmission company's recent RFP for non-transmission solutions; novel ideas such as buying demand reduction through virtual grids and batteries. And ground zero for their electrical innovations? Te Waipounamu, the South Island.

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When caution reigns

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Kiwibank chief executive Steve Jurkovich joins Bernard Hickey to discuss how businesses and consumers are feeling early in 2024, why an RBNZ rate hike last week would not have helped and how banks are thinking about the challenges of climate risk and cybersecurity.

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To hike, or not to hike? Unpacking the monetary policy statement with Adrian Orr

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Te Pūtea Matua governor Adrian Orr joins Bernard to discuss the bank’s decision to hold the official cash rate at 5.5%, rather than hiking it further in an attempt to control rampant inflation (which is still roughly double where the RBNZ wants it). Listen in to hear the governor's reasoning behind the cash rate hold, his thoughts on New Zealand's record net migration and whether the government's decision to remove the bank's inflation/unemployment dual mandate earlier in the year has made any meaningful difference.

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This is Kiwi: Sarah Hirini on growth and leadership

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

World-class athlete Sarah Hirini has spent nearly a decade as captain of the national women’s sevens team. Through the course of her career she’s clocked up Olympic gold and silver medals, a couple of Rugby World Cup wins and in 2019 was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. She was also winner of the NZ Sports Leadership award at last year’s Halberg Awards. There’s no doubt Sarah is truly inspirational, but what sets her apart is her leadership style – nuanced, caring, and focused on lifting up others in their own leadership journey. Listen to our final episode for season two of This is Kiwi to find out how this champion athlete turned her passion for rugby into a pathway for personal growth and empowerment for others.

This episode was recorded in November, 2023

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network.

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The real reason our government won't borrow to fix our infrastructure issues

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Christopher Luxon has described Aotearoa’s government finances as fragile, but the most qualified folks in financial markets don’t see it that way. Bernard Hickey talks to S&P Global’s government ratings director Anthony Walker about just how fragile our government and local council finances actually are. According to Anthony, NZ’s AAA rating means international investors view NZ as a strong borrower with $120 billion worth of borrowing headroom to solve its infrastructure deficits. Yet the government still won’t borrow. Why not?

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This is Kiwi: Nico Porteous on the process of performance

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

At just 22 years old, Nico Porteous is one of New Zealand's most accomplished athletes. He first made his mark on Aotearoa sporting history at 16 when he became our youngest Olympic medalist, claiming bronze in the men's freeski halfpipe. In 2022 he soared even higher in Beijing, clinching an Olympic gold to add to his two X Games gold medals alongside being made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Nico's accolades speak volumes, but beyond the medals there’s a depth of character and wisdom that belies his age. Nico joins Jane to discuss his journey to global success, how he navigates intense performance pressure and the values shaping his life beyond the slopes. Get ready for an inspiring conversation with a remarkable role model.

Stay tuned for the final episode of this season:

26th February - Sarah Hirini on growth and leadership

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network.

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How super is NZ Super?

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

After releasing a paper earlier this week outlining her policy recommendations for the government, retirement commissioner Jane Wrightson joins Bernard Hickey to discuss the complex challenge of superannuation in Aotearoa. Why should the age of eligibility stay at 65? Which demographics would be adversely affected by a decision to raise it? And is it a problem that approximately 50,000 pensioners collect NZ Super while earning over $100,000 a year?

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This is Kiwi: Louis Davis on modern fatherhood

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

In sharing daily dad life with his social media following of nearly two million, Louis Davis challenges fatherhood stereotypes by being meaningfully present for his family. Join Louis as he sits down with Jane Yee and, through genuine humour and heartfelt anecdotes, offers an alternative narrative about the role and responsibilities of fathers. As he shares his wisdom on the beauty of whānau, the joys of parenthood and the importance of integrity, Louis' story serves as a poignant reminder of life's simple pleasures and the power of genuine connections.

Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes each Monday:

19th February - Nico Porteous on the process of performance

26th February - Sarah Hirini on growth and leadership

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network.

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We all need to cut 75% of our personal carbon emissions. But how?

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

In order to limit global warming to 1.5ºC, and avoid the catastrophic effects brought on by further warming, every person on the planet must limit their personal carbon dioxide emissions to just two tonnes per year. The current annual emissions average for someone living in New Zealand? Over eight. Writer, consultant and climate justice campaigner Emily Mabin Sutton joins Bernard Hickey to help figure out how we can get our own carbon emissions under control.

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This is Kiwi: Kendall Flutey on focusing your ambition

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Kendall Flutey is on a mission to help create a better future for kids all over the world. As the founder of financial literacy software Banqer, Kendall is focusing her ambition for good in a bid to empower the next generation towards a future of financial wellbeing. Combining unbridled passion, a generous spirit and tenacious business acumen, Kendall is a force to be reckoned with in the entrepreneurial space. She joins Jane Yee to discuss what it means to be intentional in all areas of life and share wisdom from her journey that can benefit us all.

Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes each Monday:

12th February - Louis Davis on modern fatherhood

19th February - Nico Porteous on the process of performance

26th February - Sarah Hirini on growth and leadership

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network.

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A year on: decoding the cost of major weather events

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

How do you measure the cost of the Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle? A year on from these catastrophic weather events, NZIER economist Roshen Kulwant joins Bernard Hickey to discuss which costs we're measuring, what we’ve learnt and what still needs to be done.

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This is Kiwi: Te Aorere Pēwhairangi on finding inspiration

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Te Aorere Pēwhairangi is a dynamic content creator dedicated to making te reo and te ao Māori accessible. After a promising rugby league career was cut short by injury, Te Aorere moved into translation work which led to TV presenting roles and a dedicated following on social media where he connects with hundreds of thousands. Te Aorere talks to Jane about his commitment to his people, including his campaign ‘Waewae the 35’ that raised $115,000 for Cyclone Gabrielle-stricken communities. Recently recognised as a local hero by Kiwibank, Te Aorere is on a mission to serve, inspire and make a meaningful impact in Aotearoa.

Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes each Monday:

5th February - Kendall Flutey on focusing your ambition

12th February - Louis Davis on modern fatherhood

19th February - Nico Porteous on the process of performance

26th February - Sarah Hirini on growth and leadership

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network.

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The latest acronym in the Reserve Bank's tool kit

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Earlier this week the Reserve Bank of New Zealand proposed a new debt-to-income (DTI) ratio limit. Along with the 11-year-old loan-to-value ratio (LVR) limit, the RBNZ hopes these lending restrictions will help "limit the build-up of systemic financial risk" in our housing market. Bernard Hickey talks to Helen O’Sullivan, Valocity Global's CEO of Real Estate, to dig into the proposed policy, and whether LVRs have actually made the financial system safer over the last decade.

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This is Kiwi: Jazz Thornton on resilience through adversity

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0000

What happens when you take on your trauma with the whole world watching? Jazz Thornton joins Jane Yee for a raw and entertaining kōrero between friends that exposes the reality of turning your pain into purpose in a very public way. The young mental health advocate and social media star speaks openly about the highs and lows of sharing her life through a lens and reveals what motivates her to show up for others every day, even as she continues to work through her own intense historic trauma. With an unwavering commitment to hope and demonstrating a resilience that is both remarkable and inspiring, this is Jazz Thornton as you’ve never heard her before.

Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes each Monday:

29th January - Te Aorere Pēwhairangi on finding inspiration

5th February - Kendall Flutey on focusing your ambition

12th February - Louis Davis on modern fatherhood

19th February - Nico Porteous on the process of performance

26th February - Sarah Hirini on growth and leadership

A Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network

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What's behind New Zealand's water woes?

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Aotearoa New Zealand is a rich and functional country, but it can’t seem to operate a safe and well-maintained water system. CEO of Water NZ Gillian Blythe tells Bernard Hickey exactly why that is, and what's needed to get our water infrastructure back on track.

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Summer minipod 3: the grim reality for low-lying suburbs

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0000

In the final of three summer mini episodes, Bernard Hickey a key moment from 2023 when the political economy in Aotearoa shifted on its axis in real time. Last up is the day the nation’s biggest insurer said Petone and many other low-lying suburbs around the motu would not be insurable in 30-50 years due to climate change.

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Summer minipod 2: the closing window of hope for our climate

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In the second of three summer mini episodes, Bernard Hickey a key moment from 2023 when the political economy in Aotearoa shifted on its axis in real time. Second up is the day the Climate Commission chair, Rod Carr, told the deniers and delayers of climate change action to get out of the way for the rest of us to take advantage of the opportunities for cheaper, healthier and safer lives.

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Summer minipod 1: “end of story”

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0000

In the first of three summer mini episodes, Bernard Hickey a key moment from 2023 when the political economy in Aotearoa shifted on its axis in real time. First up is the day that Chris Hipkins declared the ‘end of story’ for a wealth or capital gains tax in New Zealand for at least the next decade.

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Monopod: Reacting to Nicola Willis' mini-budget

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0000

National promised their first budget would expose 'fiscal vandalism' by the previous Labour government. Now that Bernard Hickey has had a chance to rifle through the numbers, he finds minimum substance to the claims.

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The Spinoff presents SUPERPOD 2023

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0000

SUPERPOD is back! Hosted by Gone By Lunchtime's Toby Manhire and featuring Jane Yee and Alex Casey from The Real Pod, Duncan Greive from The Fold, Gone By Lunchtime's Annabelle Lee-Mather, Simon Pound from Business Is Boring, Bernard Hickey from When The Facts Change and The Spinoff Podcast Network's Te Aihe Butler and Samuel Robinson, SUPERPOD 2023 is the crossover to end all crossovers. From intense discussion of government policy to figuring out what the heck a skibidi toilet is, we celebrate the best and worst of what has been a rollercoaster year.

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The economic impact of record-high migration

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0000

2023 has seen record-high net migration after a large dip during the height of Covid. Bernard Hickey talks with Kiwibank economist Mary-Jo Vergara about the economic effects of high migration on rents, inflation, interest rates and house prices.

