The Finance Minister says spending cuts announced today are responsible savings, as they balance delivering services New Zealanders need.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has unveiled a push to slash contractors, trim back programmes and limit future budget allowances.

He forecasts they'll save almost $4 billion dollars over the next four years.

Robertson says Government spending has gone up significantly over the last six years because of Covid-19.

"We've had to deal with a massive global economic shock, and we've had to protect and support New Zealanders through that. I think that spending was needed, I think most political parties wanted us to spend that."

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The Finance Minister says spending cuts announced today are responsible savings, as they balance delivering services New Zealanders need.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson has unveiled a push to slash contractors, trim back programmes and limit future budget allowances.
He forecasts they'll save almost $4 billion dollars over the next four years.
Robertson says Government spending has gone up significantly over the last six years because of Covid-19.
"We've had to deal with a massive global economic shock, and we've had to protect and support New Zealanders through that. I think that spending was needed, I think most political parties wanted us to spend that."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Grant Robertson: Finance Minister justifies uptick in Government spending, says new cuts will keep necessary services going

Firefighters from the New York City Fire Department flew out to New Zealand to do the Sky Tower walk today to commemorate the 343 firefighters who were killed 25 years ago on September 11th, 2001.

New York firefighter Dave Morkal was on ground zero that day, and he joined Andrew Dickens to discuss. 

"As soon as we got there it was work is on. This is what we have to do. We have to save as many people as we can."

LISTEN ABOVE 

Firefighters from the New York City Fire Department&nbsp;flew out to New Zealand to do the Sky Tower walk today to commemorate the 343 firefighters who were killed 25 years ago on September 11th, 2001.
New York firefighter Dave Morkal was on ground zero that day, and he joined Andrew Dickens to discuss.&nbsp;
"As soon as we got there it was work is on.&nbsp;This is what we have to do.&nbsp;We have to save as many people as we can."
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Dave Morkal: New York firefighter chats 25 years after he was at ground zero on 9/11

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/28806674-d8fb-462a-8af2-b4c200608855/transcript

Beloved museums and zoos in New Zealand, like Wellington Zoo, Orana Wildlife Park, and MOTAT, are struggling to keep the lights on.

Orana Wildlife Trust Board co-chair Dr Ken Hughey joined Andrew Dickens to discuss the financial difficulties facing them and other similar attractions. 

The financial struggles are not contributed to visitor numbers, which Hughey says are increasing, but instead the operating costs.

"The difficulty with the model that pretty much all of the large zoos, and there are other entities like that as well... is that they're becoming more and more expensive to run."

LISTEN ABOVE

Beloved museums and zoos in New Zealand, like Wellington Zoo, Orana Wildlife Park, and MOTAT, are struggling to keep the lights on.
Orana Wildlife Trust Board co-chair Dr Ken Hughey joined Andrew Dickens to discuss the financial difficulties facing them and other similar attractions.&nbsp;
The financial struggles are not contributed to visitor numbers, which Hughey says are increasing, but instead the operating costs.
"The difficulty with the model that pretty much all of the large zoos, and there are other entities like that as well... is that they're becoming more and more expensive to run."
LISTEN ABOVE

Dr Ken Hughey: Orana Wildlife Trust Board co-chair on financial woes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0f08f3fa-f6e8-4d00-9843-b4c2005ebef7/transcript

The Association of Migration and Investment Conference is going on right now prompting significant political debate about immigration policy ahead of the election. 

NZ First wants to restrict birthright citizenship and prevent asylum seekers from accessing work, while Labour wants to introduce a citizenship pathway for children born to undocumented parents and a longer permanent residency process.

ACT would change New Zealand's residence system by removing the existing Permanent Resident Visa category, whereas the Greens want to end 12-month stand-down periods requiring workers to leave the country between visas, and allow migrant workers to change jobs.

Current Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Andrew Dickens that National's policy will be revealed soon, and it will be 'more of the same that you've seen in the last 3 years.'

LISTEN ABOVE 

The Association of Migration and Investment Conference is going on right now prompting significant political debate about immigration policy ahead of the election.&nbsp;
NZ First wants to restrict birthright citizenship and prevent asylum seekers from accessing work, while Labour wants to introduce a citizenship pathway for children born to undocumented parents and a longer permanent residency process.
ACT would change New Zealand's residence system by removing the existing Permanent Resident Visa category, whereas the Greens want to end 12-month stand-down periods requiring workers to leave the country between visas, and allow migrant workers to change jobs.
Current Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Andrew Dickens that National's policy will be revealed soon, and it will be 'more of the same that you've seen in the last 3 years.'
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Erica Stanford: Immigration Minister chats increasing discourse

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/cbc2921c-4d37-446a-acda-b4c2005a12df/transcript

Grant Robertson: Finance Minister justifies uptick in Government spending, says new cuts will keep necessary services going

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