New migration numbers may be painting a bleak picture of our economy. 

New Zealand saw it's highest net migration loss to Australia in the year to December in more than a decade - with 30 thousand leaving.

Overall net migration for the May 2025 year levelled out at a gain of just under 15 thousand. 

But ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Andrew Dickens net migration is normally about a 30 thousand person inflow. 

He says over the past few years, there's been a sharp slowdown in the number of people coming in, and we've also seen record numbers leaving - which reflects the weakness in the economy. 

LISTEN ABOVE

New migration numbers may be painting a bleak picture of our economy.&nbsp;
New Zealand saw it's highest net migration loss to Australia in the year to December in more than a decade - with 30 thousand leaving.
Overall net migration for the May 2025 year levelled out at a gain of just under 15 thousand.&nbsp;
But ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Andrew Dickens net migration is normally about a 30 thousand person inflow.&nbsp;
He says over the past few years, there's been a sharp slowdown in the number of people coming in, and we've also seen record numbers leaving - which reflects the weakness in the economy.&nbsp;
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

Mark Smith: ASB Senior Economist on new migration numbers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d50fa4f0-0447-4e1c-9288-b316012c8965/transcript

Banks aren't expected to increase fixed rates after the latest OCR hike. 

The Reserve Bank raised the Official Cash Rate another 25 basis points yesterday, bringing it to 2.75%. 

Governor Anna Breman says they are moving it towards a neutral level of around 3%. 

Co-operative Bank CEO Mark Wilkshire told Ryan Bridge the hike was largely expected, so those rates were already built in. 

He says the increase will be passed through to variable home loans quite quickly, but they're not expecting to see fixed rates rise. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Banks aren't expected to increase fixed rates after the latest OCR hike.&nbsp;
The Reserve Bank raised the Official Cash Rate another 25 basis points yesterday, bringing it to 2.75%.&nbsp;
Governor Anna Breman says they are moving it towards a neutral level of around 3%.&nbsp;
Co-operative Bank CEO Mark Wilkshire told Ryan Bridge the hike was largely expected, so those rates were already built in.&nbsp;
He says the increase will be passed through to variable home loans quite quickly, but they're not expecting to see fixed rates rise.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Mark Wilkshire: Co-operative Bank CEO on the impact of the OCR hike on home loan rates

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/03330e7c-c792-4b14-8aee-b4b901858366/transcript

A warning to asset owners across the country to take lessons from Wellington's Moa Point disaster. 

The Government has released the findings of an independent Crown Review into the massive February malfunction at the wastewater plant. 

It doesn't blame a single technical fault, but finds decades worth of significant gaps in accountability and risk management from asset owners. 

Water New Zealand Chief Executive Gillian Blythe told Ryan Bridge maintenance woes became normalised, which caused problems to pile up. 

She says there are lessons around the fact there was fragmented accountability and misaligned authority.  

LISTEN ABOVE  

A warning to asset owners across the country to take lessons from Wellington's Moa Point disaster.&nbsp;
The Government has released the findings of an independent Crown Review into the massive February malfunction at the wastewater plant.&nbsp;
It doesn't blame a single technical fault, but finds decades worth of significant gaps in accountability and risk management from asset owners.&nbsp;
Water New Zealand Chief Executive Gillian Blythe told Ryan Bridge maintenance woes became normalised, which caused problems to pile up.&nbsp;
She says there are lessons around the fact there was fragmented accountability and misaligned authority. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Gillian Blythe: Water New Zealand CEO on the lessons that can be learned from the Moa Point disaster

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1da2009a-fc35-4099-9741-b4b9017f5f48/transcript

Methanol producer, Methanex, has confirmed it is shutting the Taranaki plant that has run for 40 years. 

It says it's struck a deal to sell most of its natural gas entitlements under current contracts, starting in next year's first quarter. 

The company says continued decline in domestic natural gas, and no clear pathway to meaningful new supply, means continued operations in New Zealand aren't sustainable. 

Carnegie told Ryan Bridge says Methanex stepping back will free up some gas to be used elsewhere, but it's a bit like a snake eating its own tail. 

He says we're gaining that gas but losing a major manufacturer and exporter.  

LISTEN ABOVE  

Methanol producer, Methanex, has confirmed it is shutting the Taranaki plant that has run for 40 years.&nbsp;
It says it's struck a deal to sell most of its natural gas entitlements under current contracts, starting in next year's first quarter.&nbsp;
The company says continued decline in domestic natural gas, and no clear pathway to meaningful new supply, means continued operations in New Zealand aren't sustainable.&nbsp;
Carnegie told Ryan Bridge says Methanex stepping back will free up some gas to be used elsewhere, but it's a bit like a snake eating its own tail.&nbsp;
He says we're gaining that gas but losing a major manufacturer and exporter. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

John Carnegie: Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive on Methanex closing its Taranaki plant

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/84a9131b-0ace-447d-b200-b4b9012cf0e9/transcript

Mark Smith: ASB Senior Economist on new migration numbers

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