It's a tale of two islands when it comes to the economy.  

The Westpac Regional Roundup shows many businesses and households are suffering from the slow economy.  

Westpac Senior Economist Satish Ranchhod says feedback from the North Island was more downbeat, with Wellington being the worst off because of a shrinking public service.  

He says there was a rosier picture in the South Island.  

Ranchhod told Ryan Bridge they’ve got a mix of tourism and agriculture among other industries helping to support a positive sentiment in the South. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

It's a tale of two islands when it comes to the economy. &nbsp;
The Westpac Regional Roundup shows many businesses and households are suffering from the slow economy. &nbsp;
Westpac Senior Economist Satish Ranchhod says feedback from the North Island was more downbeat, with Wellington being the worst off because of a shrinking public service. &nbsp;
He says there was a rosier picture in the South Island. &nbsp;
Ranchhod told Ryan Bridge they’ve got a mix of tourism and agriculture among other industries helping to support a positive sentiment in the South.&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

Satish Ranchhod: Westpac Senior Economist on the latest Westpac Regional Roundup

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/43802a2c-6d07-433d-b572-b202014740c9/transcript

A media commentator says TVNZ appears to be doubling down on what it's good at.  

The state broadcaster's latest business proposal will see its website shut down in February while more investment will be put towards news on its streaming platform TVNZ+.  

The company is hoping to save $30 million.  

Spinoff founder Duncan Grieve told Ryan Bridge it could work, but it’s not guaranteed by any means.  

He said that individual clips from the news can already be accessed from the TVNZ+ homepage, and it’s clearly where they’ll be focusing their energy in terms of digitising their news offering.  

The plan will go through two weeks of consultation before a final decision is made. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A media commentator says TVNZ appears to be doubling down on what it's good at. &nbsp;
The state broadcaster's latest business proposal will see its website shut down in February while more investment will be put towards news on its streaming platform TVNZ+. &nbsp;
The company is hoping to save $30 million. &nbsp;
Spinoff founder Duncan Grieve told Ryan Bridge it could work, but it’s not guaranteed by any means. &nbsp;
He said that individual clips from the news can already be accessed from the TVNZ+ homepage, and it’s clearly where they’ll be focusing their energy in terms of digitising their news offering. &nbsp;
The plan will go through two weeks of consultation before a final decision is made.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Duncan Grieve: Media Commentator on TVNZ axing the 1News site and focusing on TVNZ+

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4c342b1c-d6b5-4be8-819b-b2020149bfe0/transcript

Inflation is still the dominant force in global politics, no doubt about it. 

We've got the United States election next month, the Aussies are going to the polls by midway through next year, so are the Canadians, we just had the UK, we've just had France, and inflation rules the roost. 

Bad news for ol' Albanese in Australia. There's a new poll out this morning that has him neck and neck with Dutton and the coalition. 

But here's the really bad part: 44% of Aussies think the economy will worsen in the next six months. 

What's more, Dutton and the coalition are favoured on the economy 38% to 26%. And more people blame the Government for causing inflation, rather than global issues. 

So he has an uphill battle, doesn't he? 

For New Zealand, inflation should be a distant memory by the time we hit 2026 in our next election – it's expected to be inside the target range by Christmas. 

GDP should have picked up, unemployment should have fallen, tourism, agriculture, we've already heard this morning are showing promising signs, but there's always a defining issue in a political campaign, isn't there? 

What will ours be in 2026? 

A smart government will always try to define what that issue is ahead of time and try to control the narrative, control the language around it, control the debate. 

I think the biggest risk for the National Party at this point, this far out I know it is a bit far for predictions, crystal ball gazing, but I think at this stage is probably public service cuts, you know, Dunedin Hospital, public transport, health education, et cetera. 

The reality is probably most of us will give them another go, but it wouldn't hurt them to keep an eye on what comes next. 

Inflation is still the dominant force in global politics, no doubt about it.&nbsp;
We've got the United States election next month, the Aussies are going to the polls by midway through next year, so are the Canadians, we just had the UK, we've just had France, and inflation rules the roost.&nbsp;
Bad news for ol' Albanese in Australia. There's a new poll out this morning that has him neck and neck with Dutton and the coalition.&nbsp;
But here's the really bad part: 44% of Aussies think the economy will worsen in the next six months.&nbsp;
What's more, Dutton and the coalition are favoured on the economy 38% to 26%. And more people blame the Government for causing inflation, rather than global issues.&nbsp;
So he has an uphill battle, doesn't he?&nbsp;
For New Zealand, inflation should be a distant memory by the time we hit 2026 in our next election – it's expected to be inside the target range by Christmas.&nbsp;
GDP should have picked up, unemployment should have fallen, tourism, agriculture, we've already heard this morning are showing promising signs, but there's always a defining issue in a political campaign, isn't there?&nbsp;
What will ours be in 2026?&nbsp;
A smart government will always try to define what that issue is ahead of time and try to control the narrative, control the language around it, control the debate.&nbsp;
I think the biggest risk for the National Party at this point, this far out I know it is a bit far for predictions, crystal ball gazing, but I think at this stage is probably public service cuts, you know, Dunedin Hospital, public transport, health education, et cetera.&nbsp;
The reality is probably most of us will give them another go, but it wouldn't hurt them to keep an eye on what comes next.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: What will the big issue be for the 2026 election?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e6de5866-8eed-47da-a3e1-b2020138dea1/transcript

The chief executive of Ngati Toa agrees a robust debate is needed on the Treaty of Waitangi. 

Helmut Modlik will debate ACT leader David Seymour tonight, two months after Modlik called him out. 

A draft of Seymour's Treaty Principles Bill will be ready for public release and discussion next month, but National says it will support the bill no further than the first reading only. 

Modlik told Ryan Bridge the country needs a national conversation about the treaty, which is why he agreed to debate Seymour. 

He says the country was only getting curated sound bite versions of one position. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The chief executive of Ngati Toa agrees a robust debate is needed on the Treaty of Waitangi.&nbsp;
Helmut Modlik will debate ACT leader David Seymour tonight, two months after Modlik called him out.&nbsp;
A draft of Seymour's Treaty Principles Bill will be ready for public release and discussion next month, but National says it will support the bill no further than the first reading only.&nbsp;
Modlik told Ryan Bridge the country needs a national conversation about the treaty, which is why he agreed to debate Seymour.&nbsp;
He says the country was only getting curated sound bite versions of one position.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Helmut Modlik: Ngati Toa CEO talks his upcoming Treaty of Waitangi debate with David Seymour

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bd20e8e3-9686-4f38-8180-b20201335ff6/transcript

Satish Ranchhod: Westpac Senior Economist on the latest Westpac Regional Roundup

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