An economist says the Government did the best it could in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

The Treasury's latest report calculates the total cost of the Covid-19 pandemic at $66 billion.  

The Government ignored official advice at the time to ease spending.  

New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist Eric Crampton told Mike Hosking it is hard to fault anyone up until late 2020.  

He says, afterwards, the Government failed to come up with solutions outside lockdowns and wage subsidies.  

Treasury is now suggesting the Government establish an independent fiscal institution for better scrutiny.  

Crampton says Treasury isn't in a position where it can effectively challenge the Finance Minister's decisions.  

He says the public currently can't rely on Treasury for clear warnings when things are going wrong, which is needed for democratic accountability. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

An economist says the Government did the best it could in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. &nbsp;
The Treasury's latest report calculates the total cost of the Covid-19 pandemic at $66 billion. &nbsp;
The Government ignored official advice at the time to ease spending. &nbsp;
New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist Eric Crampton told Mike Hosking it is hard to fault anyone up until late 2020. &nbsp;
He says, afterwards, the Government failed to come up with solutions outside lockdowns and wage subsidies. &nbsp;
Treasury is now suggesting the Government establish an independent fiscal institution for better scrutiny. &nbsp;
Crampton says Treasury isn't in a position where it can effectively challenge the Finance Minister's decisions. &nbsp;
He says the public currently can't rely on Treasury for clear warnings when things are going wrong, which is needed for democratic accountability.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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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

Eric Crampton: NZ Initiative Chief Economist on the Treasury report revealing the cost of the Covid-19 pandemic to be $66 billion

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/22c04377-3f7b-4b26-bcf4-b332015237d3/transcript

Cryptic answers from Donald Trump around what his next steps will be to achieve his goal of buying Greenland.  

World leaders are meeting in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum and using the platform to unite against Trump's tariff threats.  

The US President has spoken at a stand up for almost two hours, talking about his claimed achievements on the first anniversary of him taking office.  

To questions about how far he'll go to acquire Greenland, he's responded with 'you'll find out'. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking some of his latest statements have directly linked his failure to get a Nobel Peace Prize to his demand for Greenland. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Cryptic answers from Donald Trump around what his next steps will be to achieve his goal of buying Greenland. &nbsp;
World leaders are meeting in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum and using the platform to unite against Trump's tariff threats. &nbsp;
The US President has spoken at a stand up for almost two hours, talking about his claimed achievements on the first anniversary of him taking office. &nbsp;
To questions about how far he'll go to acquire Greenland, he's responded with 'you'll find out'.&nbsp;
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking some of his latest statements have directly linked his failure to get a Nobel Peace Prize to his demand for Greenland.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on Donald Trump's continued demands to acquire Greenland

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ae44683f-cb2f-4408-9b78-b3d8015c6627/transcript

We are standing by for the election date today. 

It’s not what it was, kind of like budgets. The suspense, the scuttlebutt, the guessing game – it’s all gone. 

You might remember Albanese, not having learned our lesson, got himself into dreadful trouble last year and failed to forecast a date. 

So they guessed, and guessed, and second guessed, and then the flooding and storms came, so it delayed what was supposed to be an announcement. But that’s what you get when you’re a power freak and you think holding the cards counts for something. 

John Key put all that to bed some years back. Return from holiday, announce the date in the latter part of the year, and basically get on with life. 

Short of a government falling apart, elections should be scheduled at the end of a three-year term. 

Also today, apparently some policy —and perhaps this business of housing— is to be dealt with. Specifically, the thinking is the Auckland issue needs to be sorted. 

Elections, rightly or wrongly, are won and lost in Auckland, and the Government’s two million house housing plan is one of those ideas that no one quite gets and freaks people out. 

When we had councillor Maurice Williamson on last year, he suggested we ask Minister Chris Bishop just where the two million figure came from, because he couldn’t work it out. 

