Very different campaign launches by the two major parties over the weekend. 

Chris Hipkins launched Labour's in Auckland on Saturday, with the promise of free basic dental care for those under 30 by 2030.

The following day, in the same city, Chris Luxon went with an eight-point pledge card to voters, but no new policy.

Newstalk ZB Political editor Jason Walls told Kate Hawkesby Luxon didn't want to take the focus away from the party's just-released tax plan.

But he says people are starting to poke holes in it.

Walls says the issue of the foreign buyers' tax has started to rear its head, and Luxon and finance spokesperson Nicola Willis have had to answer many questions about that.

LISTEN ABOVE

Very different campaign launches by the two major parties over the weekend.  
Chris Hipkins launched Labour's in Auckland on Saturday, with the promise of free basic dental care for those under 30 by 2030. 
The following day, in the same city, Chris Luxon went with an eight-point pledge card to voters, but no new policy. 
Newstalk ZB Political editor Jason Walls told Kate Hawkesby Luxon didn't want to take the focus away from the party's just-released tax plan. 
But he says people are starting to poke holes in it. 
Walls says the issue of the foreign buyers' tax has started to rear its head, and Luxon and finance spokesperson Nicola Willis have had to answer many questions about that. 
LISTEN ABOVE

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

Jason Walls: Newstalk ZB Political Editor says people are starting to poke holes in National's just-released tax plan

Blowback from a business advocate on National's plan to break up Foodstuffs.  

If elected, and if the Commerce Commission agrees, the party would separate Pak'nSave from New World and Four Square to create more competition. 

But Foodstuffs warns there'd be significant implications and would affect more than 500 locally owned and operated stores. 

Business NZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard told Ryan Bridge threatening to split up private property is hugely alarming.  

She says it sends a terrible signal to overseas investors – that the government could essentially take away business. 

Beard also says there's a lack of evidence to suggest our food is more expensive than other countries. 

She told Bridge that while food prices have gone up, they're no higher than Australia and the UK. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Blowback from a business advocate on National's plan to break up Foodstuffs. &nbsp;
If elected, and if the Commerce Commission agrees, the party would separate Pak'nSave from New World and Four Square to create more competition.&nbsp;
But Foodstuffs warns there'd be significant implications and would affect more than 500 locally owned and operated stores.&nbsp;
Business NZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard told Ryan Bridge threatening to split up private property is hugely alarming. &nbsp;
She says it sends a terrible signal to overseas investors – that the government could essentially take away business.&nbsp;
Beard also says there's a lack of evidence to suggest our food is more expensive than other countries.&nbsp;
She told Bridge that while food prices have gone up, they're no higher than Australia and the UK.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Catherine Beard: BusinessNZ Director of Advocacy on National's plan to split up Foodstuffs to drive competition

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6dab8331-dfbe-4d75-8323-b4c70179d176/transcript

The economy is expected to keep improving as the year goes on.  

Stats NZ is releasing GDP data for April-to-June later this morning. 

Economists are expecting economic growth will come in between 0.1% and 0.3% for the quarter and between 2.2% and 2.4% for the year. 

Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge we could soon get back to the growth we were seeing last year. 

We says we took a detour in the June quarter because fuel prices got so expensive, but quarter three is suggesting a number up around 0.8% to 0.9%. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

The economy is expected to keep improving as the year goes on. &nbsp;
Stats NZ is releasing GDP data for April-to-June later this morning.&nbsp;
Economists are expecting economic growth will come in between 0.1% and 0.3% for the quarter and between 2.2% and 2.4% for the year.&nbsp;
Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge we could soon get back to the growth we were seeing last year.&nbsp;
We says we took a detour in the June quarter because fuel prices got so expensive, but quarter three is suggesting a number up around 0.8% to 0.9%.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Cameron Bagrie: Economist expects the economy to improve with GDP expected to rise in Q2

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/24d6f60d-9a0c-4eb8-b517-b4c7016cd9bc/transcript

Two classic American food brands are landing in New Zealand, with Auntie Anne’s pretzels and Carvel soft serve opening in Auckland this month. 

Auntie Anne’s sells pretzels, lemonades, dips, and “pretzel dogs”, with more than 1,200 stores across 600 international locations. 

Carvel claims to have invented soft-serve ice cream. 

NZ Cinnabon franchise owner Kathan Parikh told Ryan Bridge they'll use mostly New Zealand ingredients while sticking to the classic American recipes. 

He says Kiwis travel a lot and this is a great opportunity for them to enjoy America on home soil.   

LISTEN ABOVE  

Two classic American food brands are landing in New Zealand, with Auntie Anne’s pretzels and Carvel soft serve opening in Auckland this month.&nbsp;
Auntie Anne’s sells pretzels, lemonades, dips, and “pretzel dogs”, with more than 1,200 stores across 600 international locations.&nbsp;
Carvel claims to have invented soft-serve ice cream.&nbsp;
NZ Cinnabon franchise owner Kathan Parikh told Ryan Bridge they'll use mostly New Zealand ingredients while sticking to the classic American recipes.&nbsp;
He says Kiwis travel a lot and this is a great opportunity for them to enjoy America on home soil. &nbsp;&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Kathan Parikh: NZ Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s pretzels franchise owner on bringing new brands to NZ

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6fb33c35-3d00-455d-a9b8-b4c7012db8d5/transcript

Jason Walls: Newstalk ZB Political Editor says people are starting to poke holes in National's just-released tax plan

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