Households may need to tighten their belts further to adjust to the cost of living.

ASB's latest economic research confirms debt servicing, food prices, and transport costs will raise weekly household outgoings by an extra $150.

NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says mortgage increases are the primary factor in these predicted rising living costs.

Jenee Tibshraeny says the average mortgage rate has risen by 45 percent over 2022, but they're coming off a historic low period.

LISTEN ABOVE 

Households may need to tighten their belts further to adjust to the cost of living.
ASB's latest economic research confirms debt servicing, food prices, and transport costs will raise weekly household outgoings by an extra $150.
NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says mortgage increases are the primary factor in these predicted rising living costs.
Jenee Tibshraeny says the average mortgage rate has risen by 45 percent over 2022, but they're coming off a historic low period.
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

Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor on ASB research predicting living costs will rise by extra $150

Now we’ve got to talk about Winston.

If you hadn’t noticed yet - or maybe you didn’t believe it - take a look at Winston Peters’ State of the Nation speech yesterday and you’ll see the proof that this election is shaping up to be New Zealand First’s election.

More than a thousand people turned up in Tauranga to hear him speak. They even had to use two overflow rooms.

Compare that with the same speech last election, which was held in a church with a capacity of just 100.

More importantly, New Zealand First used the event to announce they’ve recruited Alfred Ngaro, the former National Party MP. Now, it was a bit of a running joke in the crowd that they didn’t know who Alfred was - but commentators do.

And I think most of us can see this for what it is: the recruitment of an incredibly well-liked former National MP with a strong Christian faith. That won’t offend Winston’s older voters - in fact, it’s likely to appeal to many of them.

More significantly, it’s a signal of what’s happening and what could accelerate as we get closer to the election: New Zealand First stealing National’s territory. In this case, it’s an MP. As the election nears, it could be votes.

I count among my friends two people who used to be part of National’s parliamentary team. Both are now likely to vote for New Zealand First at this election because they’re conservatives - and Winston is positioning New Zealand First as the home of conservatism.

This cost-of-living crisis - now also a fuel crisis - is going to play straight into his hands. He’ll go hard on smashing the power companies to bring down prices, something National has failed to do. He’ll argue for New Zealand retaining ownership of state assets, a position that resonates more now than ever

Just think about the Marsden Point oil refinery and you’ll see what I mean.

He’ll choose mining over climate concerns, which will appeal to working-class voters. Everything is lining up for him to significantly lift his vote.

Keep an eye on the polling. He’s already sitting at more than 10 percent. If things continue the way they’re going - with the fuel crisis squeezing the economy and Chris Luxon unable to fire the National Party up - that 10 percent could, in my view, become 15 percent by election time.

LISTEN ABOVE

Now we’ve got to talk about Winston.
If you hadn’t noticed yet - or maybe you didn’t believe it - take a look at Winston Peters’ State of the Nation speech yesterday and you’ll see the proof that this election is shaping up to be New Zealand First’s election.
More than a thousand people turned up in Tauranga to hear him speak. They even had to use two overflow rooms.
Compare that with the same speech last election, which was held in a church with a capacity of just 100.
More importantly, New Zealand First used the event to announce they’ve recruited Alfred Ngaro, the former National Party MP. Now, it was a bit of a running joke in the crowd that they didn’t know who Alfred was - but commentators do.
And I think most of us can see this for what it is: the recruitment of an incredibly well-liked former National MP with a strong Christian faith. That won’t offend Winston’s older voters - in fact, it’s likely to appeal to many of them.
More significantly, it’s a signal of what’s happening and what could accelerate as we get closer to the election: New Zealand First stealing National’s territory. In this case, it’s an MP. As the election nears, it could be votes.
I count among my friends two people who used to be part of National’s parliamentary team. Both are now likely to vote for New Zealand First at this election because they’re conservatives - and Winston is positioning New Zealand First as the home of conservatism.
This cost-of-living crisis - now also a fuel crisis - is going to play straight into his hands. He’ll go hard on smashing the power companies to bring down prices, something National has failed to do. He’ll argue for New Zealand retaining ownership of state assets, a position that resonates more now than ever
Just think about the Marsden Point oil refinery and you’ll see what I mean.
He’ll choose mining over climate concerns, which will appeal to working-class voters. Everything is lining up for him to significantly lift his vote.
Keep an eye on the polling. He’s already sitting at more than 10 percent. If things continue the way they’re going - with the fuel crisis squeezing the economy and Chris Luxon unable to fire the National Party up - that 10 percent could, in my view, become 15 percent by election time.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: What will this election do for New Zealand First?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ad1ba588-6b49-4303-8629-b41600728f86/transcript

Major credit rating agency Fitch needs more confidence our Government will lower debt before it will change our rating. 

It reduced New Zealand's AA+ rating outlook from stable - to negative - over the weekend. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says it's proof of the importance of fiscal discipline.

Agency primary rating analyst Sagarika Shandra says the Government has a plan to reach a surplus, but needs to stick to it. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Major credit rating agency Fitch needs more confidence our Government will lower debt before it will change our rating.&nbsp;
It reduced New Zealand's AA+ rating outlook from stable - to negative - over the weekend.&nbsp;
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says it's proof of the importance of fiscal discipline.
Agency primary rating analyst Sagarika Shandra says the Government has a plan to reach a surplus, but needs to stick to it.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Sagarika Chandra: Fitch analyst reveals why the agency changed New Zealand's rating

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c927eea0-b6aa-446d-88c3-b416006e0688/transcript

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday 23 March.

Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday 23 March. 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 23 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6387b017-011f-4f69-b3fa-b41600663d5c/transcript

Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor on ASB research predicting living costs will rise by extra $150

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