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The real cost of the smoking excise tax

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0000

To replace $700 million a year of revenues lost from a foreign buyers tax, the new coalition government is dumping the previous government's smoke free 2025 goal. This relaxing of policies will keep more people smoking for longer, costing thousands of lives per year and at least $10 billion is extra health costs and lost working hours. Bernard Hickey speaks with University of Otago public health researcher Andrew Waa about his analysis of the changes to smoke free, and finds out the true costs of reversing them.

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When can we expect mortgage rates to drop?

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 16:00:00 -0000

The Reserve Bank surprised everyone this week by warning it may have to raise interest rates again to force inflation down, effectively eliminating the prospect of major mortgage rate cuts over the coming summer. Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr joins Bernard Hickey to dig in to the RBNZ’s unexpected hawkish outlook heading into 2024.

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The budget benefits of going electric

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Could a South Island cherry farm set the standard for an electric future? Mike Casey from Rewiring Aotearoa joins Bernard Hickey to discuss what it took to make the switch from running his cherry farm on fossil fuels to renewable electricity. He also explains the ways in which going electric will save our homes, farms and small businesses thousands each year.

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The state of the economy in Aotearoa with Steve Jurkovich

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 16:00:00 -0000

With cost of living forefront on people's minds, what are banks doing to alleviate pressure on the consumer? Bernard Hickey sits down with Kiwibank chief executive Steve Jurkovich to discuss how the economy is travelling, the pressures consumers are dealing with, and the regulatory adjustments he hopes to see in 2024.

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A new solution to the first-home deposit problem?

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:00:00 -0000

New fintech startup Aera says first-home buyers would need to save for an infinite number of years to secure a house deposit. Founder Derek Handley joins Bernard Hickey to discuss Aera's plan to help first-home buyers to get onto the property ladder, with a new take on the bank of mum and dad.

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How leaders can learn from their mistakes

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:00:00 -0000

After leaving the CEO position at Z Energy, Mike Bennetts became an executive coach and has just published his own book: Being Extraordinary by confronting your ordinary.

Mike talks to Bernard Hickey about how leadership is different from management, and how leaders can learn from their mistakes.

You can find Mike's book at: https://www.taumataadvisory.com/beingextraordinary

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How to defend yourself from tech-savvy scammers

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 16:00:00 -0000

In April and June of 2023, online scammers stole $4.2 million from New Zealanders. Bernard Hickey speaks to Kiwibank senior external fraud investigator Sareta Fraser about how bank customers and banks are in an arms race against increasingly ingenious and awful scammers. She lays out the tricks and schemes used by the scammers and offers tips and techniques that customers can use to protect themselves.

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The wind power revolution energising Aotearoa

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 16:00:00 -0000

What makes New Zealand one of the most geographically perfect places to harness the power of Tāwhirimātea? This week, Bernard Hickey talks with Giacomo Caleffi from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners about how the NZ Super Fund could bolster their plan to build a massive offshore wind farm off the coast of South Taranaki. They discuss why offshore wind is so necessary in the transition to 100% renewable energy, and how renewable energy differs from renewable power.

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Powering down to keep your savings up

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Are we using our energy networks as efficiently as possible? Bernard Hickey interviews Octopus Energy’s UK-based head of systems change, Marcia Poletti, about innovative ways power companies can adapt their current system to better support the energy grid.

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Using LinkedIn to build your business better

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 16:00:00 -0000

All around the globe, business owners are struggling to launch, manage, and sustain their companies' increasingly necessary online presence in an impactful way. Bernard Hickey speaks to the marketing director at Smarketing Lab, Assia Salikhova, for some free consulting on how to build his podcasting empire in the social space. She explains the simple ways you can let nosy folks know that you and your business are alive and thriving.

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The post-pandemic office experience

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 16:00:00 -0000

It turns out many offices are empty now, particularly on Mondays and Fridays, and workers aren’t there to sit at their open-plan desks. They’re there to join Zoom or Teams calls in quiet spaces, or to meet each other in conference rooms. Bernard Hickey talks to XYSense co-founder and CEO Alex Birch about how building managers, planners and bean counters can understand the best way to run an office of the future.

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Melbourne City's carbon neutral apartment building

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Liam Wallis, is the founder of HIP V HYPE, a design agency in Melbourne that helped design, fund and build the first Nightingale project apartments in Melbourne’s Brunswick. These apartments are designed from the start to be carbon neutral, healthier, and cheaper places to heat. He talks to Bernard Hickey about the number of times the air changes every hour in a normal house (20), and how often the air changes in a home like the ones built in the Nightingale projects. Liam is in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington this week delivering the annual Sir Ian Athfield Memorial Lecture for the New Zealand Institute of Architects in Auckland.

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Is an economic summer on the horizon?

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr tells Bernard Hickey why there are early signs of a rebound in confidence and hope for the summer to come, and into next year, despite the interest rate hikes.

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Chris Hipkins on leading a conservative left-wing government

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 17:00:00 -0000

The prime minister seems to be moving forward with his plan to ignore the infrastructure deficit by ruling out wealth and capital gains taxes. He joins Bernard Hickey to defend his stance as a steady, status quo government and tries to win the vote of Bernard in the process.

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Reconnecting the regions with better public transit

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey discusses the need for much better bus and train connections within and between our smaller provincial cities with public transport advocate and award-winning singer-songwriter Anthonie Tonnon.

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Shining a light on our solar industry

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Why is Aotearoa's solar panel industry lagging so far behind the rest of the world? SolarZero CEO Matt Ward joins Bernard Hickey to talk about how using batteries to complement rooftop solar is changing the game and how he believes that the number of solar panels in Aotearoa are about to go through the roof.

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The company transitioning businesses to a low carbon economy

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey talks with CoGo founder Ben Gleisner about the potential to use bank data on spending to help businesses and consumers monitor and tweak their climate emissions. Gleisner talks about Aotearoa’s rocky and long pathway to open banking and the options for a type of ‘nudge’ economy towards decarbonisation.

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How to construct an affordable and eco-friendly home

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Are we building our houses as smart as we possibly can? GEOBIND co-founder Alice Hosted says that Aotearoa could help solve its housing cost and carbon problems by using hempcrete walls. They discuss the pros to using hemp in building construction, and the current logistical frameworks that restrict its use in New Zealand.

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The renewable energy source beneath our feet

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey drills down into the future of geothermal electricity production in this week’s interview with Isabelle Chambefort from GNS Science. She’s excited about the potential for deep drilling to uncover ‘supercritical’ heat that supercharges geothermal power output, helping solve the dry year problem bedevilling or hydro dominated power system.

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This is Kiwi: Kiri Nathan on building community through creativity

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Kiri Nathan isn’t just a leading figure in the Aotearoa fashion industry, she’s a true inspiration – a remarkable artist and guiding mentor to young indigenous designers. Kiri stands apart from her peers in the world of fashion, with her commitment to incorporating her whakapapa in her creations by using Māori patterns, textiles and weaving techniques. In this kōrero we discover what motivates Kiri and the obstacles she’s conquered to achieve respect and success in this notoriously tough industry. We also learn about the impact she’s had at a community level that goes far beyond her personal achievements. The epitome of integrity and resilience, Kiri’s story and tenacity provide plenty for us to learn from about how we can bring more of ourselves to our own fields of passion, but also use our knowledge and experience to encourage and empower others.

Brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank

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What is the future of our banking system?

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -0000

As the world globalises, open banking is becoming an increasingly attractive prospect to customers, so why aren't our banks onboard yet? Bernard Hickey talks with Josh Daniell at FinTech firm Akahu about what’s being done in Aotearoa to accelerate the move to open banking, something already well advanced in Europe, the UK, and Australia.

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This is Kiwi: Robbie Van Dam on finding innovation everywhere

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Meet Robbie van Dam, a visionary entrepreneur and finalist for the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Spark Innovator Award for 2023. Through his company GoodNature, Robbie’s passion and commitment has helped revolutionise the pest control industry thanks to a groundbreaking trap that humanely kills pests with remarkable efficiency. With over 22 million pests killed worldwide and huge monetary savings in conservation efforts, Robbie’s inspiring story of challenging the status quo, making meaningful change and turning innovation into a global success is not to be missed.

Brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank

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Breaking the financial barriers for Māori

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -0000

The Māori economy is one of the fastest growing in the country, yet many tangata whenua still face major barriers when borrowing from banks to kickstart businesses. Kiwibank's head of Māori advisory Teaho Pihama sits down with Bernard Hickey to discuss the issues facing Māori when it comes to accessing capital and what practical solutions his team at Kiwibank are doing to give Māori greater access to lending.

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This is Kiwi: Dr Ellen Joan Nelson on embracing a better way of working

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Dr Ellen Nelson is a military veteran, esteemed academic, and Kiwibank local hero of the year for 2023. For this special kōrero we delve into Ellen’s passion for improving working conditions for parents and her campaigns advocating for flexible and inclusive workplaces.

We find out what drives Ellen, covering her bold approach to leadership, mammoth volunteer effort leading the evacuation of Afghan refugees to Aotearoa and academic achievements focusing on women’s empowerment. Ellen’s relatability and openness offer valuable insights as we learn from her wisdom and experiences in creating a more inclusive and balanced society.

Brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank

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Making climate adaptation as fair as possible

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0000

University of Auckland academic Troy Baisden and Catherine Leining from Motu Research talk to Benard Hickey about their new guide that gives a unique insight into how we can adapt fairly to a myriad of problems facing Aotearoa in the coming decades. They discuss what this research means, what the next steps are and what keeps them optimistic that we can achieve a just transition.

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This is Kiwi: Dr Rangi Mātāmua on finding wisdom in the stars

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Esteemed Matariki expert Dr Rangi Mātāmua brings a wealth of wisdom and expertise that extends beyond the stars, encompassing topics such as living by the Maramataka and food sovereignty.

