The Trans Tasman Pol Pod

The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 35

Nicola Willis has been well and truly under the pump after last week's atrocious GDP numbers. The 0.9% dip in growth, with an even larger dip in per capita GDP, shows her growth policies are not working. There have been calls for her resignation, but Chris Luxon has expressed confidence in her – what else could he do? National has been under heavy Opposition fire in recent weeks over the parlous state of the country's social housing.The Government's concerns about the construction sector and its clearly wilting support among younger males, many of whom are tradies, is clearly part of the reasoning behind the decision to bring forward investment in school infrastructure. While the economy in general is stagnating, one sector is doing well...the Maori economy. To talk about how it is managing to do this while the general economy seemingly can't and some of the lessons to be learned, I'm joined by professor of Maori Management Jason Mika, from the University of Auckland's business school

The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 34

The Government’s growth policies are clearly not working the way they were intended, as growth is stalling, and the electoral consequences for the coalition could be dire. The latest NZIER Consensus Forecasts point to a downward revision in the pace of the recovery over the coming year. The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll has Labour still narrowly ahead of National but neither bloc able to govern on its own. Labour is up 1.1 points to 34.3%. National is close behind on 32.5% up 1.8 points. As the Government struggles to control the cost of living, Growth Tsar Nicola Willis has come up with a new suite of moves which she believes will help boost competition in the market – by increasing regulation. ACT’s attacks on local democratic rights is being stepped up as the party’s local body candidates target “unelected” appointees in a bid to remove their voting rights on council committees. This week's guest is Associate Professor and Director of Global Studies at the University of Auckland Chris Ogden, who is a proponent of New Zealand joining the BRICS grouping of countries.

The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 33

Labour is clearly looking to make the next election about economic management, and the pressure is mounting on Chris Luxon and Nicola Willis to stop the rot and turn the country around, despite the fact they have very little control over the economic levers. The latest Roy Morgan poll suggests voters really have had enough, with support for Labour surging to its highest point in this poll since the 2023 election. The Labour-Greens- Te Pāti Māori Opposition now has 50% support - up 4 points from a month ago.  While Chris Luxon laughs off polls which show his Government under pressure, he will not be able to ignore them for much longer. His administration's credibility and competence is under question, while his own personal leadership skills are also being put under the blow torch. The Government appears to be taking lessons on immigration from Nigel Farage and Donald Trump, launching a new crackdown as it again looks to divert attention away from the real economic issues affecting the country. And we're joined by Roy Morgan Poll Manager Julian McCrann to talk about their latest poll.

The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 32

This time businesses are clinging to hope the clueless coalition can pull the economy around, but in Auckland confidence is collapsing, and it's local issues to blame. KiwiBank economists say the Budget's flagship policy, "Investment Boost" has had only marginal results so far, with most businesses saying they have no plan to use it and those who have saying they were going to invest without it anyway. The Reserve Bank is looking a little rudderless, after the chairman  followed the Governor and resigned. The Government clearly understands it has to do something about the cost of food before the next election, but its plan to boost supermarket competition looks unlikely to create any real change. And this time we're joined by Labour's Rachel Brooking to talk about the coalition's RMA changes and its seeming contempt for the environment.

The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 31

Brooke Van Velden's anti union, anti worker crusade is under fire after she says she expects new members of the Employment Relations Authority to reduce compensation awards to workers. The Government's desperation to encourage “growth” through infrastructure has again been demonstrated with the passing of the Public Works Act Amendment Bill. It says infrastructure projects mean higher wages - we're still waiting. While the Government lauded the Reserve Bank's decision to lower the cash rate to 3% with a hint of 2 further cuts to come by year's end, there's no evidence at this stage the cuts are boosting spending, investment or employment, and the RBNZ says the economy likely slipped back into negative growth in the June quarter. Meanwhile questions have been raised as to whether the Government is trying to force the Reserve Bank's hand on OCR decisions despite its operational independence. And our guest this week is Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk, who talks about changes to consenting regulations.

The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 30

The Government's full and final settlement with Hyundai over the cancelled Cook Strait Ferries has ignited a new war of words over the project, although Rail Minister Winston Peters counts it as a win. The Government won't want to hear it, but can't be surprised its pay equity move is being challenged in court by 5 unions. The challenge argues the legislation breaches three key rights of those workers affected. Economic woes continue to mount for the Government as the cost of living continues to balloon and citizens leave the country like rats off a sinking ship. Tinkering with the RMA continues as various pressure groups and lobbyists vie to have their sector exempted from environmental protections, and we're joined by Labour's Transport spokesman Tangi Utikere as we unpack the Government's universal road user charges policy.

The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 29

Voters seem to be losing confidence in the Government with the latest Taxpayers Union Curia poll showing Labour opening up a lead on National, and all the coalition parties slipping, National and NZ First by 2 points each. FInance Minister Nicola Willis didn't win many friends when she said the latest unemployment figures weren't bad, as they were better than forecast, and those who lost their jobs shouldn't take it personally. The Government's boot camp programme for young offenders looks like it will need a reset after 80% of the graduates reoffended, and Treasury's final 2025 Long-term Insights Briefing is critical of Labour's response to the pandemic saying it spent too much, drawing a strong reaction from our guest for this edition Professor of Macro Economics at Auckland University, Robert MacCulloch.

The Trans tasman Pol Pod Episode 28

Chris Luxon may have secured his legacy if the Government's changes to NCEA announced this week prove effective. The secondary school qualification has not been serving students well, and it is time for change, but the Government will have to be careful business doesn't get too much influence and turn schools into nothing more than vocational colleges. The Government copped some real flak for being asleep at the wheel when the US made a surprise decision to slap a 15% tariff on our exports - it could cause significant hurt in some sectors, such as beef and wine. A draft strategy to boost the country's geothermal energy output in the next 15 years is positive thinking, but its lifting of the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration provides no more than a forlorn hope another mother lode will be discovered. Joining us this week to talk energy and resources is Labour's Megan Woods.

The Trans Tasman Pol Pod episode 27

The Government is copping some flak overs its decision to stop same day enrolment for voters, and its petty decision to change the cover of the New Zealand passport so the English words are placed above the Te Reo. The Reserve Bank warns global turmoil could affect the economy, with weaker demand for exports and increased uncertainty.  Farmers are more confident, but why wouldn't they be, with a Government which appears to be at the beck and call. And the education system is set for more tinkering - to discuss this, we're joined by Education expert, Professor Gavin Brown from Auckland University.

The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 26

This time, inflation is on the rise again, with the prospect of stagflation looming, and the Government looks set to take the blame. The Government is continuing its attack on local democracy, with David Seymour bemoaning increases in rates. The argument over the voting age has brewed up again with the UK allowing 16 and 17 year olds to vote. Labour's jobs strategy is under fire and its latest infrastructure announcement has been panned as simply the re-announcement of the same old work. This time we're joined by political columnist and analyst Janet Wilson to look at dynamics within the coalition and other issues.