1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: Now this pole from TV and Z, the variant pole, 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: is all the reason you need to know as to 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: why you don't roll the leader of your party, why 4 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:11,120 Speaker 1: Luckxeon should still have the job. National is up to 5 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: on thirty six percent, Labour is on thirty five, they're 6 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: up three, act Is on ten, up two, New Zealand 7 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: first on nine steady, the Greens down four on seven percent, 8 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: Party Marti on one, down two. So you've got National, 9 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: Act and New Zealand first they can govern together. Preferred 10 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: Prime Minister stakes, Well, Luckson's actually up to on twenty three. 11 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: Chris Hipkins is up three, but he's on twenty one, 12 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: so Luxon's still out ahead. Chris Bishop registered for the 13 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: first time at two percent. Now you don't roll a 14 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: leader when the main contender is on two percent, do 15 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: you now? The interesting thing about this pole, as previous 16 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: has shown, is that in order for even if you 17 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: don't trust Winston, you think Winston will go with Labor 18 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: still only get to fifty four seats, don't have enough 19 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: to govern, So that would require Winston having to go 20 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: with Labour and the Greens and potentially to Party Mary, 21 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: which I think is a step too far. Nichola Willis 22 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,559 Speaker 1: is the Finance Minister, joins us live good evening, Good evening. 23 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:06,759 Speaker 2: Ron. 24 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: You happy with those results? 25 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,559 Speaker 2: Well, as we always say, polls go up and down, 26 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 2: and we're focused on doing the things to make sure 27 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 2: New Zealanders are better off. They can get ahead and 28 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: they've got strong public services and that's positive to see 29 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 2: that most New Zealanders, if they had the chance to 30 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 2: vote tomorrow, would re elect our current government. 31 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:25,759 Speaker 1: So long as Winston goes with you. 32 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 2: Well, he is currently part of the government. 33 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: Do you feel like you've made the right decision in 34 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:33,479 Speaker 1: sticking with the boss? 35 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 2: There was never a question about that. 36 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: Hey Costa so formerly obviously boss of Social Investment Agency. 37 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: What did you make of his interview over the weekend. 38 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 2: Ah, I'm not going to get into commenting on an 39 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 2: interview that was commenting on people's comments on a report 40 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 2: that was published. The clear thing is that the Independent 41 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 2: Police Complaints Authority found very clear failings at police under 42 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 2: mister Costa's leadership. He's reflected on that and I think 43 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 2: made the right decision to resign from his role as 44 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 2: the chief executive of the Public Social Investment Agency. And 45 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: as far as i'm concerned. That's the line that we 46 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: need to draw. Moving ahead, what's really important is that 47 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,119 Speaker 2: police make the changes needed to ensure that if any 48 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 2: other young woman presents in the way that the woman 49 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 2: at the center of this complaint did, that she gets 50 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 2: treated a whole lot better. 51 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 1: The problem for you, though, Minister, is you recommended him 52 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: for this job you question. 53 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: So that is not a problem for me, Ryan, because 54 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 2: in fact, mister Costa was appointed on the twenty fourth 55 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: of September in twenty twenty four, and the complaints about 56 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 2: Deputy Commissioner MC skimming were not made until the tenth 57 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 2: of October. They were not referred to the DA until 58 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 2: after mister Costa's appointment. 59 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 1: Had been But when did he start the job? Not 60 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: until after you were told? 61 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: Well, actually I was not told about the ins and 62 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,839 Speaker 2: the outs of what mister Costa had or hadn't done. 63 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 2: In fact, what the ips we're investigating was the way 64 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 2: that complaints about mix skimming were handled, and it was 65 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 2: appropriate that a full investigation take place before people leapt 66 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 2: to conclusions about what that investigation would say. Then a 67 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: report was published, the government acted swiftly to respond to 68 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: those conclusions. We've accepted all of its conclusions, and mister 69 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 2: Costa has now resigned. 70 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: What's the public mean to think? I mean, you've got 71 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: a guy that you appointed for a job now saying 72 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: that one of your colleagues, Mark Mitchell, a minister, is 73 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 1: basically a liar. Who do we believe? 74 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 2: Well, I believe Mark Mitchell. 75 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: So cost is lying, well, I. 76 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 2: Believe Mark Mitchell when he says that he was not 77 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 2: briefed at the tap. 78 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: Which means just say you think cost is lying. 79 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 2: Well, I'm not going to get into a who said what, 80 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 2: except to say that I believe mister Mitchell. 