Kirk Hope: Financial Services Council Chief Executive backs National's Kiwisaver overhaul

The Financial Services Council is backing National’s KiwiSaver overhaul, saying it’ll boost long-term savings. Plans include lifting contribution rates to 12%, making the scheme compulsory, and enrolling Kiwis at birth with a $1500 kickstart — plus extending support for parents and over-65s. Fina…

Carolyn Young: Retail NZ Chief Executive discusses the upcoming vote for the Spark Retail NZ's People's Choice award

Very shortly public voting will be underway for the Spark Retail NZ's People's Choice award. The People’s Choice Award recognises a retailer that has made a genuine, positive impact on its customers. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young said it's important to allow Kiwis to have a say in who t…

Kerre Woodham: I'm not sure about the Oprah-fication of Labour's policies

As the election gets closer, parties are starting to release their policies. And after a slow start, keeping their cards close to their chest, Labour's building up steam. We already had the three free doctors visits for all, now we've got free maternity scans and a promise to scrap the $5 fee on pr…

Kerre Woodham: Who's got it right when it comes to work ethics?

Work ethics – where do we stand on those? Is it a generational thing? Do you continue to soldier on despite Covid changing the way we see coming to work while sick? Do you still soldier on? Do you pause and take a break if you can feel a sniffle coming on because you want to A) ensure you don't inf…

Liam Dann: NZ Herald Business Editor on the GDP rising 0.8% in the March quarter

Our economy was well on the way to recovery, driven by a resurgence in manufacturing, before the fuel crisis hit.  Stats NZ data out today shows GDP rose 0.8% in both the quarter and year to March.  Equipment manufacturing, food production, accounting and businesses services, wholesale trade, and…

Kerre Woodham: A fantastic blueprint for the future

I'm going to start with good news today. Now, I know we don't normally, but it is such good news I have to comment, and it's also a topic dear to all our respective talkback hearts. And that is that almost all of Parliament is backing the 30 year infrastructure plan. You'll have heard it in our new…

Qiulae Wong: The Opportunity Party Leader talks tax policy, superannuation, welfare

The Opportunity Party says a property tax shake-up's front of mind.  The Party needs 5% to break into the Beehive, and has been scoring between 3% and 6% in polls.  The centrist party's proposing a blanket Land Value Tax, claiming it'll bring house prices down by up to 15%.  Leader Qiulae Wong t…

Paul Fuge: Consumer Powerswitch Manager on high electricity prices, households overpaying for power

More than a million households could be overpaying for power this winter, as more Kiwis struggle to pay the bill at all. Around half of Kiwi households haven’t switched providers in five or more years, which is potentially costing them hundreds of extra dollars a year.  Consumer NZ says that stic…

Adina Thorn: Lawyer on the way land is acquired by the Government for public infrastructure projects, impact on homeowners

The way the Government acquires land under the Public Works Act is being labelled unfair.   Grey Lynn locals are the latest to deal with their land potentially being bought for a major Auckland busway.   The Transport Agency plans to build the 18 kilometre Northwest Busway, to link the CBD with t…

Kerre Woodham: Fairness and land acquisition for public works

Life isn't fair. It's one of the first lessons you learn. And it's not fair when you find yourself, or more accurately your home, right smack in the middle of a vital piece of infrastructure. There's been so many cases around the country over a long period of time, but more recently you had the buy…