Best of 2025: Christopher Luxon still wants to raise the retirement age, despite opposition

The Prime Minister's keen to raise the retirement age -- but it's not possible in coalition with New Zealand First. The Government is halving its KiwiSaver contribution rate -- and canning if people earning more than 180-thousand dollars. The default rate of worker and business contributions to K…

Best of 2025: Kerre Woodham - Ask not what your country can do for you

New Zealand Inc. is in trouble and it's on us —you and me— to fix it. Not politicians, not economists, not even our blessed farmers who've got us out of trouble time and time again – it is on us, New Zealand voters.  It doesn't matter whether we vote left or right, red, blue, green, yellow, or bla…

Chris Bishop: Infrastructure Minister wraps 2025, looks ahead to 2026

With all the hats he wears, Chris Bishop has been busy this year.  He’s the Minister for Infrastructure, and also holds the portfolios for Transport, Housing, RMA Reform, and the role of Leader of the House.  While wrapping up 2025, Bishop told Kerre Woodham he’s proud of how the Fast Track legis…

Andrew Hoggard: Biosecurity Minister on the efforts to stamp out the yellow-legged hornet in Auckland

Hornets are on notice as the Government commits $12 million to stamp them out in Auckland.  The yellow-legged hornet was detected on the North Shore earlier this year.  They pose a serious threat to honeybees and, by extension, to the agricultural sector.  Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard say…

Kerre Woodham: Rejecting the Waihi gold mine project would've made no sense

You can take the girl out of Waihi, but you can't take the Waihi out of the girl, I tell you.  News that Oceana Gold's Waihi North project has been approved makes good sense, as far as I'm concerned. The permit that was confirmed yesterday guarantees the securing of 350 existing jobs, the creation…

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

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…

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

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 Nat…

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

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…

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

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 th…

Mark Mitchell: Police Minister reflects on 2025, looks ahead to 2026

Mark Mitchell is acknowledging the wins he had in 2025.  It’s been a busy year, the Minister dealing with a range of emergencies across the country, plus the hefty police portfolio.  He told Kerre Woodham that although there’s a lot of negative headlines throughout the year, we should be extremel…