With Matariki, the Māori new year, on the horizon, there's no better time to delve into the significance of this celestial celebration with someone who played a pivotal role in its recognition on the public holiday calendar. As a renowned expert in indigenous knowledge and the Professor of Mātauranga Māori at Massey University, Dr Rangi Mātāmua is Kiwibank's New Zealander of the Year for 2023.

In this very special episode, Dr Rangi joins host Jane Yee with a wealth of wisdom and expertise that extends beyond the stars, encompassing topics such as living by the Maramataka and food sovereignty. Gain applicable tips on how you can acknowledge Matariki and improve your relationship with the earth, all while being captivated by Dr Rangi's calming presence, delightful cheekiness, and profound wisdom.

Brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank

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When house price sustainability doesn’t mean affordability

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -0000

In 2021, the Reserve Bank told us that house prices were unsustainably high and would likely fall by around 15%. That has proven to be the case and the market is now considered sustainable. Yet, house price-to-income ratios are still two to three times higher than they were 20 years ago, and most people with regular incomes still struggle to buy homes. In this episode, Bernard Hickey talks to Reserve Bank researcher Dr Andrew Coleman about his research measuring house price sustainability and why house prices remain unaffordable, despite hitting sustainable levels.

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This is Kiwi: Simran Kaur on planning for future wealth

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -0000

As founder of Girls That Invest, Simran Kaur wears multiple hats: financial columnist, best-selling author, TEDx speaker, and financial literacy advocate. Her highly acclaimed podcast has garnered over four million downloads and topped the business podcast charts worldwide. At just 26 years old, Simran’s remarkable achievements, including speaking at the UK House of Parliament, defy her age.

In this conversation Jane Yee gets to know the woman behind the success story, revealing Simran’s humility, generosity and determination to empower others. Get a glimpse into the motivation, mindset and resilience of this remarkable wahine and learn from her wisdom and experience to help improve your own financial health.

Brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank

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The future runs on electric power

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 16:00:00 -0000

A groundbreaking transformation is underway in the United States, as they embark on an industrial revolution that aims to replace a staggering one billion fossil-fueled machines with clean, electric alternatives fueled by the forces of nature—wind, sun, and water. This remarkable shift, ignited by a masterful manoeuvre within the world's largest and most complex political economy, has set the stage for an inspiring journey. Bernard Hickey sits down with climate tech entrepreneur and activist Saul Griffith to unravel the story of how Saul and his fellow activists collaborated with Joe Biden's White House to successfully take control of the climate debate.

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This is Kiwi: Dave Letele on beating the odds

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 17:00:00 -0000

While you wait for the next episode of When the Facts Change, we thought you might enjoy This is Kiwi – a new series about inspiring New Zealanders brought to you by our friends at Kiwibank.

Beyond his triumphs in professional sport, Dave Letele has always maintained an unwavering commitment to his community. Through the establishment of the BBM Motivation foundation, Dave has emerged as a beacon of hope, establishing free fitness classes, nutritional guidance, and smarter food banks to help those eager to reclaim their health.

The Spinoff Podcast Network's Jane Yee sits down with the 2022 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year for a deeply moving conversation that transcends accolades and achievements, as she uncovers the heart and soul of Dave Letele's work. They discuss becoming a true advocate for change, empowering rangatahi to break free from their disadvantages and embracing a future overflowing with limitless possibilities.

Brought to you by Kiwibank together with The Spinoff Podcast Network

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How to ensure fairer infrastructure costs for all

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:00:00 -0000

For decades, the wealthiest New Zealanders have been reaping enormous private gains from public infrastructure investments. While those who benefit consider the game fair, the less fortunate bear the overwhelming burden of infrastructure costs. Bernard Hickey talks with Geoff Cooper, the head of strategy at the Infrastructure Commission, as they delve into groundbreaking policy ideas aimed at transforming the existing landscape. Together, they explore strategies to achieve better distribution of infrastructure costs and envision a society where all individuals contribute their fair share towards a brighter future.

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Redefining carbon farming in Aotearoa

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Both farmers and environmentalists fear Aotearoa becoming a sea-to-sea swathe of permanent Pinus radiata plantations that collect billions of dollars of carbon sequestration credits for investors, but few create long-term jobs and become deserts for native flora and fauna to thrive. But it doesn't have to be that way. There are plenty of redwood, eucalypt, and other fast-growing carbon sinks that foster native regrowth and birds, and which would keep billions of emissions credits in Aotearoa, rather than going overseas. Forestry consultant and carbon-farming veteran Mark Belton explains why a lot of farms just aren't economic and how plantations don't have to be just pine.

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Is AI enhancing efficiency or encroaching on humanity?

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 17:00:00 -0000

AI is gearing to be as much of a cultural revolution as the birth of the iPhone, but it’s still yet to be seen how its implementation in the workplace will impact everything from efficiency to recruitment. In this week’s episode of When the Facts Change, Bernard Hickey talks to CK Lee, founder of receipt scanning app Taggun, about how he uses AI in his business and as a tool to improve his thinking.

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How big does Chris Bishop want us to be?

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 18:31:00 -0000

National's housing spokesman Chris Bishop wants councils to zone enough land with enough pipes and roads to house 30 years worth of population growth, but not all through densification. In this week's episode of When The Facts Change, Bernard Hickey asks Bishop just how big he wants Aotearoa to be, and who will pay for all the extra infrastructure needed when that growth is on green fields.

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How we budget is costing us dearly

Thu, 25 May 2023 19:56:33 -0000

Aotearoa has been penny-wise and pound-foolish with its investments in maintaining and building public infrastructure and services. This week Bernard Hickey talks with wellbeing economist Katherine Trebeck about how the machinery of government, politicians and voters can think and plan differently to avoid that same pound-foolishness again

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Budget special: Bernard Hickey and Toby Manhire binge on bread and butter

Thu, 18 May 2023 06:31:00 -0000

With the political and economic gravities pulling in various directions, the finance minister was tasked with providing support for the hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis without heaping sugar in an already high-inflation sauce. And on top of that, it's an election year. To assess whether Grant Robertson managed to thread that needle, Gone By Lunchtime’s Toby Manhire sits down with When the Facts Change’s Bernard Hickey to discuss their Budget 2023 reactions.

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Could standardising housing drive down the prices?

Thu, 11 May 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Most new homes in Aotearoa are still designed with bespoke elements and a multitude of building materials. It feels a lot like the early days of cars, when there were thousands of manufacturers with many more thousands of models of cars. Then along came Henry Ford and Toyota to standardise and mass produce cars, driving prices down and quality up. This week Bernard Hickey talks with Simplicity Living MD Shane Brealey about how to build the Toyota Corolla of homes at two thirds the cost of other homes.

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The pathway to homeownership for solo buyers

Thu, 04 May 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Buying a home with a partner you're romantically involved with has always been the norm, but what if you're not in a relationship or prefer to go solo? Bernard Hickey talks to Kiwibank's Philippa Scott and Pip Maxwell about their new Co-own mortgages, which allow flatmates, brothers, sisters, cousins, and groups of friends to save, borrow and own houses together in ways that fit around modern family structures.

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How do we fix New Zealand's tax inequity?

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 17:00:00 -0000

An IRD investigation into the wealth of New Zealand's richest 311 families found they paid an effective tax rate of just 9.5%, less than a third the 30% effective rate being paid by single PAYE-taxpaying renter on $80,000 a year. This week Bernard Hickey talks to the report’s commissioner, revenue minister David Parker, to break down what the report says and discuss the fairness New Zealand's current tax system.

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How hiring autistic people benefits your workplace

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 17:00:00 -0000

As companies struggle to replace staff of all skill levels, is there a group of potential workers being overlooked by employers because they don't fit the traditional mold? Bernard Hickey talks with Autism NZ CEO Dane Dougan about the benefits that come with hiring autistic people and what employers can do to make their workplace safer for autistic staff members.

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What we need to do to meet our climate goals

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Aotearoa needs to double the size of its electricity industry over the next 30 years to meet our emissions reductions targets. We've done it before in 1945 to 1985 but can we do it again? With a myriad of privately and publicly owned companies waiting for market and regulatory signals, it seems unlikely. Bernard Hickey talks with electricity expert John Hancock about the prospects of doubling our power industry again and explains how we can get it done.

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Is your employer watching you work from home?

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 17:00:00 -0000

The surge in working from home looks here to stay, unleashing a whole new class of software tools for bosses to keep an eye on workers — and not always in a good way. Bernard Hickey talks to Multitudes.co founder and CEO Lauren Peate about the risks of employer surveillance, and how software can be made more ethical, more productive and less stressful.

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Will climate change wipe out your insurance?

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Since the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle, insurers have begun rapidly repricing the land beneath homes for flood risk, which is creating a Wild West for home owners impatient to find out if their lands are going to continue to be insurable. Bernard Hickey talks to insurance and banking academic Dr. Michael Naylor from Massey University to explore what home owners can do to protect their housing insurance in a warming climate.

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How Labour just hurt the Emissions Trading Scheme

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Chris Hipkins' dump of Ardern-era policy has potentially jeopardised a major part of the government's climate change response. Bernard Hickey talks to climate policy expert Christina Hood from Climate Compass to find out why this month’s Emissions Trading Scheme auction failed and how she feels cabinet have destroyed confidence in the market by accident.

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Bonus episode: Are the Greens willing to work with National?

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 21:13:00 -0000

With Chris Hipkins transitioning into a new era of policy, what does that mean for the Green Party's agreement with Labour? Green MP Julie Anne Genter joins Bernard to discuss the Green Party's position on Labour's policy dump, who they're willing to go into government with, and her hopes for the upcoming election.

