Another swathe of Government agency job cuts and public sector reform. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says they want to return the public servant headcount to 1% of the population by mid-2029, culling about 8,700 jobs. 

Government agency operating budgets will again be reduced – 2% now, increasing over following years. 

Willis says they will also thin out the ministries, pointing to savings it'll bring. 

She says they expect to hire more nurses, Police officers, and others in critical frontline roles. 

Willis says AI is “incredible” at slashing the amount of time needed for mundane tasks, revealing her staff used it to write a report on public service reform. 

She told Mike Hosking the Government was streamlining agencies and embedding AI and digitisation, and asking the public service to "get out of the 80s". 

She was experimenting with AI in her own office. 

“Instead of one of my analysts spending half a day coming up with a document, they said to AI, ‘Have a look at public service reform around the world, tell us who's done what, what seems to have worked well, what hasn't’. 

“And 10 minutes later, you've got a beautiful document with some guidance and some advice.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Another swathe of Government agency job cuts and public sector reform.&nbsp;
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says they want to return the public servant headcount to 1% of the population by mid-2029, culling about 8,700 jobs.&nbsp;
Government agency operating budgets will again be reduced – 2% now, increasing over following years.&nbsp;
Willis says they will also thin out the ministries, pointing to savings it'll bring.&nbsp;
She says they expect to hire more nurses, Police officers, and others in critical frontline roles.&nbsp;
Willis says AI is “incredible” at slashing the amount of time needed for mundane tasks, revealing her staff used it to write a report on public service reform.&nbsp;
She told Mike Hosking the Government was streamlining agencies and embedding AI and digitisation, and asking the public service to "get out of the 80s".&nbsp;
She was experimenting with AI in her own office.&nbsp;
“Instead of one of my analysts spending half a day coming up with a document, they said to AI, ‘Have a look at public service reform around the world, tell us who's done what, what seems to have worked well, what hasn't’.&nbsp;
“And 10 minutes later, you've got a beautiful document with some guidance and some advice.”&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

Nicola Willis: Finance Minister on the public service reform, experimenting with AI to streamline tasks

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0f088574-a077-4654-9a45-b44f014d3d5f/transcript

New Zealand's seeing renewed growth in international education, with rising demand from both major and emerging markets. 

Education New Zealand data shows more than 92 thousand international students enrolled last year, up 11% on the year prior. 

China and India make up almost half of all enrolments. 

Acting Chief Executive Linda Sissons told Mike Hosking we’re sitting at around 80% of our pre-Covid numbers, but the difference between then and now is the focus on value as well as volume.  

She says we’re on track for both, as in the past year we've exceeded their target of export earnings and are sitting just below the target for enrolments.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

New Zealand's seeing renewed growth in international education, with rising demand from both major and emerging markets.&nbsp;
Education New Zealand data shows more than 92 thousand international students enrolled last year, up 11% on the year prior.&nbsp;
China and India make up almost half of all enrolments.&nbsp;
Acting Chief Executive Linda Sissons told Mike Hosking we’re sitting at around 80% of our pre-Covid numbers, but the difference between then and now is the focus on value as well as volume. &nbsp;
She says we’re on track for both, as in the past year we've exceeded their target of export earnings and are sitting just below the target for enrolments. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Linda Sissons: Education NZ Acting CEO on the growing number of international students enrolled in New Zealand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/de4b2a73-95f3-4e3e-aac8-b44f01530286/transcript

Kiwis appear to be cutting back on discretionary spending as fuel prices bite. 

Data from Stats NZ shows retail electronic card purchases fell 1.3% last month, with Kiwis buying less or cheaper food and cutting back on their clothing budget. 

Non-retail spending on the likes of travel and health is down 4%. 

Infometrics Principal Economist Nick Brunsdon told Mike Hosking it makes sense, as these are more discretionary purchases. 

He says people are bound to spend less on holidays, or even at the dentist, if they're trying to make up the dollars to fill the tank. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Kiwis appear to be cutting back on discretionary spending as fuel prices bite.&nbsp;
Data from Stats NZ shows retail electronic card purchases fell 1.3% last month, with Kiwis buying less or cheaper food and cutting back on their clothing budget.&nbsp;
Non-retail spending on the likes of travel and health is down 4%.&nbsp;
Infometrics Principal Economist Nick Brunsdon told Mike Hosking it makes sense, as these are more discretionary purchases.&nbsp;
He says people are bound to spend less on holidays, or even at the dentist, if they're trying to make up the dollars to fill the tank.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Nick Brunsdon: Infometrics Principal Economist on retail spending falling by $160 million in April

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fab19652-2d51-4a27-81df-b44f0149fcd5/transcript

I'm 100% convinced this election is about the economy. 

