While presenting Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nicola Willis shared a prediction that New Zealand will reach a $2.6 billion surplus by 2028-29.

ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Heather du Plessis-Allan the prediction was 'a little bit rosy'. 

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While presenting Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nicola Willis shared a prediction that New Zealand will reach a $2.6 billion surplus by 2028-29.
ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Heather du Plessis-Allan the prediction was 'a little bit rosy'.&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

Sharon Zollner: ANZ Chief Economist addresses Nicola Willis' surplus hopes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/66444118-6c7c-45b1-8a7d-b459006fcb98/transcript

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 29 May, 2026, Variety chief executive Wayne Howett tells us organisations need to team up to tackle burgeoning child poverty.

Arts and Culture Minister Paul Goldsmith says he's not surprised by Lynda Tool's criticism of the lack of money for music in the Budget.

Simon Dallow reveals whether he's missing newsreading while enjoying the sun in France.

And on the Sports Huddle, Nicky Styris and Andrew Alderson on how All White Tim Payne has become a sudden social media sensation with more than a million followers.

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

LISTEN ABOVE

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 29 May, 2026, Variety chief executive Wayne Howett tells us organisations need to team up to tackle burgeoning child poverty.
Arts and Culture Minister Paul Goldsmith says he's not surprised by Lynda Tool's criticism of the lack of money for music in the Budget.
Simon Dallow reveals whether he's missing newsreading while enjoying the sun in France.
And on the Sports Huddle, Nicky Styris and Andrew Alderson on how All White Tim Payne has become a sudden social media sensation with more than a million followers.
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE

Full Show Podcast: 29 May 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/18dda4c5-ca4b-452e-b1bc-b4590076b665/transcript

Newstalk ZB political correspondent Barry Soper joins Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat all things budget week.

They also discuss the other political news you may have missed in all the budget noise.

LISTEN ABOVE 

Newstalk ZB political correspondent Barry Soper joins Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat all things budget week.
They also discuss the other political news you may have missed in all the budget noise.
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Barry Soper: Political correspondent wraps budget week

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c439d5c7-fb10-42d6-9d0f-b45900758520/transcript

Geez, how sorry do you feel for Paul Goldsmith at the Music Awards, eh?

So, he's invited to the awards and he hasn't got his mate Chris Bishop with him this time. Bishop didn’t go after what happened with Don McGlashan last year.

Paul Goldsmith’s not invited to speak—apparently no one is—which means that when Lynda Topp gets up and starts speaking and tells him off, he’s got no right of reply. 

Here's what she had to say: “Paul, if you listen up for a minute, I’d like you to take a message back to Wellington. I did a speed read on the Budget this afternoon—there doesn’t appear to be any money for music. But in big, big letters: $2.1 billion for defence. What the f***?”

Now, I think we have to cut Lynda a bit of slack. She’s only lost her twin in the past week and she’s entitled, of course, to say exactly what she likes. She didn’t say anything particularly rude and it’s a fair opinion that she holds. But it is becoming a bit of a pattern, isn’t it?

Ministers turning up to the Music Awards and having to sit through that night’s chosen form of protest about whatever the issue of the year is. Last year it was the Treaty Principles Bill; this year it’s the Budget.

In Paul Goldsmith’s defence—given that he wasn’t able to mount one—yes, there was no money in the Budget for the arts. There was also no money in the Budget for anything. Most of us looked at it and found nothing for ourselves. That’s how it should be in difficult times. The country is not flush.

And yes, there is money for defence—a lot of money for defence. That is also how it should be right now. If you were to listen to some, we may be only tens of months away from China potentially taking Taiwan. We have no real conception of what chain of events that could trigger in our region.

Even though the drones and the frigate upgrades in this Budget won’t protect the entire coastline of New Zealand—that’s a fair criticism—we are still expected by our allies and partners to at least try to do our bit. Just try.

So, hands up—which minister wants to go to the awards next year?

LISTEN ABOVE

Geez, how sorry do you feel for Paul Goldsmith at the Music Awards, eh?
So, he's invited to the awards and he hasn't got his mate Chris Bishop with him this time. Bishop didn’t go after what happened with Don McGlashan last year.
Paul Goldsmith’s not invited to speak—apparently no one is—which means that when Lynda Topp gets up and starts speaking and tells him off, he’s got no right of reply.&nbsp;
Here's what she had to say: “Paul, if you listen up for a minute, I’d like you to take a message back to Wellington. I did a speed read on the Budget this afternoon—there doesn’t appear to be any money for music. But in big, big letters: $2.1 billion for defence. What the f***?”
Now, I think we have to cut Lynda a bit of slack. She’s only lost her twin in the past week and she’s entitled, of course, to say exactly what she likes. She didn’t say anything particularly rude and it’s a fair opinion that she holds. But it is becoming a bit of a pattern, isn’t it?
Ministers turning up to the Music Awards and having to sit through that night’s chosen form of protest about whatever the issue of the year is. Last year it was the Treaty Principles Bill; this year it’s the Budget.
In Paul Goldsmith’s defence—given that he wasn’t able to mount one—yes, there was no money in the Budget for the arts. There was also no money in the Budget for anything. Most of us looked at it and found nothing for ourselves. That’s how it should be in difficult times. The country is not flush.
And yes, there is money for defence—a lot of money for defence. That is also how it should be right now. If you were to listen to some, we may be only tens of months away from China potentially taking Taiwan. We have no real conception of what chain of events that could trigger in our region.
Even though the drones and the frigate upgrades in this Budget won’t protect the entire coastline of New Zealand—that’s a fair criticism—we are still expected by our allies and partners to at least try to do our bit. Just try.
So, hands up—which minister wants to go to the awards next year?
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: The Government was right to give billions to defence and forget arts

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/beb59ad7-a99e-48f5-8e8b-b459006899d7/transcript

Sharon Zollner: ANZ Chief Economist addresses Nicola Willis' surplus hopes

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