It’s been a tough run for the economy this year, but the Finance Minister is celebrating the progress that was made. 

Nicola Willis told Kerre Woodham the economy is growing, which means that when they look back on 2025, they’ll be able to say it ended a lot better than it started. 

She says that looking into next year, it’s set to grow much faster, with many more jobs being created. 

“People can look forward to their incomes rising faster than inflation and ongoing low interest rates – that's a positive way to start the next year.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

It’s been a tough run for the economy this year, but the Finance Minister is celebrating the progress that was made.&nbsp;
Nicola Willis told Kerre Woodham the economy is growing, which means that when they look back on 2025, they’ll be able to say it ended a lot better than it started.&nbsp;
She says that looking into next year, it’s set to grow much faster, with many more jobs being created.&nbsp;
“People can look forward to their incomes rising faster than inflation and ongoing low interest rates – that's a positive way to start the next year.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Join Kerre Woodham one of New Zealand’s best loved personalities as she dishes up a bold, sharp and energetic show Monday to Friday 9am-12md on Newstalk ZB. News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your morning listening covered.

Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

Nicola Willis: Finance Minister reflects on 2025, looks ahead to 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f2c8e416-d0e3-48d4-a0f7-b3b700019f8e/transcript

Trains will be offline across the Auckland rail network from December 27 to January 28. 

KiwiRail says the closure is needed to allow for urgent repairs and maintenance which is needed for the upcoming City Rail Link, set to open in the second half of 2026. 

Public Transport Users Association National Coordinator Jon Reeves told Kerre Woodham that shutting down the trains over the summer for maintenance purposes is the classic cliché that's been going on for about 25 years.  

He says it's become a bit of a joke, and a different way to make these upgrades needs to be found.  

LISTEN ABOVE  

Trains will be offline across the Auckland rail network from December 27 to January 28.&nbsp;
KiwiRail says the closure is needed to allow for urgent repairs and maintenance which is needed for the upcoming City Rail Link, set to open in the second half of 2026.&nbsp;
Public Transport Users Association National Coordinator Jon Reeves told Kerre Woodham that shutting down the trains over the summer for maintenance purposes is the classic cliché that's been going on for about 25 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;
He says it's become a bit of a joke, and a different way to make these upgrades needs to be found. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;&nbsp;

John Reeves: Public Transport Users Association National Coordinator on Auckland trains shutting down over summer for maintenance

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/423ac77d-ce53-491f-9441-b3b6018a61e7/transcript

New Zealand's economy grew more than expected between July and September. 

But between April and June, it shrank more than previously thought. 

GDP rose 1.1% in the September quarter, surpassing all expectation but Stats NZ has revised the numbers for the June quarter, finding GDP actually fell 1%, not the previously-reported 0.9%. 

That means the economy shrank 0.5% in the year to September. 

NZ Herald Business Editor Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham the data is showing there’s some momentum in the economy, especially within manufacturing and business services. 

He says consumers take a bit longer to feel upbeat, but the business core of the economy is picking up.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

New Zealand's economy grew more than expected between July and September.&nbsp;
But between April and June, it shrank more than previously thought.&nbsp;
GDP rose 1.1% in the September quarter, surpassing all expectation but Stats NZ has revised the numbers for the June quarter, finding GDP actually fell 1%, not the previously-reported 0.9%.&nbsp;
That means the economy shrank 0.5% in the year to September.&nbsp;
NZ Herald Business Editor Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham the data is showing there’s some momentum in the economy, especially within manufacturing and business services.&nbsp;
He says consumers take a bit longer to feel upbeat, but the business core of the economy is picking up. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Liam Dann: NZ Herald Business Editor on the GDP rising by 1.1% in Q3

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/77c552b5-d200-4a34-b6a4-b3b60184e398/transcript

For those who have been here over summer, Auckland is a lovely place to be.  A lot of residents push off, and it feels like the city is yours to explore, and visitors are very welcome and make a welcome addition to the city, new people with new energy and seeing things that you don't see, seeing the city through new eyes. 

But it's going to be a little bit tricky to get around, unless you fancy a bus on a sweltering day or you bring your car, because Auckland trains have announced that they're delivering the last big push on the rail network rebuild and other critical city rail link preparations. 

There'll be more than 1,300 people involved in repairing tracks, building new platforms, pedestrian bridges, removing level crossings, and testing the timetable. So, thank you very much to those 1,300 who will be working in the heat over summer to get the CRL up and running, but it does mean the closure of the Auckland rail network from the 27th of December to the 28th of January. 

It'll be fully closed for most of the time, with the exception of some southern eastern and Ōnehunga line services returning between the 19th and the 26th of January. Auckland Trains say balancing delivery with minimising disruption to passengers and freight is tricky to get right. So, using holiday periods when demand is lower means we impact fewer people, they say. For those staying in Auckland or working right through, we understand this is frustrating – and it will be. If you're one of those essential workers working right through, it will be frustrating to know that an efficient public transport option is closed to you, quite literally. 