Do people blame the Government in any way for the economic fallout from war? 

Does the economic grind make you look to other political answers? 

If Labour promises more money, was the lesson of the last Labour Government not learned? Or do enough not care and will take the money and worry another day, if they worry at all? 

Polls will show the usual nonsense around health and education and crime. These are just headline thoughts people drum up when a pollster asks a question. 

It's the same question and same answer, forever. 

But potentially, if there's an issue outside the economy this time it's immigration. Mainly because it's been used successfully before to stir the pot. 

The trouble this time is immigration, in terms of facts, isn't a thing. 

When 130,000 newbies arrive, sure, there is a debate. But when it's 24,000 it's no longer an issue. 

The brain drain is basically over. Sadly, those that were leaving have largely gone and those that have replaced them are here. 

Now, if you don’t like the cultural make up of New Zealand that’s fine, but the election will contain no polices that will change the current make-up. 

No one is booting anyone in any numbers out of this country. 

A lot of the immigration noise is a political ploy picked up from offshore where immigration is a real touch point. But that is illegal immigration; boat people, gangs on beaches, etc. 

We don’t have that. Never have, never will. 

Our system is points based – you get points for skills. You can argue around the edges on what those skills are and you can argue around the edges over what countries those skills come from. 

You can also argue, with Auckland being the best example, that the cultural landscape has materially changed. I see it, you can't miss it. 

Personally, I like it and, sure, not everyone does, but no politician is going to change what we already have. 

And that’s the trouble with this election – if immigration is an issue, and if it's divisive, that’s a ploy. 

If we were being overrun, fine, have the debate. But we aren't. In fact, it’s the opposite. 

As long as employers still can't find talent, and that’s real, where do the workers come from and why would you vote not to solve that problem?     

I'm 100% convinced this election is about the economy.&nbsp;
Do people blame the Government in any way for the economic fallout from war?&nbsp;
Does the economic grind make you look to other political answers?&nbsp;
If Labour promises more money, was the lesson of the last Labour Government not learned? Or do enough not care and will take the money and worry another day, if they worry at all?&nbsp;
Polls will show the usual nonsense around health and education and crime. These are just headline thoughts people drum up when a pollster asks a question.&nbsp;
It's the same question and same answer, forever.&nbsp;
But potentially, if there's an issue outside the economy this time it's immigration. Mainly because it's been used successfully before to stir the pot.&nbsp;
The trouble this time is immigration, in terms of facts, isn't a thing.&nbsp;
When 130,000 newbies arrive, sure, there is a debate. But when it's 24,000 it's no longer an issue.&nbsp;
The brain drain is basically over. Sadly, those that were leaving have largely gone and those that have replaced them are here.&nbsp;
Now, if you don’t like the cultural make up of New Zealand that’s fine, but the election will contain no polices that will change the current make-up.&nbsp;
No one is booting anyone in any numbers out of this country.&nbsp;
A lot of the immigration noise is a political ploy picked up from offshore where immigration is a real touch point. But that is illegal immigration; boat people, gangs on beaches, etc.&nbsp;
We don’t have that. Never have, never will.&nbsp;
Our system is points based – you get points for skills. You can argue around the edges on what those skills are and you can argue around the edges over what countries those skills come from.&nbsp;
You can also argue, with Auckland being the best example, that the cultural landscape has materially changed. I see it, you can't miss it.&nbsp;
Personally, I like it and, sure, not everyone does, but no politician is going to change what we already have.&nbsp;
And that’s the trouble with this election – if immigration is an issue, and if it's divisive, that’s a ploy.&nbsp;
If we were being overrun, fine, have the debate. But we aren't. In fact, it’s the opposite.&nbsp;
As long as employers still can't find talent, and that’s real, where do the workers come from and why would you vote not to solve that problem? &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Here's what the 2026 Election is about

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1e1af748-0a27-4389-88c1-b44e017df015/transcript

Nicola Willis: Finance Minister on the public service reform, experimenting with AI to streamline tasks

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