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Why Auckland Council should just borrow

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 20:36:00 -0000

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has embarked on a money saving scheme to plug a $295 million "fiscal black hole" in the council's finances, but is it true? A Better Budget for Auckland's India Logan-Riley talks with Bernard Hickey about the flaws in Brown's logic and suggests an alternative to the mayor's belt tightening that doesn't involve slashing social services.

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The future of sustainable farmlands

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Is the environment changing faster than we can adapt to? The emissions trading scheme incentivised livestock farmers to rid their land of animals in favour of converting it for pine forestry. However, the silt and leftover slash used to make those forests are the same things that wrecked havoc on horticultural lands during Cyclone Gabrielle. Alison Dewes and John Burke are two farmers who feel they've adopted a much better, and more sustainable farming practice - converting some of their grass paddocks back into native forest and wetlands. They talk with Bernard Hickey about the benefits and hidden profits that have come with this decision, and how government could best write policy for farmers.

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Is corporate greed the real culprit behind inflation?

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Who is really winning from skyrocketing inflation? National Party finance spokesperson Nicola Willis went head to head with Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr this week, blaming him and the government for being an active contributor to inflation by printing mass amounts of money during the COVID response. However, another factor may be to blame - corporate price gouging. Bernard Hickey explores how widening company profit margins may be the real reason behind the countries inflation issues.

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Will we change in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle?

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Amongst the tragedy of Aotearoa's recent climate disasters is an opportunity to enact lasting legislation to prevent it happening again. Climate policy academic David Hall is tasked with finding the economically and politically sensible ways that we can adapt to the climate crisis. He talks with Bernard Hickey about gnarly politicking and the changes we need to make to avoid environmental disaster.

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How Cyclone Gabrielle will forever change the housing industry

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 16:00:00 -0000

The effects of climate change are beginning to pool at the feet of New Zealand's coastal home owners. Climate Sigma managing director Belinda Storey says most beachfront properties will either need to be moved or demolished in the next 30 years. She and Bernard discuss the morally hazardous world of climate finance, the future cost of repairing mega-mansions, and how the taxpayer can avoid footing the full bill.

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Will RMA reform actually solve our water woes?

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 16:00:00 -0000

A replacement to the Resource Management Act of 1991 is currently going through the motions of parliament with hopes to create more resource and eco friendly industries in Aotearoa. However, Irrigation NZ CEO Vanessa Winning is worried the new version of the RMA could create perverse and unintended consequences. Bernards talks to her about how the government's good intentions could negatively impact our produce production.

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How venture capitalism can fund a greener economy

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0000

How does Aotearoa stop relying so heavily on agriculture to prop up our economy? Online tax and accounting service Hnry just raised $35m to grow its software on-demand service across the globe. Bernard Hickey talks with AirTree partner Jackie Vullinghs about how venture capitalists are funding Aotearoa’s fastest growing, least-polluting and highest-wage export growth sector.

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Is Wellington at risk of a slow, painful death?

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Parts of the nation's capital have turned into a wasteland of red stickers, and 'for lease' signs. WellingtonNZ CEO John Allen has been given the challenge of breathing new life into the city's economy, businesses, and image. He talks to Bernard about housing and hotel shortages, sewerage on the streets, a movie industry on the brink of collapse, and all the other challenges facing Te Whanganui-a-Tara in the coming decade.

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Tory Whanau's plan for transport, housing, and the future of Wellington City

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Wellington has a new mayor determined to shake things up. At the beginning of the year, Tory Whanau was a mayoral candidate pitching her ambitious vision for the future of Wellington city. Now, she sits in the top spot and is tasked with turning that vision into a reality. She talks with Bernard, exactly one year on from when they last spoke on the podcast, to discuss economics, housing, and who she would be nervous about becoming the next transport minister.

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Mini-pod: "Let that sink in"

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 15:00:00 -0000

In a three-episode miniseries over summer Bernard breaks down the quotes from 2022 that changed everything... This episode, Elon Musk confidently strides into Twitter HQ to claim his new seat as CEO holding... A sink?

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Mini-pod: "Wicked perfect storm"

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 15:00:00 -0000

In a three-episode miniseries over summer Bernard breaks down the quotes from 2022 that changed everything... This episode, Jacinda Ardern blames a "wicked perfect storm" for the cost of living crisis that swept over the entire country.

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Mini-pod: "Cool the jets"

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 15:00:00 -0000

In a three-episode miniseries over summer Bernard breaks down the quotes from 2022 that changed everything... This episode, Adrian Orr tells New Zealanders to "cool their jets", signalling a dark storm cloud set to loom over the economy.

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So the economy's a mess... What now?

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Well that took a turn, didn't it? With a war in Ukraine, supply chain mayhem and a deadly disease tearing through the workforce, this year was one for the history books. Bernard is joined by Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr to discuss the previous year, increasing interest rates and what it all means for 2023.

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Mind the pay gap

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 22:24:00 -0000

Why is it that women still earn less than men across many industries in New Zealand? Economist Isabelle Sim is using groundbreaking research to uncover why the stubbornly high pay gap really exists. She talks with Bernard about how other countries achieve pay equity, working mums, and why transparency is the best way forward.

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Turning the nation's happiness into data

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 13:00:00 -0000

The Treasury has just published a government mandated report on the overall wellbeing of our country. Typically, a country's success would be measured by GDP, employment rates, and net debt, but this report aims to redefine how New Zealand measures growth. Tim Ng from the Treasury talks with Bernard about how this shifting of the goalposts might affect the future of political investment.

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Pensioner poverty has changed the retirement debate

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 15:00:00 -0000

We hear a lot about young people struggling with housing affordability, but much less is spoken of how the housing crisis will impact pensioners. A new report shows we're at serious risk of doubling the number of retirees facing rent and mortgage stress by 2048. While the debate around who should get NZ Superannuation and how much they should get has been mostly frozen in time since the late 1990s, the current landscape means the debate has now changed.

Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson joins Bernard Hickey to discuss how we can keep elderly renters and those still with mortgages out of poverty, what this could mean for NZ Superannuation eligibility and what will happen if nothing changes.

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How to share your capital gains

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 15:00:00 -0000

While billionaires build their bunkers in Queenstown, Julie Scott, CEO of the Community Housing Trust is building affordable homes with profits made by new suburb developers. She tells Bernard all about how inclusionary rezoning can be used to make the rapidly expanding region affordable for locals again

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How do we solve our emissions issue?

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Methane and nitrous oxide produced by cows and sheep remain the biggest barrier to Aotearoa meeting its emissions reduction goal. Science writer Melanie Newfield talks with Bernard to break down The Government's recent policy announcement and discuss why gassy livestock is so crucial to the country's climate solution.

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Nicola Willis is breaking from tradition

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 16:00:00 -0000

The National Party's Deputy Leader has spoken out against The Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr, calling for an independent review if National are elected in 2023. Skyrocketing house prices and record-high inflation are being blamed on The Government's money printing scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic. Willis says an external review would answer the question - how can this be avoided in the future?

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Another broken relationship with the Crown

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 15:00:00 -0000

As central and local government battle for asset control, the lack of investment in infrastructure becomes an ever-growing issue. Bernard talks to former Auckland Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse about the tension between these forms of government and how it can be mended - what has ruptured in these relationships and why does it matter?

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How effective is our environmental spending?

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Aotearoa’s Government spends $2b a year on the environment, but where does that money go? Backed by his recently published report on our tracking of emissions, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton dives into discussion with Bernard Hickey on the importance of collective clarity and knowledge in the measurement of our environmental spending.

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How green is your building?

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Building developers and funders are scrambling to work out how much carbon dioxide is emitted or captured in a building’s construction and operation over its lifetime. Jasmax’s Carbon Research Lead, Paul Jurasovich, joins Bernard to map out the new world of carbon budgeting for buildings (such as the five star green-rated Kiwibank corporate office in Auckland).

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Using NFTs and engineered wood to solve housing problems

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Professor Anthony Hoete is trying to solve some of the biggest housing problems in Te Ao Māori with new tools and technology. He talks with Bernard Hickey on This weeks When the Facts Change about using NFTs to bring together dispersed iwi land titles and engineered timber to turn iwi forests into homes that are carbon sinks.

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How to mark a B Corp

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Kiwibank has just produced its first sustainability report as a B Corp, paving the way for big organisations joining the ESG reporting movement. But what does a pass mark look like? How can the marking process be used to do better? CEO Steve Jurkovich joins Bernard in conversation to korero about what Kiwibank did to its climate emissions, how it measured pay equity and what can be done to help fund Māori housing.

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The build-to-rent solution

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Private rentals owned by ‘Mum and Dad’ landlords are expensive and unstable, making it difficult for tenants and their tamariki to settle into their communities and schools. As renting becomes a long-term reality for more and more of us, is there a better way? In this episode, Bernard is joined by Helen O’Sullivan, CEO of Crockers Property Group, to talk about one possible solution, and what policy tweaks the government needs to make to help it grow.

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The three horsemen of our housing apocalypse

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 16:00:00 -0000

It's evident to those living in Aotearoa that doing so does not come cheap, but did you know our housing and rental affordability is the worst in the world? Treasury Chief Economist Dominick Stephens went hunting with a team of Government experts for the reasons why. Revealing the three key factors driving our housing market, Stephens deep dives into conversation with Bernard Hickey on how the combination of lower interest rates, land use restrictions and our tax system has caused such an explosion.

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So who 'owns' the car parks?

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 16:00:00 -0000

The great battle for walkable cities that prioritise cyclists and pedestrians over cars has only just begun. In this battle, Waka Kotahi is a key player in deciding how this battle plays out. In this week's episode, Bernard Hickey talks to Waka Kotahi's urban mobile manager Kathryn King to find out how mode shift might be allowed, or made to happen.

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Economics 101 for housing supply

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey dives deep into the demand and supply factors behind our endemic housing shortages with Kiwibank economist Jeremy Couchman, including what they might mean for house prices.