And for those who are looking to be the first people in the world to welcome in the new year in Auckland City Central, I mean, it's a hell of a spectacle. You've got SkyCity with the fireworks display and Vector with their lights, great music and it is a happy fun time, but imagine having good times and energy and well factor and then hopping on a bus crammed to the gunnels, chugging back out to Pukekohe. Is that really how you want to begin your new year? It's hardly the hoots wahay you're looking for, is it? 

A bus is not a train. Showing that I understand mechanics and engineering, a bus is not a train. Several buses are not one train. 

I do get it. I really do. There has to be some short-term disruption for long-term gain. And I do want to be able to travel hither and yon on public transport if I can do so safely and efficiently, as I do in other cities, I love jumping on the subway or the metro and even the buses. But Auckland's so far behind the eight ball. London opened its first deep-level tube line with electric trains in 1890. The New York subway opened in 1904 and Paris's metro a few years earlier in 1900. So, it's taken us a hot minute to get with the program, even allowing for economies of scale. 

People will use public transport if it's efficient and it's safe and it's going. They're not going to use it when it's shut. We're seeing increasing numbers of people choosing other modes of transport other than the car, according to the latest AA survey. 

Now, you'd expect people who belong to AA, you know, to love their cars, and they do. 97% of the 7,000 members who responded drove in the four weeks before taking the survey, but 60% also walked where they needed to go, 15% had cycled, 15% had bussed, and 6% had hopped on a train. Imagine how many more there would be if we did have an effective public transport system that was actually running. 

For those who have been here over summer, Auckland is a lovely place to be. &nbsp;A lot of residents push off, and it feels like the city is yours to explore, and visitors are very welcome and make a welcome addition to the city, new people with new energy and seeing things that you don't see, seeing the city through new eyes.&nbsp;
But it's going to be a little bit tricky to get around, unless you fancy a bus on a sweltering day or you bring your car, because Auckland trains have announced that they're delivering the last big push on the rail network rebuild and other critical city rail link preparations.&nbsp;
There'll be more than 1,300 people involved in repairing tracks, building new platforms, pedestrian bridges, removing level crossings, and testing the timetable. So, thank you very much to those 1,300 who will be working in the heat over summer to get the CRL up and running, but it does mean the closure of the Auckland rail network from the 27th of December to the 28th of January.&nbsp;
It'll be fully closed for most of the time, with the exception of some southern eastern and Ōnehunga line services returning between the 19th and the 26th of January. Auckland Trains say balancing delivery with minimising disruption to passengers and freight is tricky to get right. So, using holiday periods when demand is lower means we impact fewer people, they say. For those staying in Auckland or working right through, we understand this is frustrating – and it will be. If you're one of those essential workers working right through, it will be frustrating to know that an efficient public transport option is closed to you, quite literally.&nbsp;
And for those who are looking to be the first people in the world to welcome in the new year in Auckland City Central, I mean, it's a hell of a spectacle. You've got SkyCity with the fireworks display and Vector with their lights, great music and it is a happy fun time, but imagine having good times and energy and well factor and then hopping on a bus crammed to the gunnels, chugging back out to Pukekohe. Is that really how you want to begin your new year? It's hardly the hoots wahay you're looking for, is it?&nbsp;
A bus is not a train. Showing that I understand mechanics and engineering, a bus is not a train. Several buses are not one train.&nbsp;
I do get it. I really do. There has to be some short-term disruption for long-term gain. And I do want to be able to travel hither and yon on public transport if I can do so safely and efficiently, as I do in other cities, I love jumping on the subway or the metro and even the buses. But Auckland's so far behind the eight ball. London opened its first deep-level tube line with electric trains in 1890. The New York subway opened in 1904 and Paris's metro a few years earlier in 1900. So, it's taken us a hot minute to get with the program, even allowing for economies of scale.&nbsp;
People will use public transport if it's efficient and it's safe and it's going. They're not going to use it when it's shut. We're seeing increasing numbers of people choosing other modes of transport other than the car, according to the latest AA survey.&nbsp;
Now, you'd expect people who belong to AA, you know, to love their cars, and they do. 97% of the 7,000 members who responded drove in the four weeks before taking the survey, but 60% also walked where they needed to go, 15% had cycled, 15% had bussed, and 6% had hopped on a train. Imagine how many more there would be if we did have an effective public transport system that was actually running.&nbsp;

Kerre Woodham: Auckland is far behind the eight ball when it comes to trains

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/82a40c34-ec81-4e5f-9689-b3b601801ebe/transcript

Nicola Willis: Finance Minister reflects on 2025, looks ahead to 2026

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