What we do know is the council were forced into agreeing to it. If they didn’t, the “three houses, three storeys on a regular plot” plan was a goer, and no one liked that either. 

And that sadly is the trouble with housing and big cities. No shortage of moaners and issues but a big shortage of solutions and agreement around them. 

What I do know from personal experience is that having uncertainty in the market —which is what we have— kills enthusiasm and demand. 

“What’s going up next door?” you ask the agent. The agent doesn’t know. No one knows. Could be nothing. Could be an 11-storey headache in suburbia.  

Who is buying a house next to that nightmare? And that is what the Bishop plan has created, and that hopefully is what gets fixed. 

And fast. 

We are standing by for the election date today.&nbsp;
It’s not what it was, kind of like budgets. The suspense, the scuttlebutt, the guessing game – it’s all gone.&nbsp;
You might remember Albanese, not having learned our lesson, got himself into dreadful trouble last year and failed to forecast a date.&nbsp;
So they guessed, and guessed, and second guessed, and then the flooding and storms came, so it delayed what was supposed to be an announcement. But that’s what you get when you’re a power freak and you think holding the cards counts for something.&nbsp;
John Key put all that to bed some years back. Return from holiday, announce the date in the latter part of the year, and basically get on with life.&nbsp;
Short of a government falling apart, elections should be scheduled at the end of a three-year term.&nbsp;
Also today, apparently some policy —and perhaps this business of housing— is to be dealt with. Specifically, the thinking is the Auckland issue needs to be sorted.&nbsp;
Elections, rightly or wrongly, are won and lost in Auckland, and the Government’s two million house housing plan is one of those ideas that no one quite gets and freaks people out.&nbsp;
When we had councillor Maurice Williamson on last year, he suggested we ask Minister Chris Bishop just where the two million figure came from, because he couldn’t work it out.&nbsp;
What we do know is the council were forced into agreeing to it. If they didn’t, the “three houses, three storeys on a regular plot” plan was a goer, and no one liked that either.&nbsp;
And that sadly is the trouble with housing and big cities. No shortage of moaners and issues but a big shortage of solutions and agreement around them.&nbsp;
What I do know from personal experience is that having uncertainty in the market —which is what we have— kills enthusiasm and demand.&nbsp;
“What’s going up next door?” you ask the agent. The agent doesn’t know. No one knows. Could be nothing. Could be an 11-storey headache in suburbia. &nbsp;
Who is buying a house next to that nightmare? And that is what the Bishop plan has created, and that hopefully is what gets fixed.&nbsp;
And fast.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Election issues are already popping up

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3e1fd9cd-eb03-4e77-b929-b3d80154e2b8/transcript

Another Kiwi success story.  

Pic’s Peanut Butter has now hit a 41% domestic market share in New Zealand. 

They’re forecasting 20% sales growth in 2026 after 20% growth last year, and plans to expand into commercial peanut growing in Northland are underway. 

CEO Aimee McCammon told Mike Hosking Kiwis can taste the quality of their product, and they’re happy to be eating it and paying for it.  

She says people are still looking for good, healthy food that is good to feed their families, and so Pic’s continues to grow.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Another Kiwi success story. &nbsp;
Pic’s Peanut Butter has now hit a 41% domestic market share in New Zealand.&nbsp;
They’re forecasting 20% sales growth in 2026 after 20% growth last year, and plans to expand into commercial peanut growing in Northland are underway.&nbsp;
CEO Aimee McCammon told Mike Hosking Kiwis can taste the quality of their product, and they’re happy to be eating it and paying for it. &nbsp;
She says people are still looking for good, healthy food that is good to feed their families, and so Pic’s continues to grow. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Aimee McCammon: Pic's Peanut Butter CEO on the company reaching 41% market share in NZ

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e7e37261-0ee2-4209-8d05-b3d80152985b/transcript

Eric Crampton: NZ Initiative Chief Economist on the Treasury report revealing the cost of the Covid-19 pandemic to be $66 billion

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