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What Adrian Orr just learned about the global economy

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 16:00:00 -0000

The Reserve Bank Governor has just returned from the hottest and most important annual get together of central bankers at Jackson Hole in Wyoming. He found a bunch of Governors hunkered down and under attack because inflation blew past their targets this year. He talks exclusively to Bernard Hickey about what has changed permanently in the workings of the global economy that is slowing growth and increasing inflation, and why we should care here in Aotearoa.

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Two epic tax fails

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 01:09:00 -0000

Revenue Minister David Parker steered the government into a political minefield this week with his extension of GST to all KiwiSaver fees that was gone by lunchtime within a day. Bernard Hickey talks with tax expert and historian Terry Baucher about why this epic fail pales in comparison to another from 33 years ago when Labour’s David Caygill failed to introduce a Capital Gains Tax to match our ‘perfect’ GST and income tax systems.

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The finger of blame for high house prices

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 16:00:00 -0000

The "official" economists in Wellington went hunting for the true culprit behind Aotearoa’s house prices and rents being the most expensive in the world – but perhaps the biggest culprit is the government itself. With Wellington gaslighting the councils, now the finger of blame may be turning back in its direction. In this week's episode, Bernard Hickey talks to Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate about the funding infrastructure and challenges, as well as why not enough land was opened up, to then be sold.

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Aotearoa's future of low battery anxiety

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Electricity is something we can't live without at this stage in global growth – but with expensive renewable supply, how do users and the industry match the demand? In this week's episode, Bernard Hickey speaks with Octopus Energy's Margaret Cooney about possible solutions to shift away from expensive peaks, and how an obscure law change might unleash a surge of retail competition, all in the hopes of calming our collective low battery anxiety.

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Is your property a climate change hot potato?

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 16:00:00 -0000

If climate change projections make their way to Land Information Memorandums, owners of coastal properties may find themselves struggling to stay afloat long before waves start lapping at their door. Vulnerable properties will become uninsurable causing banks to withhold lending – suddenly passing on that slice of hot potato paradise will be near impossible. This week James Shaw joins Bernard Hickey to talk about the real meaning of climate change adaptation and who's responsible for funding infrastructure that will mitigate the effects of climate change.

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Finally, more women in construction

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 16:00:00 -0000

With unemployment now having climbed to 3.3% within the industry, builders are now crying out for workers. With this ascent and historically driven as a mostly male-dominated field, they’re getting serious about hiring the other half of the population. Bernard Hickey talks with Kiwibank economist Mary Jo Vergara about a surprise rise in employment growth for women in construction.

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Could full transparency solve our pay equity problems?

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Imagine living in a society where details about everyone’s earnings and taxes are publicly available. With a gender pay gap of just 4%, Norway has operated under this system of pay transparency since the 1800s and some argue it’s time for a similar approach in Aotearoa. Join Bernard Hickey as he talks to AUT Professor Gail Pacheco, who heads the NZ Work Research Institute, about whether pay transparency is the answer to help address our pay equity gaps for women, Māori and Pasifika.

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The reality of free fares

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Half-price bus and train fares are good, but wouldn’t completely free fares be even better? Bernard Hickey talks to transport and urban planning academic Jen McArthur about the economics and the politics of free public transport. He even discovers some positives that make the idea more attractive to the usual opponents.

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Time to pull the migration lever?

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Businesses, hospitals and the opposition are pleading for a loosening of migrant worker restrictions to ease the intense labour shortages that are forcing cancellations and jury-rigged services up and down the motu. Bernard Hickey sits down to interview Productivity Commission chair Ganesh Nana to find out if a migration surge would solve our productivity problem, and why any decision to pull the migration lever must also look to pull the infrastructure investment lever.

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Is the housing market’s tide really turning?

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 16:00:00 -0000

For decades we've been warned of major slumps that never happened, but the Reserve Bank's new chief economist says this time, it's different. With a history of central bank governors and finance ministers making similar predictions that never came to pass, listen as Bernard Hickey challenges Paul Conway's view that the housing market’s ever-upward tide may be turning.

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Shy small businesses are holding the nation back

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Why do so few of our small businesses make the leap to become bigger, faster-growing engine rooms for economic growth and higher wages? Curiously, Aotearoa also has a long tail of older business owners that are comfortable bumbling along with sub-scale firms that would do better with bigger and more ambitious owners. This week Bernard Hickey talks to ABC Business Sales MD Chris Small about why so many business owners won’t jump up, or out, and why it’s holding back the nation as a whole.

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The great resignation hits Aotearoa

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 16:00:00 -0000

The employment landscape currently favours workers, yet we’re still reluctant to ask for a pay rise and fear being sacked. Bernard Hickey is joined by AUT professor Jarrod Harr to examine how work culture, pay, conditions and the power relationships between employers and employees have been transformed by the pandemic and try to figure out why workers still feel insecure and what employers can do to combat the great resignation.

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Inflation everywhere, except the housing market

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 16:00:00 -0000

It’s hitting food, petrol, rent, shipping and wages, but inflation hasn’t touched the housing market. Bernard is joined by Kiwibank economist Mary-Jo Vergara to unpack the surprisingly big and long spike of inflation that is cascading into every aspect of our day-to-day lives.

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Budget 2022: Reaction special

Thu, 19 May 2022 04:17:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey (When The Facts Change; parliament studio) and Toby Manhire (Gone By Lunchtime; Auckland studio) join forces for a budget reaction crossover special.

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The rise of the inflation robots

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Inflation has become the thief in our wallets for the first time in a generation and there are plenty of culprits to blame. The Ukraine War, supply chain disruptions and US$10t of money printing are the first and most obvious cabs off the rank, but there's a new and more insidious source of inflation developing: automatic inflation. These annual CPI-linked price increases from a range of companies, utilities, government departments and regulated services are fine when inflation is "normal" and stable around 2%, but this year’s 6% increases are turning into a nasty feedback loop of inflationary pressure that will hurt those on the lowest disposable incomes the hardest. Bernard Hickey goes on the hunt for these inflation robots in this last episode of this season of When The Facts Change. He asks Finance Minister Grant Robertson whether the likes of Chorus should lift its prices in line with inflation and finds out from Paul Fuge, who manages Powerswitch.org.nz for Consumer NZ, how electricity companies are pushing through increased rates amid a confusing welter of regulatory changes.

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Bonus episode: What the new lending rules mean for mortgages

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:00:00 -0000

In December 2021 the government made changes to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act that were designed to protect borrowers – but had consequences that saw reports of people being rejected for lending because they had takeaways too often, had too many streaming subscriptions, and even because they made regular investments. Earlier this month, the Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs, David Parker announced that the Government plans to make further changes to the CCCFA to help avoid these unintended outcomes. To understand where we are at with bank lending – and what the changes are designed to achieve – Jo Kupa, Kiwibank Mortgage Area Manager and Madeleine Allen, Mobile Mortgage Manager for Kiwibank joined The Spinoff’s Simon Day on the monthly bonus episode of When The Facts Change, brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank.

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Petrol prices and our lizard brains

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 15:00:00 -0000

The government’s decision to cut fuel taxes this week highlights just how hard it is for politicians and voters to deal with short sharp shocks to the system. The ‘lizard brain’ part of our body politic has evolved to recoil from a petrol price shock, but this type of ‘thinking fast’ will need to be replaced with ‘thinking slow’ if we are to engineer a just transition to carbon zero. To find out more, Bernard talks to political scientist Bronwyn Hayward, environmental sociologist and public health researcher Kirsty Wild and economist Rosie Collins about how to replace thinking fast with thinking slow in our climate change actions.

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Unpacking our supermarkets’ superprofits

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Back in 2002, supermarket chains Foodtown and Woolworths were allowed to combine into the group now known as Countdown. That consolidated the market down to a duopoly of the Australian-owned Countdown and the local cooperative of Foodstuffs, which owns Pak’nSave, New World and Four Square. A new report published by the Commerce Commission this week found the duopoly has used its market power to suck profits from either side of them in the grocery supply chain to make an estimated $430m a year in superprofits. To help unpack the report’s findings, Bernard talks to Sarah Balle, the founder of online grocery startup Supie.co.nz, about how hard it is going up against such a powerful duopoly, and Food and Grocery Council CEO Katherine Rich explains the fight supermarket suppliers face to be treated fairly.

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What strawberries can teach us about NZ’s economy

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 15:00:00 -0000

New Zealand has a lot of small businesses, but relatively few of them expand into larger, more productive operations. Strawberry farms are a good example of this – many don’t invest in technology or systems to grow scale or profits, because it’s more profitable to simply wait for the farm’s land value to rise instead. But there are some interesting exceptions out there too. This week, Bernard talks to strawberry scientist Geoff Langford and Kiwibank business banking manager Wayne McEntee about the sorts of choices small businesses face around going up, going out, or just remaining stagnant.

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What the Reserve Bank's latest decision means

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0000

The Reserve Bank made its first big set piece decision of the year this week, releasing its monetary policy statement and raising the Official Cash Rate to 1.0%. So what does that mean for interest rates and house prices? In this week’s episode, Bernard Hickey asks Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr about the property price boom and wage inflation, and talks through the implications of the Reserve Bank’s decisions and outlook with Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr.

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Bonus episode: The power of diversity and inclusion

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0000

This year marks 50 years of the gay liberation movement in New Zealand – 50 years of fight, advocacy, celebration, progress and frustration in the Rainbow community’s struggle for equality and equity. In recognition of the Pride festival this month, Liz Knight, chief risk officer at Kiwibank and a proud member of the Rainbow community, and Jess Segal, senior manager of Leadership, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Kiwibank, joined The Spinoff's Simon Day to discuss how far New Zealand has come – and the work that still needs to be done.

