Farmers say new KiwiSaver rules are a win for rural staff looking to buy property.

Farm workers, rural teachers, police and defence personnel can now use KiwiSaver to buy their first home, or even a farm, due to the Government lifting a long-standing restriction.

Previously, these workers were blocked because their jobs required living in employer-provided housing.

Federated Farmers' Dairy Chair Karl Dean told Mike Hosking that there's about 50,000 farms nationwide, most with just one or two staff living onsite.

He expects 10 to 20% to take this option.

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Farmers say new KiwiSaver rules are a win for rural staff looking to buy property.
Farm workers, rural teachers, police and defence personnel can now use KiwiSaver to buy their first home, or even a farm, due to the Government lifting a long-standing restriction.
Previously, these workers were blocked because their jobs required living in employer-provided housing.
Federated Farmers' Dairy Chair Karl Dean told Mike Hosking that there's about 50,000 farms nationwide, most with just one or two staff living onsite.
He expects 10 to 20% to take this option.
LISTEN ABOVE

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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, 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

Karl Dean: Federated Farmers Dairy Chair says new KiwiSaver rules are a win for rural staff

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/59c4b0e2-f8bf-45cd-984e-b4000134c3fa/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 2nd of March, we get the latest on the war in Iran plus what it could mean for petrol prices back here in NZ.

The Prime Minister is in and gives his thoughts on the legalities of the strike, airport charges the highest in the world at Auckland and the Air NZ result.

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the NZ Open, the first race of the Indycar season and whether it's the Warriors year as they have their first game this weekend.

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 2nd of March, we get the latest on the war in Iran plus what it could mean for petrol prices back here in NZ.
The Prime Minister is in and gives his thoughts on the legalities of the strike, airport charges the highest in the world at Auckland and the Air NZ result.
Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the NZ Open, the first race of the Indycar season and whether it's the Warriors year as they have their first game this weekend.
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE

Full Show Podcast: 02 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e322bcf3-b440-4523-a3d3-b400014c956a/transcript

To the so-called poverty issue.

The report actually uses the word "hardship".

Kids in hardship, roughly, is flat. About 14% of kids allegedly live in some form of hardship.

Hardship is often replaced with the word poverty. They are different things and, also, the measure of hardship is open to real inquiry.

The stats department interviewed 18,000 families and "hardship" is a house that goes without 7 of 18 necessities e.g paying the power bill on time, feeling cold etc.

Now, without getting too picky, a seven-year-old who lives in a house who's power bill is overdue has nothing to do with hardship, unless the power is cut off, which mainly it is not.

i watched a press conference last week with the Prime Minister and police and justice ministers on crime and the poverty question came up. You note the word they used was "poverty", not hardship.

The question, inferred as they so often do, was what the Government were going to do about it.

The answer was one of only three;

1) Is a Labour view, which is hand out more money,

2) A current Government view, which is grow the economy,

3) The answer that is rarely used - get the parents to pull their finger out.

My read of these stats is that given the number is steady at 14%, you are essentially dealing with the same people, many of whom are hopeless.

Under Ardern her personal project was to reduce child poverty. It didn’t happen. Under this Government it hasn’t either. So approaches one and two haven't worked.

There are rightly or wrongly (obviously wrongly) a group of people who struggle. Their circumstances will be little different to many who have it tough as well, but get by. They have kids that aren't in hardship but face the same fiscal issues.

It will be benefit related. It will be about decisions, about priorities, what bill gets paid first, how far down the food chain, literally and figuratively, are the kids.

Within the same fiscal envelope, some kids are fine and some will be a statistic.

That, sadly, is not the Government's real problem. Government's can only do so much. Sometimes parents might have to do a bit more and be a bit better.

The child, as always, is innocent. You don’t choose to be born to some of the parents who masquerade as parents.

But these stats tell a sad truth. I don’t think there is an answer.

Whether its 14% or 15% or 11%, there are no miracles.

To the so-called poverty issue.
The report actually uses the word "hardship".
Kids in hardship, roughly, is flat. About 14% of kids allegedly live in some form of hardship.
Hardship is often replaced with the word poverty. They are different things and, also, the measure of hardship is open to real inquiry.
The stats department interviewed 18,000 families and "hardship" is a house that goes without 7 of 18 necessities e.g paying the power bill on time, feeling cold etc.
Now, without getting too picky, a seven-year-old who lives in a house who's power bill is overdue has nothing to do with hardship, unless the power is cut off, which mainly it is not.
i watched a press conference last week with the Prime Minister and police and justice ministers on crime and the poverty question came up. You note the word they used was "poverty", not hardship.
The question, inferred as they so often do, was what the Government were going to do about it.
The answer was one of only three;
1) Is a Labour view, which is hand out more money,
2) A current Government view, which is grow the economy,
3) The answer that is rarely used - get the parents to pull their finger out.
My read of these stats is that given the number is steady at 14%, you are essentially dealing with the same people, many of whom are hopeless.
Under Ardern her personal project was to reduce child poverty. It didn’t happen. Under this Government it hasn’t either. So approaches one and two haven't worked.
There are rightly or wrongly (obviously wrongly) a group of people who struggle. Their circumstances will be little different to many who have it tough as well, but get by. They have kids that aren't in hardship but face the same fiscal issues.
It will be benefit related. It will be about decisions, about priorities, what bill gets paid first, how far down the food chain, literally and figuratively, are the kids.
Within the same fiscal envelope, some kids are fine and some will be a statistic.
That, sadly, is not the Government's real problem. Government's can only do so much. Sometimes parents might have to do a bit more and be a bit better.
The child, as always, is innocent. You don’t choose to be born to some of the parents who masquerade as parents.
But these stats tell a sad truth. I don’t think there is an answer.
Whether its 14% or 15% or 11%, there are no miracles.

Mike's Minute: What's the answer to our child poverty issue?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7ce90d90-6854-45e7-93e8-b400014c200f/transcript

The Government has been helping to fund events such as the NZ Open for a while, but should they be contributing to an already successful competition? 

NZ Open Tournament Director Michael Glading says that the Government gets a return on it's investment, and that the NZ Golf Open is one of their top earners. 

'Certainly right up there in terms of return for dollar spent, and the money that flows into this event is phenomenal.'

LISTEN ABOVE

The Government has been helping to fund events such as the NZ Open for a while, but should they be contributing to an already successful competition?&nbsp;
NZ Open Tournament Director Michael Glading says that the Government gets a return on it's investment, and that the NZ Golf Open is one of their top earners.&nbsp;
'Certainly right up there in terms of return for dollar spent, and the money that flows into this event is phenomenal.'
LISTEN ABOVE

Michael Glading: NZ Open Tournament Director explains Government's role in funding the tournament

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/30094cc4-738c-4768-958f-b4000149ed1a/transcript

Karl Dean: Federated Farmers Dairy Chair says new KiwiSaver rules are a win for rural staff

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