National's push for tighter control of the books is being welcomed - but questions are being raised over what's actually new.

Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis yesterday unveiled National's fiscal strategy - promising a surplus by 2028/29 and Government spending below 30 percent of GDP. 

But independent tax expert Geof Nightingale told Ryan Bridge National has made these same commitments before.

He says the three 'budget responsibility' rules are already in the fiscal strategy report, which the Government has to release for each budget.

National's push for tighter control of the books is being welcomed - but questions are being raised over what's actually new.
Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis yesterday unveiled National's fiscal strategy - promising a surplus by 2028/29 and Government spending below 30 percent of GDP.&nbsp;
But independent tax expert Geof Nightingale told Ryan Bridge National has made these same commitments before.
He says the three 'budget responsibility' rules are already in the fiscal strategy report, which the Government has to release for each budget.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Geof Nightingale: independent tax expert on National's budget responsibility rules

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/47aa37b7-6ccf-4638-ba06-b4a1012fc7f5/transcript

St John's triggered a major incident response, after two consecutive weeks of record-high demand for ambulances. 

Saturday was the worst, with 2,500 call outs. 

The service says some wait times are longer than usual for those not in critical condition. 

Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin told Ryan Bridge that delays are probably making people more frustrated. 

He says while not appropriate, he imagines people are voicing their opinions. 

LISTEN ABOVE

St John's triggered a major incident response, after two consecutive weeks of record-high demand for ambulances.&nbsp;
Saturday was the worst, with 2,500 call outs.&nbsp;
The service says some wait times are longer than usual for those not in critical condition.&nbsp;
Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin told Ryan Bridge that delays are probably making people more frustrated.&nbsp;
He says while not appropriate, he imagines people are voicing their opinions.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Mark Quin: Ambulance Association National Secretary says people are frustrated by longer wait times for ambulences

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/cac3210c-97e6-4ce6-8e0c-b4a101400aa9/transcript

Tony Randle was the exactly the type of person, the sort of brain, you want sitting round a council table. 

Especially given the types who now seem to occupy many of the seats.

It's very sad to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family and those who knew him well. 

For those who didn't, Tony was a councillor in Wellington. He sat on the Northern ward. 

He was the guy you'd call when you wanted to know the facts of a case. 

When you wanted to know the numbers. 

Tony was the guy who found a wee mistake in the council's modelling when they were lowering speed limits. 

Not a single councillor, or a council officer, staff member, or council-paid boffin picked up on the mistake. 

But Tony did. It was out by a quarter of a billion bucks. 

He consistently complained that the council wasn't fully funding Wellington water's project, meaning the pipes weren't getting fixed.

He was analytical and not particularly partisan. 

Too often you hear of local and national politicians getting into office who probably shouldn't be there. They've no particular skills or background that justify it. 

They're elected by a margin of a few hundred, or even a few dozen votes, by a public that doesn't really pay attention to the details. 

As a result, you get politicians who also don't pay attention to the details. 

But Tony Randle did and that's what made him special. 

Voters deserve more analytical thinkers in local government who are across the facts and the numbers, rather than ticking a box on their way to Parliament or the UN, where you get the sense a lot of them wish they could be.

Tony Randle was the exactly the type of person, the sort of brain, you want sitting round a council table.&nbsp;
Especially given the types who now seem to occupy many of the seats.
It's very sad to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family and those who knew him well.&nbsp;
For those who didn't, Tony was a councillor in Wellington. He sat on the Northern ward.&nbsp;
He was the guy you'd call when you wanted to know the facts of a case.&nbsp;
When you wanted to know the numbers.&nbsp;
Tony was the guy who found a wee mistake in the council's modelling when they were lowering speed limits.&nbsp;
Not a single councillor, or a council officer, staff member, or council-paid boffin picked up on the mistake.&nbsp;
But Tony did. It was out by a quarter of a billion bucks.&nbsp;
He consistently complained that the council wasn't fully funding Wellington water's project, meaning the pipes weren't getting fixed.
He was analytical and not particularly partisan.&nbsp;
Too often you hear of local and national politicians getting into office who probably shouldn't be there. They've no particular skills or background that justify it.&nbsp;
They're elected by a margin of a few hundred, or even a few dozen votes, by a public that doesn't really pay attention to the details.&nbsp;
As a result, you get politicians who also don't pay attention to the details.&nbsp;
But Tony Randle did and that's what made him special.&nbsp;
Voters deserve more analytical thinkers in local government who are across the facts and the numbers, rather than ticking a box on their way to Parliament or the UN, where you get the sense a lot of them wish they could be.

Ryan Bridge: Tony Randle is the sort of brain needed around the council table

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e6b29198-8512-4faf-98cd-b4a1012e2ce0/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday the 10th of August 2026, National's re-stated its 'Budget responsibility rules', independent tax expert Geof Nightingale shares his thoughts.

Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on UK and EU PMI seeing a rebound in services, German production cuts having wider repercussions for growth across Europe and Labour considering a delay in the UK net zero target.

St John's 111 service has broken its daily call record three times in the past week, Mark Quin, Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin tells Ryan why there has been so much demand.

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Spain imposing border controls on all air and sea travel from Italy and the Conservatives, say they will end the provision of social housing for foreign nationals in England if they win the next election. 

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

LISTEN ABOVE  

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday the 10th of August 2026, National's re-stated its 'Budget responsibility rules', independent tax expert Geof Nightingale shares his thoughts.
Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on UK and EU PMI seeing a rebound in services, German production cuts having wider repercussions for growth across Europe and Labour considering a delay in the UK net zero target.
St John's 111 service has broken its daily call record three times in the past week, Mark Quin, Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin tells Ryan why there has been so much demand.
Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Spain imposing border controls on all air and sea travel from Italy and the Conservatives, say they will end the provision of social housing for foreign nationals in England if they win the next election.&nbsp;
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 10 August 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/56dd02e8-e1ab-4787-9930-b4a1012ac93d/transcript

Geof Nightingale: independent tax expert on National's budget responsibility rules

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