Health New Zealand's pointed to nursing recruitment to explain its ballooning deficit, but health experts aren't buying it.  

Newly released documents show the agency went from expecting a half a billion dollar surplus to a $1.4 billion deficit in April.  

That's now expected to blow out to $1.76 billion.  

Patient Voice Aotearoa chair Malcolm Mulholland told Ryan Bridge there's no way we have too many nurses in New Zealand.  

He says everywhere he goes in the community, people are saying we need more nurses and doctors.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Health New Zealand's pointed to nursing recruitment to explain its ballooning deficit, but health experts aren't buying it. &nbsp;
Newly released documents show the agency went from expecting a half a billion dollar surplus to a $1.4 billion deficit in April. &nbsp;
That's now expected to blow out to $1.76 billion. &nbsp;
Patient Voice Aotearoa chair Malcolm Mulholland told Ryan Bridge there's no way we have too many nurses in New Zealand. &nbsp;
He says everywhere he goes in the community, people are saying we need more nurses and doctors. &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

Malcolm Mulholland: Patient Voice Aotearoa chair on Health NZ's billion dollar deficit and

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/85e7359e-f108-4dbb-ab08-b203014a081e/transcript

A former Finance Minister has praised the direction of the Budget, but says there are some “heroic assumptions” about getting back to surplus in 2028/29. 

It comes sooner than previously forecast, the date based on the OBEGALx measure, which excludes ACC.   

Ruth Richardson told Andrew Dickens that the economy is resting on the shifting sands of what may happen in the Middle East, so we shouldn’t be banking it as a surplus slam dunk. 

“Debt continues to rise, the operating allowance continues to rise, numbers can change, there are a lot of heroic assumptions in those numbers, and it's all on a promise that while they're spending for now, we will have savings later,” Richardson said. 

She also warned if Superannuation was not addressed it would “monster” the Budget. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A former Finance Minister has praised the direction of the Budget, but says there are some “heroic assumptions” about getting back to surplus in 2028/29.&nbsp;
It comes sooner than previously forecast, the date based on the OBEGALx measure, which excludes ACC. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Ruth Richardson told Andrew Dickens that the economy is resting on the shifting sands of what may happen in the Middle East, so we shouldn’t be banking it as a surplus slam dunk.&nbsp;
“Debt continues to rise, the operating allowance continues to rise, numbers can change, there are a lot of heroic assumptions in those numbers, and it's all on a promise that while they're spending for now, we will have savings later,” Richardson said.&nbsp;
She also warned if Superannuation was not addressed it would “monster” the Budget.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Ruth Richardson: Former Finance Minister and Taxpayers' Union Chair unpacks Budget 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8a57d747-8fff-4548-b26a-b458017f9e41/transcript

The Budget is out, and the Government’s done what it can with the pickle we’re in. 

Put simply, we don’t collect enough tax to pay for the services we run and the people we employ. 

There are only two fixes: either collect more tax — the left’s answer, though the last left Government didn’t have the guts to raise taxes, even while increasing spending. Or cut services and staff — which is this Government’s preference. 

But cuts hit confidence. When the private sector loses heart, tax revenue drops even further. And remember: Government is only 40% of the economy. Our real future depends on the private sector — the 60% where most taxpayers actually live. 

So they’re walking a tightrope. And honestly, this Budget is probably as balanced as they could make it. 

Some argue we should slash everything until the books balance. But the last two years of “austerity-lite” showed that deep cuts push the private sector into an even deeper funk. 

The good news? Treasury is forecasting $10.8 billion more in tax revenue over the next five years — without raising taxes. Spending is still rising, but because it’s not keeping pace with inflation, it’s effectively a real-terms cut. 

So bit by bit, we’re inching toward a healthier position. The only other option is raising taxes — and even Chris Hipkins couldn’t vote for that last election. 

The Budget is out, and the Government’s done what it can with the pickle we’re in.&nbsp;
Put simply, we don’t collect enough tax to pay for the services we run and the people we employ.&nbsp;
There are only two fixes: either collect more tax — the left’s answer, though the last left Government didn’t have the guts to raise taxes, even while increasing spending. Or cut services and staff — which is this Government’s preference.&nbsp;
But cuts hit confidence. When the private sector loses heart, tax revenue drops even further. And remember: Government is only 40% of the economy. Our real future depends on the private sector — the 60% where most taxpayers actually live.&nbsp;
So they’re walking a tightrope. And honestly, this Budget is probably as balanced as they could make it.&nbsp;
Some argue we should slash everything until the books balance. But the last two years of “austerity-lite” showed that deep cuts push the private sector into an even deeper funk.&nbsp;
The good news? Treasury is forecasting $10.8 billion more in tax revenue over the next five years — without raising taxes. Spending is still rising, but because it’s not keeping pace with inflation, it’s effectively a real-terms cut.&nbsp;
So bit by bit, we’re inching toward a healthier position. The only other option is raising taxes — and even Chris Hipkins couldn’t vote for that last election.&nbsp;

Andrew Dickens: We're inching towards a healthier position

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e7fdae80-4c86-4a5b-9db9-b458017b7334/transcript

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 29 May.

Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 29 May. 
Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 29 May 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/9c30c5a1-0159-4cac-a464-b458012ac7f5/transcript

Malcolm Mulholland: Patient Voice Aotearoa chair on Health NZ's billion dollar deficit and

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