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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 18, 2024•32 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 11, 2024•22 min
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....
Apr 04, 2024•41 min
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". Lea...
Mar 28, 2024•41 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 21, 2024•32 min
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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17, 2024•30 min
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 innov...
Mar 14, 2024•30 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 07, 2024•33 min
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 m...
Feb 29, 2024•30 min
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...
Feb 25, 2024•39 min
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 gove...
Feb 22, 2024•40 min
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 wis...
Feb 18, 2024•52 min
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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
Feb 15, 2024•33 min
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 li...
Feb 11, 2024•44 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
Feb 08, 2024•28 min
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 an...
Feb 04, 2024•42 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 01, 2024•27 min
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...
Jan 28, 2024•42 min
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. Learn more about you...
Jan 25, 2024•33 min
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. Wit...
Jan 21, 2024•40 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 18, 2024•35 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 11, 2024•12 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 04, 2024•10 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 28, 2023•10 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 20, 2023•12 min
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...
Dec 18, 2023•44 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 14, 2023•27 min
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 o...
Dec 07, 2023•30 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 30, 2023•23 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 23, 2023•31 min
