A senior economist says even if inflation's peaked, that is little consolation for stretched households.Stats NZ figures show inflation has hit 7.3 percent in a three-decade high.Grant Robertson says economists think inflation may have reached its upper limit.But Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchod told Newstalk ZB's Drive that doesn't mean financial pressures will ease.He says a drop from rising seven percent still won't release pressure on household budgets.LISTEN ABOVE
A pointy and magical hat is being thrown into the ring for Christchurch's mayoralty.The Wizard, real name Ian Brackenbury Channell, is running for the Garden City's top job - aged 89.He told Andrew Dickens he's making no grand election pledges.“Basically, they have to judge me by what I’ve done and not by what I promise.”LISTEN ABOVE
Warnings of pain when petrol tax cuts end.The 25-cent reduction, alongside slashed road user charges and half priced public transport fares, have been extended until the end of January.Stats NZ data shows inflation to June sat at 7.3 percent.Waitomo Fuel's chief operating officer says when the Government stops fuel relief - suppliers and customers will need ample warning.Simon Parham told Andrew Dickens there was no heads up when the cuts first came in, which is hard on suppliers.He says fuel companies are storage constrained - and don't have the infrastructure to pump out a months worth of fuel in one or two days.LISTEN ABOVE
Former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is hitting back at claims made in a new book about the National Party.Blue Blood, by former Stuff and TVNZ political reporter Andrea Vance, catalogues the transition from the Key years to the turmoil of the Party's time in Opposition.The book claims that in 2017 coalition negotiations, Peters was offered Deputy Prime Ministership in the 11th hour of negotiations.But, in a statement, Peters says the offer was on the table on the first day day Labour and NZ First sat down to discuss terms.Newstalk ZB Chief Political Reporter joined Andrew Dickens to discuss.LISTEN ABOVE
There was a letter to the editor this weekend to my local newspaper. Rob was incensed about a reorganisation of an intersection which will mean the loss of a right turning lane to make way for a cycle lane that even the cyclists don't want.Rob finished his letter proclaiming his hate for the Council and how this might be the spur for him to leave the country.I hear that a lot these days. Time to leave the countryThere's a lot of very dour news. Inflation at 7.3 percent which means it was really near 8 if you add the Government's tax cuts and public transport subsidies.Crisis after crisis. Staffing, Health services, Housing.Let's go somewhere better.But is elsewhere really better? We hear today rents are out of control in Sydney. They've jumped jump 19 percent since pandemic began. It's a landlord's market and the supply is minimal.And then over the weekend we got a message from Helen's German family.Helen was an exchange student for a year just out of Bonn and we regularly keep in touch.Martin was very low. He told us that masked mandates indoors are about to return to Germany as Covid spikes. Their inflation has been hitting 9 percent. The heatwave is killing old people in his village.But his biggest fear was the Ukraine war.At the end of last week, Russia turned off a gas pipeline that provides Germany with 10 percent of its energy. It's for maintenance and it's for ten days but that hasn't put the minds of Germans at rest. They fear that Putin will not turn it back on in retribution for the European Union's opposition to the Ukraine war.Germany import two thirds of their energy to feed their massive industrial complex, so they're particularly vulnerable. The whole country has never experienced such instability and uncertainty all at onceMartin’s letter drips with fear and he repeats something he's always said. That he'd give anything to move to New Zealand.So to Rob who wants to leave because of a cycle lane and all the other doom merchants who tell us this country is doomed, I'd suggest you get your head out of the sand and realise the whole world is stuffed but we're less stuffed than most.
Newstalk ZB Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Andrew Dickens to debrief the All Blacks series loss to Ireland in Wellington as well as Cameron Smith's historic first golf major victory at The Open.LISTEN ABOVE
The Green Party is urging rent controls and more support after a survey found two thirds of university students regularly struggle to buy food and other necessities.The People's Inquiry into Student Wellbeing is a self-selecting survey of more than 4500 students, commissioned by the Green Party, the national student associations union (NZUSA) and the Māori (Te Mana Ākonga), Pacific (Tauira Pasifika) and disabled students (National Disabled Students' Association) associations.It found:On average, students living in a shared flat put 54 per cent of their income towards rent.About two thirds regularly did not have enough money to buy food, clothing, pay bills, get health care, or other basics. Disabled, Māori or Pasifika students were most likely to be in that position.58 per cent of students felt supported by their education provider's response to Covid-19.69 per cent reported poorer mental wellbeing during the pandemic and said it negatively impacted their studies.Two thirds reported being unable to pay for transport or vehicle costs, with 91 per cent saying they would use public transport more if it were free.14 per cent of students living in a shared flat said the housing did not meet their needs due to cold, damp, mould, crowding, noise, or lack of maintenance and poor furnishings.About three quarters were uncomfortable raising concerns with their landlord or the tenancy tribunal for fear of rent increases or being forced out.60 per cent of students are not supported financially by parents, including those with an income above the student allowance entitlement limit.64 per cent of students sacrifice time in class to work so they can afford to live.91 per cent supported rent controls, 82 per cent supported a rental warrant of fitness.In a statement, the Green Party's tertiary education spokesperson Chloe Swarbrick said political decisions had entrenched and normalised student poverty over the past few decades.She said education was a public good that benefited all, but students were struggling financially. She called for the government to accept the survey's recommendation for a universally accessible student allowance not inhibited by part-time job income that could meet the cost of living."The minority of students who today can access the allowance are in real terms hundreds of dollars worse off a month than students even a decade ago, which is nothing on when education was effectively free prior to the 1980s," she said."Internationally and locally accepted 'affordability' measurements declare no one should be spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. We need affordable, healthy homes for everyone."The survey was designed with input from Point and Associates, was distributed by Swarbrick and student unions, and a subset of 10 per cent of responses weighted for gender, ethnicity and regional demographic averages was analysed.It also recommended enforcing the government's Pastoral Care code of practice introduced last year, free public transport for students, rent controls, a rental warrants of fitness, and improve accessibility and capacity of mental health services.NZUSA national vice president Sam Blackmore said Education Minister Chris Hipkins had broken his promise to extend the student allowance to post-grad students, and payments should be enough to be liveable."This inquiry has proved that students are struggling to make ends meet," he said."A weekly payment to every student regardless of level of study, age, or parental income would help students meet day to day costs and reduce long term debt."He urged the government to meet the survey's recommendations."Our prime minister states that "education is the greatest enabler in society" and promised a free tertiary education system to improve the lives of students just five years ago. Yet today, through deliberate...
The crucial part of the campaign has started with Television interviews and appearances occurring.Italy looks to be in trouble again with it's Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigning but PresidentSergio Mattarella not accepting the resignation.UK Correspondent Gavin Grey joined Andrew Dickens to discuss these issues.LISTEN ABOVE
A surprise intervention by US Vice-President Kamala Harris, the China-Solomon Island's security pact, and the Sri Lanka President fleeing to Singapore.Asian business correspondent Peter Lewis joined Andrew Dickens to discuss the Pacific Island's forum and other business news.LISTEN ABOVE
Solving job shortages might not be as easy as it seems. Bringing immigrants into the country means government will have to invest more into infrastructure but training up kiwis might not be as easy either.Business commentator Rod Oram joined Andrew Dickens to discuss empty jobs and how to fill them.LISTEN ABOVE