Calls for a review of New Zealand's child support system, which is being described by some as broken..

Figures released under the Official Information Act reveal just 0.05 percent, or 36 of 66-thousand New Zealanders in breach of child support responsibilities have been referred to court, in 12 months.

Family law barrister Sharon Chandra says the general tenor of feedback she gets, is that the system is broken.

She says that's not solely because of a lack of enforcement action, but also because of the assessed amounts that IRD direct parents to pay.

The total that New Zealanders are currently in arrears by is 663-million dollars.

LISTEN ABOVE

Calls for a review of New Zealand's child support system, which is being described by some as broken..
Figures released under the Official Information Act reveal just 0.05 percent, or 36 of 66-thousand New Zealanders in breach of child support responsibilities have been referred to court, in 12 months.
Family law barrister Sharon Chandra says the general tenor of feedback she gets, is that the system is broken.
She says that's not solely because of a lack of enforcement action, but also because of the assessed amounts that IRD direct parents to pay.
The total that New Zealanders are currently in arrears by is 663-million dollars.
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

Sharon Chandra: On calls for a review of New Zealand's child support system

With the news last week that a lot of people are changing banks as they re-finance their mortgages, we once again ask ourselves whether the problem we think we have is actually a problem.

We seem, at least in part in this country, to be caught up in the idea that if you are big and profitable there might be an issue.

Banks have taken heat for years, so much so that Governments past, and indeed this current one, are asking some fairly serious questions about the way they do business.

The rural sector is not short of an opinion on the way they are being treated.

But the recent Commerce Commission report into the sector tells us very clearly there isn't enough competition, despite the fact that there is no shortage of actual banks with which to do business.

Open banking has been touted as a good move forward and in theory it might well be. But the Australians will tell you it is hardly a game changer. Technically it's easier to swap banks. That's good, but do they? It seems no more than they have previously.

So the figures produced last week by the Reserve Bank are instructive because they are a real world example of banking in action.

At the moment the banks are busy offering deals, they want money out the door, they're cutting rates (multiple times so far), and that story isn't over.

As a result of the deals on offer people are shopping around, people are moving banks and people are taking the arrangement that best suits them.

That is what's called the market working.

Now, if you run a poll and ask whether people are happy or you're paying too much or would you like things to be cheaper, you will always get the predictable answer.

Even at supermarkets, as prices drop, people will tell you they aren't.

Once again I offer the rider that this is not a defence of banks, banking or big business. But it is an observation on the real world, based on real facts and real events.

So just how bad is the perceived problem vs what's actually happening?

LISTEN ABOVE

With the news last week that a lot of people are changing banks as they re-finance their mortgages, we once again ask ourselves whether the problem we think we have is actually a problem.
We seem, at least in part in this country, to be caught up in the idea that if you are big and profitable there might be an issue.
Banks have taken heat for years, so much so that Governments past, and indeed this current one, are asking some fairly serious questions about the way they do business.
The rural sector is not short of an opinion on the way they are being treated.
But the recent Commerce Commission report into the sector tells us very clearly there isn't enough competition, despite the fact that there is no shortage of actual banks with which to do business.
Open banking has been touted as a good move forward and in theory it might well be. But the Australians will tell you it is hardly a game changer. Technically it's easier to swap banks. That's good, but do they? It seems no more than they have previously.
So the figures produced last week by the Reserve Bank are instructive because they are a real world example of banking in action.
At the moment the banks are busy offering deals, they want money out the door, they're cutting rates (multiple times so far), and that story isn't over.
As a result of the deals on offer people are shopping around, people are moving banks and people are taking the arrangement that best suits them.
That is what's called the market working.
Now, if you run a poll and ask whether people are happy or you're paying too much or would you like things to be cheaper, you will always get the predictable answer.
Even at supermarkets, as prices drop, people will tell you they aren't.
Once again I offer the rider that this is not a defence of banks, banking or big business. But it is an observation on the real world, based on real facts and real events.
So just how bad is the perceived problem vs what's actually happening?
LISTEN ABOVE

Mike's Minute: Banks - The perceived problem vs what's actually happening

A coffee company director argues consumers should be paying more for their morning fix.

Hospitality venues in Wellington are weighing up raising prices, potentially cutting hours, or even shutting up shop as costs rise.

Flight Coffee Managing Director Richard Corney believes the current climate is worse than Covid.

He says if the price of a cup of coffee increased at the rate of operating costs - they should be charging eight dollars a cup.

The Hangar on Dixon Street is having to raise its flat white price to six dollars and ten cents - saying it can't afford not to.

LISTEN ABOVE

A coffee company director argues consumers should be paying more for their morning fix.
Hospitality venues in Wellington are weighing up raising prices, potentially cutting hours, or even shutting up shop as costs rise.
Flight Coffee Managing Director Richard Corney believes the current climate is worse than Covid.
He says if the price of a cup of coffee increased at the rate of operating costs - they should be charging eight dollars a cup.
The Hangar on Dixon Street is having to raise its flat white price to six dollars and ten cents - saying it can't afford not to.
LISTEN ABOVE

Richard Corney: On how much consumers should be paying for coffee

The Government says it has a clear focus on reducing cancellations for planned surgeries.

Health NZ analysis shows about eight percent of elective surgeries are cancelled within 24 hours by a hospital.

One in five elective surgery cancellations are caused by an acute or emergency case, needing to take precedence.

Health Minister Shane Reti told Mike Hosking there's a number of things to work on.

He says they include, ensuring theatres are being used properly, with the right surgeons, and making sure they're working on time.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Government says it has a clear focus on reducing cancellations for planned surgeries.
Health NZ analysis shows about eight percent of elective surgeries are cancelled within 24 hours by a hospital.
One in five elective surgery cancellations are caused by an acute or emergency case, needing to take precedence.
Health Minister Shane Reti told Mike Hosking there's a number of things to work on.
He says they include, ensuring theatres are being used properly, with the right surgeons, and making sure they're working on time.
LISTEN ABOVE

Sharon Chandra: On calls for a review of New Zealand's child support system

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