81 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: Okay, all right, I think that's clear enough. Hey, this 82 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: tax pos union campaign that they're going to launch apparently 83 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: on Thursday, are you worried about Do you know who's 84 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: funding it? Have you found that out? 85 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 2: No, I'm not worried about it. Look, democracy is people 86 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 2: have debates about the different ways of addressing issues. Clearly 87 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 2: Ruth Richardson wants a repeat of the Mother of All budgets. Well, 88 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 2: I'm not going to do that, and I make no 89 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 2: apologies for taking an approach which means that we are 90 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 2: getting the books back in balance, we are ensuring that 91 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 2: there's less extravagant spending by government. We are ensuring that 92 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: we'll get our debt down over time. That's the right 93 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 2: thing to do, but it's also the right thing to 94 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 2: do to keep delivering New Zealanders, quality education services, quality 95 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 2: health services, more police on the front line, to ensure 96 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 2: that there is a social safety net. Now, Ruth Richardson 97 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 2: may want a slash and burn exercise, I don't. She's 98 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 2: absolutely welcome to campaign against this government's approach, but I 99 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 2: stand by it. 100 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: So you're not going to push the surpace out again? 101 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: What do you mean you have to hay for? You're 102 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: not going to push the surpace again? 103 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 2: Well, I am going to stick to the undertakings which 104 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 2: our government has made about retaining fiscal discipline, and I 105 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 2: will be publishing updated forecasts on what the books will 106 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 2: look like next week. 107 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, but hang on that. You have said that twenty 108 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: twenty nine will be the ober Gallex surplus. It'll be small, 109 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: but we'll get there. Are we not going to get there? 110 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 2: Well, what I have said is that that's what the 111 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: forecasts showed at the last budget update, and I will 112 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 2: share the next forecast next week. And despite you being 113 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: a very good interviewer Ryan, I'm not going to reveal 114 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: what the forecasts say a week early, just as I'm 115 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 2: on news talk Z Beata. 116 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: Let's forget the forecasts. Do you stick by your promise 117 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: to get us back to surplus by twenty twenty nine? 118 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 2: In terms of our fiscal strategy, we retain the intention 119 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 2: to return to surplus, and what the forecasts will show 120 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 2: I will share next week. 121 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:55,840 Speaker 1: So your commitment stands. 122 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 2: We are committed to returning the books to surplus, and 123 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,799 Speaker 2: I will be sharing the forecasts about what the books 124 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: will look like. 125 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: Forget about yeah, no, no, forget about the books. I'm asking you, 126 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: as a politician, on the promise you've made to return 127 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: to serplace by twenty twenty nine. Is it happening or not? 128 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 2: Well? Actually, what I have had is a fiscal intention 129 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 2: which is part of our fiscal strategy, which has been 130 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 2: to return. 131 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: Not a promletless. 132 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: We have always sad as well. Under the Public Finance Act, 133 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 2: we need to set out fiscal intentions about how we 134 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 2: wish to manage the public finances, and I've set an 135 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 2: intention by which we intend to reach surplus. You'll note 136 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 2: that at the last half year update we head downward 137 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 2: revisions in the forecasts, and at that point we also 138 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 2: revised the ober gall X measure. And we have intended 139 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 2: always to keep to our operating allowances, which are the 140 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 2: discretionary spending choices. And in fact, and this year's budget, 141 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: we reduced our operating allowance. 142 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 1: But you can in order to dissip the books will 143 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: say what the book, the forecast will say, what the 144 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: forecast will say. If you want to get to surplus, 145 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: you can get to surplus, you just cut more. Are 146 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: you going to do it or not? 147 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: I do not intend to cut my operating allowances further 148 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 2: than that which we published at the budget. 149 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: So we are at risk of delaying surplus. 150 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 2: Again, that is always the case that forecasts move up 151 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: and down, and that has an effect on when surplus 152 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 2: is posted or not. In fact, on average, in fifty 153 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: percent of cases, it's up to seven billion dollars out. 154 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 2: I will be publishing the forecasts transparently and openly next week, 155 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: and I will share those with New Zealanders at that point, 156 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 2: and I make this commitment to everyone listening. We will 157 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 2: be sticking to disciplined government spending. We will be retaining 158 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 2: our intention to get the books back to surplus to 159 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 2: get debt leveling of by when spending is a proportion 160 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: of the economy reduces, I will set that out. 161 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: Very Lukes is sounding and slippery as a turd in 162 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: the spring rain. 163 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 2: Well, here's why. Because I announced these budget sensitive, market 164 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 2: sensitive pieces of data next week. There's a full lock 165 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 2: up at that point. If I ribble out some of 166 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 2: that information today in an undisciplined way, that is not 167 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 2: good for the market. That's not good for anyone. And 168 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 2: I will be sharing that information in full with all 169 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 2: New Zealanders next week. And when you interview me about 170 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 2: that next week, I will answer every single question in detail. 171 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 2: But what I'm not going to do is release the 172 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 2: details of that half yer update today. 173 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: Nkotle Well, iss appreciate your time tonight, Finance Minister. For 174 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to News 175 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: Talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the 176 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.