Labour plans to expand rebate for game development industry.

Labour says that, if re-elected, they will expand the game development rebate, which gives Kiwi studios access to $40million a year to grow the industry.  

The subsidy currently covers 41 different game studios, and in the 2025 financial year $24million of the $40million was spent. 

Game Developers Association Executive Director Joy Keene told Ryan Bridge that, “the world can't get enough of New Zealand developed games.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Labour plans to expand rebate for game development industry.
Labour says that, if re-elected, they will expand the game development rebate, which gives Kiwi studios access to $40million a year to grow the industry. &nbsp;
The subsidy currently covers 41 different game studios, and in the 2025 financial year $24million of the $40million was spent.&nbsp;
Game Developers Association Executive Director Joy Keene told Ryan Bridge that, “the world can't get enough of New Zealand developed games.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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

Joy Keene: Game Developers Association Executive Director discusses rebate expansion to games industry.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/304d7bf7-5787-4447-b139-b37e012eefad/transcript

A promise of certainty and hopes of cheaper power prices with a facility to import liquefied natural gas. 

The Government’s confirmed it will build a liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki, with a contract expected by mid-year. 

It says the project will save the country about $265 million annually – roughly $50 per household. 

Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie told Ryan Bridge it’s a necessary dry year insurance policy, as the country faces a massive fuel shortage. 

He says there will be a large upfront cost, but officials say the investment will effectively take the heat out of the electricity market and lower peak prices.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

A promise of certainty and hopes of cheaper power prices with a facility to import liquefied natural gas.&nbsp;
The Government’s confirmed it will build a liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki, with a contract expected by mid-year.&nbsp;
It says the project will save the country about $265 million annually – roughly $50 per household.&nbsp;
Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie told Ryan Bridge it’s a necessary dry year insurance policy, as the country faces a massive fuel shortage.&nbsp;
He says there will be a large upfront cost, but officials say the investment will effectively take the heat out of the electricity market and lower peak prices. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

John Carnegie: Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO on the Government's proposed LNG import facility

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4d4a45b0-8f3c-4d50-a331-b3ec016b446e/transcript

More consistency across the Tasman in the standards for goods and services could reduce administrative burdens and free up business capacity. 

A new agreement aims to streamline operations, reduce costs, improve quality, and meet regulatory requirements in New Zealand and Australia.

Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge we were out of kilter with the Aussies on about 24 standards, so businesses effectively had to hire someone just to handle the paperwork. 

He says it's a main below-the-surface issue and barrier for businesses that can put them off doing the work. 

LISTEN ABOVE

More consistency across the Tasman in the standards for goods and services could reduce administrative burdens and free up business capacity.&nbsp;
A new agreement aims to streamline operations, reduce costs, improve quality, and meet regulatory requirements in New Zealand and Australia.
Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge we were out of kilter with the Aussies on about 24 standards, so businesses effectively had to hire someone just to handle the paperwork.&nbsp;
He says it's a main below-the-surface issue and barrier for businesses that can put them off doing the work.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Brad Olsen: Infometrics chief executive on the Government's signs a new standards agreement with Australia

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/32d1c25f-7b77-4ae0-8771-b3ec011fb9bd/transcript

This Government's running into similar problems Jacinda's one did on energy - they're getting too much 'official' advice and reports. 

The problem when you ask 'the experts' for advice on every thought that pops into your head, is that they tend to agree with it. And if they don't, you tend to ignore them.

And what does that tell you about the need for the advice in the first place? 

Latest case in point is the LNG terminal in Taranaki. A billion bucks. We'll be paying a levy on our power bills to fund it. 

Big announcement at the Beehive theatrette yesterday. 

The 'official advice' from MBIE and the rest was that this is the way to go. This will save us all, on average, apparently, $1 a week on electricity. 

If we're lucky. Because remember, as with all advice, there are caveats. The caveats are "depends on this" and "depends on that".

So, we've got an announcement and we hope for the best and this thing will be built, come hell or high water, bar a change of government, by 2027. 

When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, we'll import LNG and keep the lights on.

BUT. 

Last year we had the Frontier Economics report. Same issue but different set of 'advisors'. They're an independent global consultancy crowd and what they said was quite different. 

They told us it would basically be a dumb idea to build an import terminal because you've got a massive fixed cost spread over a relatively small amount of output, because you're only using this as a back-up. 

You can't sell an LNG terminal once you're finished with it. These particular advisors made the point that it's quite a specific piece of kit and could well turn it one of this country's biggest white elephant investments. 

Yet here we are less than a year later with a different set of advice and another vague plan. 

There's no doubt this country needs a plan to deal with energy security, but depending on who you ask, this is either brilliant or batshit.

This Government's running into similar problems Jacinda's one did on energy - they're getting too much 'official' advice and reports.&nbsp;
The problem when you ask 'the experts' for advice on every thought that pops into your head, is that they tend to agree with it. And if they don't, you tend to ignore them.
And what does that tell you about the need for the advice in the first place?&nbsp;
Latest case in point is the LNG terminal in Taranaki. A billion bucks. We'll be paying a levy on our power bills to fund it.&nbsp;
Big announcement at the Beehive theatrette yesterday.&nbsp;
The 'official advice' from MBIE and the rest was that this is the way to go. This will save us all, on average, apparently, $1 a week on electricity.&nbsp;
If we're lucky. Because remember, as with all advice, there are caveats. The caveats are "depends on this" and "depends on that".
So, we've got an announcement and we hope for the best and this thing will be built, come hell or high water, bar a change of government, by 2027.&nbsp;
When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, we'll import LNG and keep the lights on.
BUT.&nbsp;
Last year we had the Frontier Economics report. Same issue but different set of 'advisors'. They're an independent global consultancy crowd and what they said was quite different.&nbsp;
They told us it would basically be a dumb idea to build an import terminal because you've got a massive fixed cost spread over a relatively small amount of output, because you're only using this as a back-up.&nbsp;
You can't sell an LNG terminal once you're finished with it. These particular advisors made the point that it's quite a specific piece of kit and could well turn it one of this country's biggest white elephant investments.&nbsp;
Yet here we are less than a year later with a different set of advice and another vague plan.&nbsp;
There's no doubt this country needs a plan to deal with energy security, but depending on who you ask, this is either brilliant or batshit.

Ryan Bridge: The Taranaki LNG terminal is a good idea, depending on who you ask

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/506e7342-4649-46b3-96ef-b3ec011db57a/transcript

Joy Keene: Game Developers Association Executive Director discusses rebate expansion to games industry.

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