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Aluminium prices vs our climate plans

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0000

The price of aluminium has exploded in the last six months – so much so that Rio Tinto now wants to delay the closure of the aluminium smelter it owns at Tiwai Point beyond the planned end date of 2024. But this decision has thrown a big spanner into the works of climate change planners, investors and politicians, who had been working under the assumption that, come 2024, the 13% of the nation’s power supply that Tiwai Point uses would become available to help cities decarbonise their transport fleets. To find out more about what Tiwai Point staying would do for our climate plans, Bernard talks to climate change minister James Shaw and renewable energy expert Rebecca Peer.

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Light rail’s heavy carbon footprint

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Building a light rail line between Auckland’s CBD and the airport sounds like a good thing for the climate and reducing transport emissions. But the new plan to dig a long tunnel and lay a new railway line will actually generate an extra 400,000 tonnes of carbon emissions in its first 10 years, and take until 2040 before it starts being carbon negative. Still sound like a good idea? In this episode, Bernard Hickey talks to transport minister Michael Wood and economist Andrew Schoultz about how the government’s light rail plans fit with their climate targets, and how business and government planners are incorporating things like emissions forecasts, shadow carbon prices and discount rates into their planning.

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Why is everything getting more expensive?

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Who or what is responsible for all the price inflation we’ve been seeing lately? And how do we know when we’re paying too much? Bernard Hickey talks to economic consultant Donal Curtin (previously of the New Zealand Commerce Commission) and Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr.

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A big year for local politics

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 15:00:00 -0000

All the political roads in housing and climate change lead to council chambers rather than parliament these days. This week, we look ahead to the high stakes local elections in October, which will decide whether much progress is made in the next decade to deal with our twin emergencies. Bernard talks to Wellington mayoral candidate Tory Whanau about how tough 2021 was in local politics, and the massive year ahead.

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A big year for the economy

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Against all expectations a year ago, the global economy ended 2021 wracked by inflation and a debate about whether it’s transitory (and so can be ignored by central banks) or bedding in (and should be beaten down with higher interest rates). Bernard talks with Kiwibank’s Jarrod Kerr about what’s happening in our housing market and how well our exporters have done to offset the collapses of international tourism and education exports.

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Bonus episode: The dangers of debt

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Natalie Vincent is the chief executive of Ngā Tangata Microfinance Trust, which works with New Zealanders experiencing financial hardship to provide them with small, safe, interest-free loans and mentorship to help them get – and stay – out of debt. The last two years have been the busiest in the organisation’s history, and December 2021 brought the most referrals for support yet. Natalie tells Simon Day how easy it can be for people to get into financial difficulty when one crisis puts them into debt, how hard it can be to get out and the importance of building financial capability and wellbeing.

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A big year for housing

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 15:00:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey is joined by Ockham founder Mark Todd to dig through a massive year for housing. They talk about the record high number of houses being built despite all sorts of supply chain grief and skills shortages, plus whether the ‘Townhouse Nation’ law changes rammed through Parliament will actually make a difference, or leave us regretting the prescriptive legislation in years to come.

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Summer reissue: An epic intergenerational wealth transfer

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 16:00:00 -0000

When the Facts Change is taking a short break over summer. We'll be back with new episodes soon, but until then here's one of our most popular episodes of 2021.

From July: Over the last 30 years, a generation of voters and politicians made a decision to stop investing in infrastructure – it’s expensive, and it means you can’t cut taxes or keep rates low. Now we’re seeing the collective catastrophe of this underinvestment landing on our heads in the form of labour shortages and massive housing affordability problems. In this episode, Bernard Hickey reveals an intergenerational wealth transfer worth $1 trillion, and how it could be atoned for and reversed – if only to ensure the culprits can enjoy watching their grandchildren grow up healthy, warm and in person. Guests: Ockham Residential founder Mark Todd and Stephen Sutorius, owner of Thames Pacific.

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Summer reissue: The impossible dream of home ownership

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0000

When the Facts Change is taking a short break over summer. We'll be back with new episodes soon, but until then here's one of our most popular episodes of 2021.

From June: For a growing number of Wellingtonians, the dream of owning a home in the city is all but dead. And it's the same story in other parts of the country too – successive governments have sat on their hands afraid that doing anything to create more housing might drive down prices, and as a result median rents and house prices have skyrocketed out of reach. To find out more about the costs of this housing inaction and Wellington's Spatial Plan, Bernard talks to Ashok Jacob from Renters United, Alison Anitawaru Cole from Victoria University, director of the Growing Up in New Zealand study Susan Morton and Kiwibank senior economist Jeremy Couchman.

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Eight years to carbon zero

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0000

The UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow earlier this year removed all doubt about how fast we need to cut climate emissions. If we’re to keep warming below 1.5 degrees, we need to make big changes by 2030 – two or three decades to build rail lines and wait for Tiwai Point to close won’t cut it any more. So what needs to be done to rapidly engineer a just transition to zero carbon in less than a decade? Bernard Hickey talks to Our Energy CEO John Campbell about how virtual energy trading of distributed solar energy generation could help, and climate activist Paul Winton explains why we have to reconfigure our existing roads for cycling, walking and buses ASAP.

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Our discounted future

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0000

The social discount rate is one of the tools the government uses to calculate the cost benefit analysis on long-term investments. And according to a report released earlier this week, our social discount rate has been too high for more than 30 years. In this episode, Bernard Hickey looks at the way the government makes decisions around intergenerational issues like climate change, child poverty and housing affordability, and how things like discount rates have disadvantaged future generations. To find out more, he talks to parliamentary commissioner for the environment Simon Upton, who’s calling on Treasury to lower New Zealand’s discount rate, and public sector analyst Jess Berentson-Shaw from The Workshop, who has seen how the use of high discount rates has frozen the public service in time.

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The shipping forecast

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Like the rest of the world, Aotearoa’s ports are clogged with containers, trucks, ships and growing shipping bills. But it’s not all because of Covid worker shortages and lockdowns. In this episode, Bernard Hickey looks at how the many weird economic effects of Covid are playing out through the world’s logistics chains, from frantic factories to empty store shelves and even Adele’s new album. Guests: Chris Edwards, president of the Custom Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation, and professor Tava Olsen, director of the Centre of Supply Chain Management at the University of Auckland Business School.

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Bonus episode: A new way of banking, with Steve Jurkovich

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Steve Jurkovich has been CEO of Kiwibank for three years, during which time he has introduced a raft of changes – from embracing te ao Māori to registering as a B Corp. He tells The Spinoff's Duncan Greive what's driven this reimagining of the organisation.

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Can we make housing affordable without crashing the market?

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0000

This week new National leader Chris Luxon was asked a question that was posed to Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins before last year’s election: Do you want house prices to fall? It’s a curly one for politicians to answer – how do they make housing more affordable while at the same time preventing the market from collapsing? In this episode Bernard Hickey attempts to figure out how it could be done, and how long it might take to happen. He talks to Sense Partners economist Kirdan Lees, who co-wrote the ground-breaking analysis of the bipartisan ‘Townhouse Nation’ accord, architect and urban design writer Jade Kake and Green MP for Auckland Central Chlöe Swarbrick.

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You deserve a raise

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 15:00:00 -0000

New Zealand’s Labour Cost Index showed a 2.4% wage increase last year. But when you set that against an inflation increase of 4.9% over the same period, in real terms the average New Zealander took a 2.5% pay cut. In a tight labour market, we should in theory all be marching into our boss’s office and asking for a raise – so why isn’t this happening? To find out, Bernard Hickey talks to CTU chief economist Craig Renney and Kiwibank economist Mary Jo Vergara.

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What’s behind the booming art market?

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Back in March, a virtually unheard-of digital artist called Mike Winkelmann, aka Beeple, made a collage of 5,000 pieces of his digital art into an NFT and sold it via auction house Christie’s. When the hammer finally fell, bids had reached over US$69million. In just the last couple of weeks, some similarly eye-watering prices have been fetched in New Zealand’s fine art market, with Michael Parekowhai’s sculpture 'A Peak In Darien' selling at auction for a record-breaking NZ$2.05million. In this episode, Bernard Hickey looks at how the rise of NFT art and the state of the world’s art markets in general have a direct connection to what’s happening in financial markets and the monetary system globally, and where it’s all headed.

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Bonus episode: The rise and rise of cyber fraud

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Recorded during Fraud Awareness Week, Simon Day speaks to Neil Hallett, the New Zealand Operations Manager for IDCARE Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. Kiwibank is a key partner of IDCARE, and the bank refers its customers who have been victims of cyber crime to the charity’s support services. IDCARE offers victims a trained case management officer to guide them through the practical steps for what they need to do to respond to the fraud. Neil discussed why Covid-19 has created fertile ground for cyber crime, what makes people vulnerable to scams, and what you need to do to protect yourself.

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The KiwiSaver provider and developer teaming up on housing

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Back in 2008 New Zealand's property development sector went bust, and it scarred people for over a decade. How do we move past that now that we’ve got all this KiwiSaver money which could be used to build houses much more affordably? Simplicity managing director Sam Stubbs and NZ Living director Shane Brealey join Bernard Hickey to talk about their big plans.

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Climate change and house prices

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Last month the Reserve Bank of New Zealand released its 2021 Climate Change Report, the first significant report it has released on the topic since launching its Climate Change Strategy in 2018. In this episode, Bernard takes a deep dive into what climate change means for monetary policy, and the one thing that dominates not just New Zealand’s economy but our society in general – house prices. With Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr and Victoria University economist Belinda Storey.

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Bonus episode: Covid and our economy

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Kiwibank economist Mary Jo Vergara joins Simon Day to talk about how Covid-19 has affected the local economy over the last two years. What has the pandemic revealed about the country’s economic strengths and weaknesses, and what does the forecast for the future look like? Mary Jo also speaks to the financial position of women in Aotearoa and how they have been among the worst affected by the economic fallout from the pandemic.

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How would a central bank digital currency work?

