New numbers from the Waitakere Indian Association show Kiwi-Indians contributed more than $37 billion to the economy annually to March 2025. 

The association argues this demonstrates the community is critical to the success of the India-New Zealand FTA.

NZ First has railed against the FTA, saying it'll allow more Indian migrants into the country. 

President Sunil Kaushal says the numbers are clear.

"We need to set the record straight - the Kiwi-Indian community has been there for 200 years."

LISTEN ABOVE

New numbers from the Waitakere Indian Association show Kiwi-Indians contributed more than $37 billion to the economy annually to March 2025.&nbsp;
The association argues this demonstrates the community is critical to the success of the India-New Zealand FTA.
NZ First has railed against the FTA, saying it'll allow more Indian migrants into the country.&nbsp;
President Sunil Kaushal says the numbers are clear.
"We need to set the record straight - the Kiwi-Indian community has been there for 200 years."
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

Sunil Kaushal: Waitakere Indian Association President on the new report examining the economic contributions of Kiwi-Indians

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c2ead70e-bbb8-460d-8bcf-b482005296b7/transcript

Let's not pretend that this roading announcement is not a massive letdown for anyone who voted for the National Party believing it would deliver the roads it promised. It is a huge letdown.

Of the 15 Roads of National Significance promised following the last election, only six have construction dates: Takitimu North Link Stage 1 in Tauranga, Ōtaki to north of Levin, the Hawke's Bay Expressway, Warkworth to Te Hana, Cambridge to Piarere and the Ōmanawa Bridge. I don't even know where that is.

The rest of them? Well, good luck to you.

The second Mount Victoria Tunnel, which is one of my personal obsessions because of how badly Wellington needs it, has no construction date. In fact, the pre-construction work could take us all the way through to 2037. That is incredibly disappointing.

I've heard rumours for months that this was the case. I've kept asking Chris Bishop about it on this show and he has assured me the project was all go. But it's not really, is it?

And remember what National said at the last election: spades in the ground in the first term. That is now a broken promise.

Now, I have to give credit where credit is due and that is to Chris Bishop because he fronted up and got honest with the public about this. That can't have been easy for him to do - for his own reputation and for the political fallout facing the National Party ahead of the next election.

I know he's been anxious about this day coming and it has come. I think he's handled it as well as he could.
But this is a mistake that Chris Bishop and the Nats cannot blame on anyone but themselves.

They cannot blame Trump. They cannot blame tariffs. They cannot blame the conflict with Iran. They cannot blame inflation. They cannot blame the Labour Party.

It was obvious in 2023 that they were being too ambitious in promising all these roads. They were warned they were being too ambitious and the warnings were correct.

Now there will be significant numbers of disappointed voters who will have to wait so long for the roads they were promised that - given how changes of Government work - they may never actually get them.

LISTEN ABOVE

Let's not pretend that this roading announcement is not a massive letdown for anyone who voted for the National Party believing it would deliver the roads it promised. It is a huge letdown.
Of the 15 Roads of National Significance promised following the last election, only six have construction dates: Takitimu North Link Stage 1 in Tauranga, Ōtaki to north of Levin, the Hawke's Bay Expressway, Warkworth to Te Hana, Cambridge to Piarere and the Ōmanawa Bridge. I don't even know where that is.
The rest of them? Well, good luck to you.
The second Mount Victoria Tunnel, which is one of my personal obsessions because of how badly Wellington needs it, has no construction date. In fact, the pre-construction work could take us all the way through to 2037. That is incredibly disappointing.
I've heard rumours for months that this was the case. I've kept asking Chris Bishop about it on this show and he has assured me the project was all go. But it's not really, is it?
And remember what National said at the last election: spades in the ground in the first term. That is now a broken promise.
Now, I have to give credit where credit is due and that is to Chris Bishop because he fronted up and got honest with the public about this. That can't have been easy for him to do - for his own reputation and for the political fallout facing the National Party ahead of the next election.
I know he's been anxious about this day coming and it has come. I think he's handled it as well as he could. But this is a mistake that Chris Bishop and the Nats cannot blame on anyone but themselves.
They cannot blame Trump. They cannot blame tariffs. They cannot blame the conflict with Iran. They cannot blame inflation. They cannot blame the Labour Party.
It was obvious in 2023 that they were being too ambitious in promising all these roads. They were warned they were being too ambitious and the warnings were correct.
Now there will be significant numbers of disappointed voters who will have to wait so long for the roads they were promised that - given how changes of Government work - they may never actually get them.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: National's roading announcement was a massive letdown

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ab04ff5d-d81e-4d92-b0fc-b482007465b6/transcript

The Warriors have taken over Australia’s Dreamworld, rebranding it as 'Wahsworld' before their NRL fixture against the Gold Coast Titans.

Dreamworld and the Warriors have partnered to create 'Wahsworld' every time the team travels to the Gold Coast to play the Titans - with the official attraction launching on August 1.

Warriors CEO Cameron George says he's looking forward to this getting started.

"It was on Channel Nine last night, in Australia...it's massive that a park, probably Australia's biggest and most popular theme park, is changing its name to support a rugby league club." 

LISTEN ABOVE

The Warriors have taken over Australia’s Dreamworld, rebranding it as 'Wahsworld' before their NRL fixture against the Gold Coast Titans.
Dreamworld and the Warriors have partnered to create 'Wahsworld' every time the team travels to the Gold Coast to play the Titans - with the official attraction launching on August 1.
Warriors CEO Cameron George says he's looking forward to this getting started.
"It was on Channel Nine last night, in Australia...it's massive that a park, probably Australia's biggest and most popular theme park, is changing its name to support a rugby league club."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Cameron George: Warriors CEO on the new 'Wahsworld' makeover coming to the Gold Coast

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/efee7191-00e4-4ef5-9f67-b482006fdca9/transcript

Health New Zealand has confirmed Waikato Hospital's Emergency Department was under some strain when a patient died.

A man who couldn't be revived after being found unresponsive last week had been waiting for hours. 

A review's found he had an acute unexpected incident that wouldn't have been prevented by more monitoring. 

Health NZ Clinical Executive National Director Doctor Richard Sullivan says it was a busy day, with two wards closed to new patients because of a bug. 

"The third issue on that particular shift was that they were four doctors down from the 12 they had planned to have on that day, and that was because  of sickness." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Health New Zealand has confirmed Waikato Hospital's Emergency Department was under some strain when a patient died.
A man who couldn't be revived after being found unresponsive last week had been waiting for hours.&nbsp;
A review's found he had an acute unexpected incident that wouldn't have been prevented by more monitoring.&nbsp;
Health NZ Clinical Executive National Director Doctor Richard Sullivan says it was a busy day, with two wards closed to new patients because of a bug.&nbsp;
"The third issue on that particular shift was that they were four doctors down from the 12 they had planned to have on that day, and that was because&nbsp; of sickness."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Dr Richard Sullivan: Health NZ Chief Clinical Officer on the review into the Waikato Hospital's Emergency Department death

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/51aa7cea-8494-46d7-9d17-b482006aaf8e/transcript

Sunil Kaushal: Waitakere Indian Association President on the new report examining the economic contributions of Kiwi-Indians

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