The Chief Executive of Southern Cross says the company's seen softer new joiners to health insurance. 

New Zealand’s biggest health insurer paid a record 1.8 billion-dollars in claims from 2.1-billion received in premiums, but its membership numbers are continuing to decline.

Southern Cross membership fell nearly two-percent to 935-thousand in this latest year.

Nick Astwick told Andrew Dickens the cost of living did seem to play a part. 

He says private health care cost has risen significantly in the past few years and premiums have gone up. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The Chief Executive of Southern Cross says the company's seen softer new joiners to health insurance.&nbsp;
New Zealand’s biggest health insurer paid a record 1.8 billion-dollars in claims from 2.1-billion received in premiums, but its membership numbers are continuing to decline.
Southern Cross membership fell nearly two-percent to 935-thousand in this latest year.
Nick Astwick told Andrew Dickens the cost of living did seem to play a part.&nbsp;
He says private health care cost has risen significantly in the past few years and premiums have gone up.&nbsp;
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

Nick Astwick: Southern Cross Health Insurance CEO on declining membership numbers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/93a03077-b204-46ec-b77b-b4d7006c011e/transcript

So let’s talk about the Stuff "Kingmaker" debate.

Hated the name.  Just call it the minor parties debate.  It is what it is. 

I’ve never liked the minor party debates because there are just too many talking heads.  It’s always a mess as the moderator tries to herd cats.  But I haven’t figured out a better way of doing it other than a week of one on ones and who’s watching that?

 So it was relatively calm.  Which was a relief but also boring.

 Across from the five walking billboards and their slogans we had two moderators.  What was that about?  We ended up switching from Andrea Vance and Jenna Lynch giggling among themselves like a ZM breakfast crew to five stunned mullets wondering how they can one up each other. Debates need one moderator.  Anyone with broadcasting nous knows that.

 And we had the return of the worm in the audience mood score which showed that those who said the least in the most polite way were the best even though what they did say was unicorn talk.  Which also shows how much of the electorate does not take this stuff seriously

Speaking of unicorn talk, one concrete piece of policy came from Winston Peters who confirmed he wanted to lift the Working for Families tax credit by $120 a week, “possibly more for some”, so we can pay for fuel.

Asked how he would finance it, he pointed to his proposed future fund and $100 billion lined up for it. And then accused reporters of ignoring his policies.

So his one cost-of-living policy is based on an airy fairy idea that isn’t out of the starting gate and whose returns are decades away even if it came to pass.

These were not serious people and most disturbingly two of them are actually in this government and two of them are senior members of the media.

So let’s talk about the Stuff "Kingmaker" debate.
Hated the name. &nbsp;Just call it the minor parties debate. &nbsp;It is what it is.&nbsp;
I’ve never liked the minor party debates because there are just too many talking heads. &nbsp;It’s always a mess as the moderator tries to herd cats. &nbsp;But I haven’t figured out a better way of doing it other than a week of one on ones and who’s watching that?
&nbsp;So it was relatively calm. &nbsp;Which was a relief but also boring.
&nbsp;Across from the five walking billboards and their slogans we had two moderators. &nbsp;What was that about? &nbsp;We ended up switching from Andrea Vance and Jenna Lynch giggling among themselves like a ZM breakfast crew to five stunned mullets wondering how they can one up each other. Debates need one moderator. &nbsp;Anyone with broadcasting nous knows that.
&nbsp;And we had the return of the worm in the audience mood score which showed that those who said the least in the most polite way were the best even though what they did say was unicorn talk. &nbsp;Which also shows how much of the electorate does not take this stuff seriously
Speaking of unicorn talk, one concrete piece of policy came from Winston Peters who confirmed he wanted to lift the Working for Families tax credit by $120 a week, “possibly more for some”, so we can pay for fuel.
Asked how he would finance it, he pointed to his proposed future fund and $100 billion lined up for it. And then accused reporters of ignoring his policies.
So his one cost-of-living policy is based on an airy fairy idea that isn’t out of the starting gate and whose returns are decades away even if it came to pass.
These were not serious people and most disturbingly two of them are actually in this government and two of them are senior members of the media.

Perspective with Andrew Dickens: The first Minor Leaders debate was a waste of time

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c7c24244-2d94-4fbd-b45e-b4d7007d39fb/transcript

Prime Minister Chris Luxon says he didn't watch last night's minor party leader debate, giving no response to jabs by coalition partner Winston Peters. 

At Stuff's Kingmakers' Debate last night, the New Zealand First Leader said there have been better Prime Ministers than Luxon. 

Peters also announced he'll more than double the Working for Families tax credit if re-elected, calling the current 50-dollars a fortnight "lousy". 

Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper joined Andrew DIckens to break down the debate. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Prime Minister Chris Luxon says he didn't watch last night's minor party leader debate, giving no response to jabs by coalition partner Winston Peters.&nbsp;
At Stuff's Kingmakers' Debate last night, the New Zealand First Leader said there have been better Prime Ministers than Luxon.&nbsp;
Peters also announced he'll more than double the Working for Families tax credit if re-elected, calling the current 50-dollars a fortnight "lousy".&nbsp;
Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper joined Andrew DIckens to break down the debate.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Barry Soper: Senior Political Correspondent on the first Minor Leaders debate

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8137fd31-a183-46d0-9346-b4d700746ec2/transcript

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday  2 October.

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 Friday 2 October. 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 02 October 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7340ef3b-9a28-4004-aea4-b4d700662fa6/transcript

Nick Astwick: Southern Cross Health Insurance CEO on declining membership numbers

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