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Central banks all over the world have been looking at building their own digital currencies – and in the last couple of months, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has issued a discussion paper about how one might work here. To find out more, Bernard talks to Ian Woolford, the head of money and cash at the RBNZ, and Janine Grainger, the CEO of NZ-based exchange Easy Crypto.

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Three storeys high and rising

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 14:00:00 -0000

A big new bipartisan deal on housing was announced this week that could change the face of our cities and allow more medium-density housing to be built. But is there a piece of the puzzle missing? To discuss the new RMA changes and the issues they raise, Bernard is joined by Wellington City Councillor Tamatha Paul, Wellington Regional Councillor Thomas Nash, National Party housing spokesperson Nicola Willis and Kiwibank economist Jeremy Couchman.

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Joining the dots to solve the housing crisis

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:00:00 -0000

There’s no shortage of cash piled up in New Zealand’s banks and pension funds – but what we do have a shortage of is affordable housing. So how do we connect all the money in the institutional funding sector with the housing projects that would begin to solve the housing crisis? To find out more, Bernard talks to Community Finance GM Paul Gilberd, Forever Affordable Housing founder Imogen Schoots and Community Housing Aotearoa CEO Victoria Crockford.

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What we've learned about working from home

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Over the last 18 months Covid-19 has changed the way many of us work and put real pressures on how we organise our lives. To find out more about how the culture of work has changed, the rise of burnout and the inequities the pandemic has exposed, Bernard Hickey talks to tech leader Rowan Simpson and clinical psychologist Jacqui Maguire.

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The B Corp moment

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 14:00:00 -0000

More and more companies are committing to doing sustainable and ethical business by becoming B Corporation accredited. Bernard Hickey talks to Kiwibank CEO Steve Jurkovich about what B Corp certification means and why they’ve done it, and B Corp ambassador Tim Jones from Grow Good explains what companies have to do to become accredited.

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How sustainable is your supply chain?

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Over the last 30 years, we’ve built an incredibly complex supply chain to give us stuff really cheap. But is it really? Or have the costs just been pushed onto the environment and other workers? How do we find out which products are produced cleanly and don’t impose those unseen costs?

On this week’s episode, Bernard speaks to John Holt, who’s launching All Things Considered – a global directory that collates, organises and fact checks the sustainability claims of companies and organisations. He also talks to Sam Jones, founder of apparel company Little Yellow Bird, about how she’s using this information to do business in a sustainable, transparent way.

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Cleaning up capitalism from the inside out

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 15:00:00 -0000

ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing is a movement that has arisen over the last decade or so, where big fund managers invest only in companies with sustainable, socially responsible policies. It turns out this is often also the most profitable approach in the long run. One of the leading players in this movement has been the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, and its CEO Matt Whineray joins Bernard Hickey in this episode to talk about how the fund operates its ESG policy. Bernard also talks to Barry Coates, founder and CEO of individual ethical investment tool Mindful Money, about how to tell if a company is really as ethical as they say they are.

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Bonus episode: Why Kiwibank is embracing te ao Māori

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 15:00:00 -0000

In recognition of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and what the language means to the fabric of Aotearoa, The Spinoff’s commercial editorial director Simon Day speaks to Teahooterangi Pihama, head of Māori advisory, and Keita Te Ngoungou, Kiwibank Māori advisor. They’ve been given a mandate to steer the Kiwibank waka on it’s journey into te ao Māori, and talk about why te reo Māori is important for all New Zealanders, and how lifting the cultural competency at Kiwibank can improve outcomes for Māori staff and customers, support the growth of the Māori economy and raise the financial capabilities of Māori.

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The future of capitalism, with Luigi Zingales

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Gordon Gekko’s “Greed is Good” era of shareholder-driven global capitalism is ending, but what and who will replace it? Bernard Hickey interviews renowned Chicago School economist, author and podcaster Luigi Zingales (Capitalisn't) about what went wrong with corporate capitalism and how it could be fixed.

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The case for mandatory vaccines in the workplace

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Businesses face a big task and some big decisions in the months ahead. They need to ensure as many staff as possible get vaccinated, without breaking the law or alienating their workforces. They’ll have to look at their own vaccination programmes, their own testing policies and their employment policies. Should they adopt a “no jab no job” policy? Can they? To discuss where these lines will be drawn and who should be doing that drawing – businesses or government – Bernard Hickey talks to BusinessNZ CEO Kirk Hope and Frances Hughes from Oceania Healthcare.

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Bonus episode: How businesses are responding to the return of Covid-19

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 21:00:00 -0000

When New Zealand’s second national level four lockdown was announced in August, it was a situation many New Zealand business owners were already familiar with and prepared for. The Spinoff’s commercial editorial director Simon Day speaks to Quentin Quin, chief customer officer – business banking at Kiwibank, about what businesses have learned from the last 18 months and how that’s changed their response to the most recent outbreak. Before joining Kiwibank, Quentin worked in a number of post conflict countries, emerging economies and unregulated unstable business environments, and he compares that experience to the economic uncertainty of Covid-19.

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Who's taking advantage of the wage subsidy scheme?

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Last year the government paid out $14 billion in wage subsidies to businesses as part of the Covid-19 response. This included a number of large companies who went on to deliver big annual profits and dividends to shareholders – and very few of those companies have repaid it. In this week’s episode, Bernard Hickey looks at the ethics of the wage subsidy scheme and asks: where is the accountability? And is the social license that was there for wage subsidies in March 2020 still there now? Guests: Professor Jilnaught Wong from the University of Auckland and Peter Vial of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand.

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How should we plan our population?

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 15:01:00 -0000

How big do we want Aotearoa to be? How fast do we want it to grow, and where? And are we still a classless society, or are we becoming a country of owners and servants? In this episode, Bernard Hickey looks at the need for an actual population policy alongside new migration settings. To find out more he talks to demographers Paul Spoonley and Tahu Kukutai, the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission's Geoff Cooper and geographer Francis Collins.

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The political economy of the climate crisis

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 15:00:00 -0000

How is it that democracies can only make big, politically difficult changes when faced with an emergency? We did it last year with Covid-19 – so could we do it again with the climate emergency that is in our faces right now? New reports released this week all point to the fact we can’t really afford to wait any longer – we need to take some political and economic pain to reduce emissions, and do it fast. To explore the political economy issues of dealing with climate change as an emergency, Bernard talks to Stephen Mills from UMR, researcher Jess Berentson-Shaw and the 1point5 Project’s Paul Winton.

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How do we fix our unkind migration system?

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 14:00:00 -0000

What does the way we treat our migrant population say about who we are as a country? With around 200,000 people living and working in New Zealand on temporary visas, pressure is mounting on the government to make sweeping policy changes to address the limbo these migrants are being left in – an already Kafkaesque situation which has only been exacerbated by Covid. To look at how we ended up in this situation and what needs to be done to tackle the problems that have arisen as a result, Bernard talks to National’s immigration spokesperson Erica Stanford, The New Zealand Initiative's Eric Crampton and Dr Oliver Hartwich, along with immigration lawyer Alistair McClymont.

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Back to the future of public transport

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Bernard Hickey goes on a journey to find out how New Zealand's fascinating public transport history can inform our future, meeting musician, historian and public transport advocate Anthonie Tonnon at Whanganui’s historic Durie Hill underground elevator. Built in 1919, the elevator was once part of an extensive and heavily used public transport network in the city – how were these networks built, why did they die off and what can they tell us about the future of public transport in this country? To find out more about the current state of public transport and what happens next, Bernard talks to transport minister Michael Wood.

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Bonus episode: SMEs with Kiwibank’s Joanna Greaves

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0000

The Spinoff business editor Michael Andrew speaks to Joanna Greaves, head of the small and medium enterprise team at Kiwibank. As an award-winning dairy farmer, accountant, agricultural ambassador and small business owner, Joanna has a wonderful insight into the value and the realities of SMEs in New Zealand.

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How do we get a vaccination rate over 80%?

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Around the world, countries are seeing Covid-19 vaccination rates plateauing at around 50-60% – and it's hurting them badly. So how will we get our Covid-19 vaccination rates up to the 80%-90% required for herd immunity? In this episode, Bernard Hickey explains how we can nudge our way to that target using behavioural economics and behavioural finance to get there. To find out more, he speaks to Māori health advocate Rawiri McKree Jansen and vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris.

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A big money-saving solar power idea

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 15:00:00 -0000

New Zealand's electricity market isn't working to produce enough renewable power to get to carbon zero by 2050 – but maybe there’s a solution in solar power and batteries in everyone’s homes. In this episode, Bernard Hickey explores an idea for how the government could shake up the electricity sector and return the big taxpayer-built power schemes to public ownership. Guests: Flick Electric Co CEO Steve O’Connor and Eric Pyle, the director of public affairs and policy at solarZero.

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An epic intergenerational wealth transfer

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Over the last 30 years, a generation of voters and politicians made a decision to stop investing in infrastructure – it’s expensive, and it means you can’t cut taxes or keep rates low. Now we’re seeing the collective catastrophe of this underinvestment landing on our heads in the form of labour shortages and massive housing affordability problems. In this episode, Bernard Hickey reveals an intergenerational wealth transfer worth $1 trillion, and how it could be atoned for and reversed – if only to ensure the culprits can enjoy watching their grandchildren grow up healthy, warm and in person. Guests: Ockham Residential founder Mark Todd and Stephen Sutorius, owner of Thames Pacific.

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Looking for hope in our housing crisis

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0000

In last week’s episode, Bernard Hickey talked about how he had given up hope for affordable housing. This week, he talks to some people who still have hope to hear their ideas on how to solve New Zealand’s housing crisis. Kay Saville-Smith is a longtime researcher and policy advisor on housing who still believes there are ways through – in fact, she’s more hopeful now than she has been for years. And Ronji Tanielu sees the real-world impact of the housing crisis as a policy analyst and advisor for the Salvation Army, but still has plenty of ideas and hope for change.

