The Government has quietly set aside $1 billion from next year's Budget but is refusing to say where it'll go.

It amounts to 22 million dollars in 2027/28, before ramping up over a four-year period.

Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen told Heather du Plessis-Allan that this is not a common occurance.

"That is just a little bit of an odd approach," he said. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The Government has quietly set aside $1 billion from next year's Budget but is refusing to say where it'll go.
It amounts to 22 million dollars in 2027/28, before ramping up over a four-year period.
Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen told Heather du Plessis-Allan that this is not a common occurance.
"That is just a little bit of an odd approach," he said.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

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Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Brad Olsen: Infometrics economist says Government's unrevealed $1B an 'odd approach'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/466a0c56-610f-40e6-baf8-b4630014bb7b/transcript

Currently a record number of Kiwis are donating plasma, but it is still not enough.

More than 25,000 people donated last year, but another 4000 are needed just to meet demand.

NZ Blood Service CEO Sam Cliffe joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the importance of plasma donations. 

"Plasma is one of those amazing things that can be made into 11 life-saving products, and we manufacture it into a whole load of different products which can be used to treat kids with immunodeficiency disorders, to clotting disorders, to cancer, liver disease, a whole range of things."

LISTEN ABOVE 

Currently a record number of Kiwis are donating plasma, but it is still not enough.
More than 25,000 people donated last year, but another 4000 are needed just to meet demand.
NZ Blood Service CEO Sam Cliffe joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the importance of plasma donations.&nbsp;
"Plasma is one of those amazing things that can be made into 11 life-saving products, and we manufacture it into a whole load of different products which can be used to treat kids with immunodeficiency disorders, to clotting disorders, to cancer, liver disease, a whole range of things."
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Sam Cliffe: NZ Blood Service CEO says more plasma donors are needed

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/16fe87c6-0577-445a-adb8-b46201802d2e/transcript

Is it just me, or did anyone else notice what a contrast it was watching Christopher Luxon cracking jokes with Anthony Albanese, compared to what it was like when Jacinda Ardern visited Australia?

For all her kindness and communication when she was Prime Minister, she would use those trips to Australia to give then–Prime Minister Scott Morrison a tongue-lashing—usually over the 501 deportees, which was pointless because the Aussies weren’t going to change their minds.

This weekend, though, was a bit of a love-in.

And that’s despite the fact that we’ve done something that could genuinely have upset the Aussies.

Because Nicola Willis has probably gone a bit too hard, having cracks at them for their capital gains tax changes in their budget—which they’re very sensitive about, because they’re copping huge blowback.

And yet…it was no drama.

Albanese wrote it off as cheekiness.

And then, instead of yet another trans-Tasman drama, he was cracking jokes with Luxon about Kiwi immigrants.

They were taking turns going first with the questions, and they were affirming each other—welcoming closer ties, strengthening shared resilience.

It’s turning into a bit of a cliché thing to say now, but Luxon is in his element overseas.

He sounded every bit the statesman—someone who has thought deeply about the degrading state of international affairs and what New Zealand needs to do to weather the coming storm.

And I thought, as I listened to him pitch how kick-ass Australia and New Zealand are going to be, that he was doing a better job of selling Australasia to the world than the Prime Minister of Australia was.

He’s a big-ideas guy—selling his country and his region and getting on with people is his party trick.

Isn’t that a better strategy, when you think about it, than always fighting with your only ally?

LISTEN ABOVE

Is it just me, or did anyone else notice what a contrast it was watching Christopher Luxon cracking jokes with Anthony Albanese, compared to what it was like when Jacinda Ardern visited Australia?
For all her kindness and communication when she was Prime Minister, she would use those trips to Australia to give then–Prime Minister Scott Morrison a tongue-lashing—usually over the 501 deportees, which was pointless because the Aussies weren’t going to change their minds.
This weekend, though, was a bit of a love-in.
And that’s despite the fact that we’ve done something that could genuinely have upset the Aussies.
Because Nicola Willis has probably gone a bit too hard, having cracks at them for their capital gains tax changes in their budget—which they’re very sensitive about, because they’re copping huge blowback.
And yet…it was no drama.
Albanese wrote it off as cheekiness.
And then, instead of yet another trans-Tasman drama, he was cracking jokes with Luxon about Kiwi immigrants.
They were taking turns going first with the questions, and they were affirming each other—welcoming closer ties, strengthening shared resilience.
It’s turning into a bit of a cliché thing to say now, but Luxon is in his element overseas.
He sounded every bit the statesman—someone who has thought deeply about the degrading state of international affairs and what New Zealand needs to do to weather the coming storm.
And I thought, as I listened to him pitch how kick-ass Australia and New Zealand are going to be, that he was doing a better job of selling Australasia to the world than the Prime Minister of Australia was.
He’s a big-ideas guy—selling his country and his region and getting on with people is his party trick.
Isn’t that a better strategy, when you think about it, than always fighting with your only ally?
LISTEN ABOVE

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Luxon does his best work overseas

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/79703e45-349a-49b3-9bc1-b46201633a66/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 8th of June with Heather du Plessis-Allan, we get to the bottom of the "secret spending" from the Budget. The Prime Minister reckons it's not all that exciting.

Christopher Luxon also talks his Australia trip and whether the government is going to go further in stopping unelected members voting on local councils.

Heather also finds out why only four percent of eligible people are donating plasma.

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the Super Rugby playoffs and Heather's netball experience on the Commentary Box.

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

LISTEN ABOVE

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 8th of June with Heather du Plessis-Allan, we get to the bottom of the "secret spending" from the Budget. The Prime Minister reckons it's not all that exciting.
Christopher Luxon also talks his Australia trip and whether the government is going to go further in stopping unelected members voting on local councils.
Heather also finds out why only four percent of eligible people are donating plasma.
Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the Super Rugby playoffs and Heather's netball experience on the Commentary Box.
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE

Full Show Podcast: 08 June 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f0dc05de-af45-4737-bc63-b462015d6915/transcript

Brad Olsen: Infometrics economist says Government's unrevealed $1B an 'odd approach'

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