David Seymour: Associate Health Minister on expanding drug funding

A drug that could slow a rare form of lung cancer is out there, but it's not funded by Pharmac and costs around $11,000 a month. A look at the Givealittle pages out there shows there are drugs that cost a way lot more a month than that one, up to $25,000 a month.  The ACT Party has proposed an in…

Kerre Woodham: What do you do when your lifesaving treatment isn't funded?

What would you do? I've been thinking about this ever since Paul's phone call yesterday. You might have been listening when he rang in. We were talking about the cost of living and how you can make economies and you can get an extra job and you can do all this and all that and try and get through, …

Kerre Woodham: Can you see a light at the end of the cost of living tunnel?

There's a story in the New Zealand Herald this morning about a young couple in Hawke's Bay who are earning good coin, above the average between them, but they're barely able to make ends meet. This is the cost of living election – at least that's what the media outlets are telling us. But I don't k…

Kerre Woodham: Labour should stay away from housing policy

When I look at Labour's campaign and I look at National's campaign, it's like, look, I'll do it for you next time. Seriously, when something is being done so badly, you think, you know what? I can do that so much better. They've had shocking campaigns, both of the main parties. Just negative, silly…

Caleb Perry: NZTA Project Manager on the need for a long-term plan for the slip-prone Awakino Gorge

The Transport Agency says it needs a long-term plan sooner rather than later for Awakino Gorge, as the vital Taranaki to Waikato link faces more closures.  The stretch of State Highway 3 is closing every night until Thursday next week as transport crews work to restore the road following a slip ea…

Kerre Woodham: Is it time to redraw the map when it comes to roads?

The Awakino Gorge on State Highway 3 that connects Waikato to Taranaki will be closed for nine nights as of tonight. Every time there's a major storm it seems Karangahake Gorge between Paeroa and Waihi is closed. It was closed for five days this month. The Waiwera Gorge is open, then closed, then o…

Kerre Woodham: That wasn't a family gathering, that was campaigning

The gangs, as we know, create wholesale damage and destruction in our society through their drug trafficking. Now it looks like they're causing wholesale damage to Labour.   After roundly criticising members of the Greens and Te Pati Māori for visiting a mongrel mob gang pad and posing for photos,…

David Seymour: ACT Party Leader takes talkback, talks race relations, education, taxes

David Seymour says he won't shy away race relations, despite previous backlash.  The ACT Leader championed the Treaty Principles Bill to its first reading this term, sparking nationwide protests.  This election ACT's promising to “end race-based hiring requirements”, prohibit cultural or spiritua…

Kelvin Davidson: Cotality Chief Property Economist on how property investment may evolve as the market remains largely subdued

We may be at a turning point when it comes to property investment.  Cotality data shows residential property is worth $1.66 trillion and still accounts for more than 50% of all household assets.   But it also shows property sales and values are largely subdued.   Chief Property Economist Kelvin …

Liam Dann: NZ Herald Business Editor at Large on the inflation rate easing to 3.7% in the September quarter

Inflation is still much higher than it should be, largely because of high global oil prices.  Stats NZ data shows the rate's now on 3.7%, down from 4.1% three months ago.  Domestic non-tradeable inflation —for things like housing, electricity, and healthcare— has been trending down.  Internation…