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Bonus episode: Digital innovation with Kiwibank's Ranjit Jayanandhan

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 14:00:00 -0000

In this month's bonus episode, The Spinoff’s business editor Michael Andrew is joined by Ranjit Jayanandhan, general manager of Kiwibank’s foundation tech experience hub. As the person leading Kiwibank’s digital innovation journey, Ranjit has a unique perspective into how banking and fintech will change in New Zealand and the increasing role technology plays in the customer experience.

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How home ownership became the impossible dream

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 15:00:00 -0000

For a growing number of Wellingtonians, the dream of owning a home in the city is all but dead. And it's the same story in other parts of the country too – successive governments have sat on their hands afraid that doing anything to create more housing might drive down prices, and as a result median rents and house prices have skyrocketed out of reach. To find out more about the costs of this housing inaction and if Wellington's Spatial Plan can change anything, Bernard talks to Ashok Jacob from Renters United, Alison Anitawaru Cole from Victoria University, director of the Growing Up in New Zealand study Susan Morton and Kiwibank senior economist Jeremy Couchman.

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Why is New Zealand’s housing stock so bad?

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 14:00:00 -0000

The Climate Change Commission report released last week made it clear that we need to start building new houses that are warmer, drier and produce less carbon. Not only that, we need to retrofit all the houses we’ve already built. How do we do this, and how are we going to finance it? To find out more, Bernard talks to healthy housing expert Philippa Howden-Chapman and Kiwibank head of sustainability Julia Jackson.

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New Zealand's path to carbon zero

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 14:00:00 -0000

This week, Bernard Hickey takes a deep dive into the new Climate Commission report and finds an unrealistic and inadequate prescription to get to carbon zero. To find out more, he speaks to asset manager Paul Winton about how reconfiguring motorways for cycling, walking and buses could be quicker and more effective than building new rail networks, and associate professor Sara Walton from the University of Otago business school explains how insurers and banks are being pushed to force businesses to reduce their emissions and plan for a lower-carbon future.

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The future of currency

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Have you ever thought about what money really is, and what it might look like in the future? With central banks now considering launching digital currencies to take on the rise of big tech and cryptocurrency, our currency systems could be in for some big changes – so who should we trust to create and run the digital currency or currencies that will define the world’s financial and economic landscapes for decades to come? To find out more, Bernard Hickey speaks with Dave Corbett, CEO of New Zealand fintech company P^werFinance, and Chris Berg, co-director and co-founder of the RMIT Blockchain Innovation Hub in Australia.

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Designing a social insurance scheme that works

Thu, 27 May 2021 14:00:00 -0000

We’ve been hearing the phrase “social insurance” a lot since the government released the 2021 budget last week. It’s an idea designed to deal with unemployment we’re going to see a lot more of in the years to come, but it also brings up issues of inequality and fairness. Would introducing unemployment insurance just help embed a two-tier system in which the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor? To find out how it could work in practice, Bernard Hickey speaks to Kirk Hope from BusinessNZ and NZCTU president Richard Wagstaff.

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Budget 2021: Reversing the mother of all budgets

Thu, 20 May 2021 14:00:00 -0000

This week’s episode is coming to you from parliament, where Bernard Hickey has been up to his elbows in the budget just released by finance minister Grant Robertson. This year’s budget is a big one – it’s the first one after Covid, and with a parliamentary majority, a very popular prime minister at the helm, a strong economy and low public debt, it was a huge opportunity for the government to do some things… so what did they do? Bernard shares his impressions of Budget 2021, then speaks to Kate Prickett, director of the Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families at Victoria University, and Hillmarè Schulze, chief economist at BERL, to see what they made of it.

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What have we got to lose by standing up to China?

Thu, 13 May 2021 14:00:00 -0000

New Zealand has made international headlines in recent weeks for deciding to take the word “genocide” out of a parliamentary motion criticising China for its treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang province. Basically, we were afraid it would hurt our trade relationship. In this episode, Bernard Hickey wants to change our minds on how New Zealand deals with China, and explain why we should follow Australia's lead and stop worrying so much about trade and start standing up for our views on human rights. To find out more, he talks to Natasha Hamilton-Hart from the department of management and international business at the University of Auckland business school, before Sam Roggeveen from the Lowy Institute offers an Australian perspective.

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Bonus episode: Sustainability with Kiwibank's Julia Jackson

Mon, 10 May 2021 17:00:00 -0000

The Spinoff business editor Michael Andrew is joined by Kiwibank sustainability lead Julia Jackson to talk about the evolving concept of sustainability, its growing influence on businesses and how New Zealanders can better integrate it into their lives.

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The value of investing in health and happiness

Thu, 06 May 2021 14:00:00 -0000

How does a government work out the best way to spend money to maximise not just GDP but the long-term health and happiness of its population? This is something our government is trying to do, or says it’s trying to do – but when it comes to the wellbeing side of the equation, is it doing a good enough job? In this episode, Bernard Hickey talks to Girol Karacaoglu, head of the school of government at Victoria University and one of the architects of the way New Zealand analyses happiness. He then talks to Susan St John, an economist at the University of Auckland’s business school who has an interesting take on what we should be spending our money on.

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What will the Reserve Bank’s decisions mean for house prices?

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Imagine if the value of your house doubled overnight. Could that actually happen? In this week’s episode, Bernard Hickey explains how it could – and how the Reserve Bank and government are doing things in the next couple of weeks to make sure it doesn’t. To find out more about how banks, lending and the housing market all operate, Bernard talks to Carmen Vicelich, CEO of Valocity Global. She knows exactly how banks decide who to lend to, when to lend to them and how much the property under the loan is worth. He then asks Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr what type of restrictions the Reserve Bank could apply in the coming weeks, and just how landlords are reacting to the government’s big changes announced last month. Spoiler alert: they’re not rushing for the exits.

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New Zealand’s temporary migration scandal

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 14:00:00 -0000

A new report on temporary migration in New Zealand suggests the current settings are letting down migrants and contributing to a low wage, low productivity and low wellbeing society. To find out more, in this episode Bernard talks to Julie Fry, the economist who wrote the report, and asks Anu Kaloti from the Migrant Workers’ Association about the scale of temporary migrant exploitation in New Zealand and what needs to change. Because right now, we’re not exactly living up to our image as a kind country.

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The real fight for climate and housing action is at council level

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 14:00:00 -0000

You may think the big decisions around housing affordability and climate change are being made in the Beehive, and that these are national policies. But in this week’s episode, Bernard suggests these issues are actually manifesting in a series of house-to-house and street-by-street fights at council level. To find out more, he speaks to Tamatha Paul from the Wellington City Council and Auckland city councillor Efeso Collins about how young renters and activists wanting higher density housing and more pedestrian and cycling friendly transport routes will have to fight the battle of their lives in next year’s local elections.

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Bonus episode: Shannon Te Huia, Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0000

For the last 12 years, Kiwibank has supported the Local Hero Award, acknowledging the people making a difference to New Zealand communities. In this bonus episode of When the Facts Change, The Spinoff’s business editor Michael Andrew talks with Shannon Te Huia, the 2021 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year. Shannon established Pūniu River Care in 2015, a marae-based initiative designed to improve water quality and biodiversity by planting trees along the banks of the Pūniu river in the Waikato. He talks about where the idea came from, how he grew it into a viable project and what the award means to him and means for the project.

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Global capitalism’s 'doom loop' and how to stop it

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 14:00:00 -0000

This week we’re talking about global capitalism, and how it's in danger of destroying itself from the inside out. The concept is known as a “doom loop”: as the economy grows, those who own all the assets get more and more, those who don’t get poorer and poorer, and as a result growth slows as the machine grinds to a halt. And the key to stopping this doom loop lies in addressing inequality and productivity. To explore this idea and how it affects New Zealand, Bernard Hickey talks to the Productivity Commission's Ganesh Nana and Council of Trade Unions economist Craig Renney.

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The rise of the work from home economy

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 13:00:00 -0000

This week we're looking at the rise of the work from home economy that has grown out of global lockdowns. Bernard talks to Dr Paula O’Kane of Otago University about the encouraging evidence around productivity and flexibility as well as the negative effects of disconnection, Zoom fatigue and the blurring of work and home boundaries. He also speaks with Kiwibank’s Chief People Officer Charlotte Ward about how large organisations managed sudden remote working conditions and the long term changes being made as a result.

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Unpacking Labour’s new housing package

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 13:00:00 -0000

The facts changed earlier this week when the government announced a major new housing package. In this episode, we’ll work out what it all means for buyers and renters with Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr, before talking to architectural designer, writer and housing advocate Jade Kake (Ngāti Hau, Te Parawhau, Ngāpuhi, Te Whakatōhea, Te Arawa) about a part of the market that didn’t get a lot of attention.

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Can NZ's housing affordability problem ever be solved?

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0000

Welcome to When the Facts Change, a new podcast from The Spinoff together with Kiwibank. Each week host Bernard Hickey and guests will be peeling back the layers of New Zealand’s economy to reveal how it’s changing our lives and our society. This week, we’re talking about housing. Bernard is joined by Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr to discuss what’s going on with interest rates and whether more high-density housing will help solve our affordability issues. He then speaks with National housing spokesperson Nicola Willis about how she wants to improve the number of apartments being built, and Helen O’Sullivan, an expert on managing and developing these apartments.

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Coming soon – When the Facts Change with Bernard Hickey

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 04:09:00 -0000

Created by The Spinoff together with Kiwibank, When the Facts Change with Bernard Hickey is your essential weekly guide to the intersection of economics, business and politics in Aotearoa. Every Friday, Bernard will be joined by expert and industry-leading guests, including a range of Kiwibank specialists, to peel back the layers of our economy and reveal how it’s changing our lives and our society. This series is for anyone curious about what changes in technology, the global economy, finance, housing and politics will mean for them, their jobs, lives, communities and futures.

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