1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: I'll get you across the one News very in poll 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: just out. So National is sitting on thirty seven percent. 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: That's down one. Labour is on twenty nine percent, that's 4 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 1: down one. The Greens are on twelve, that's up one. 5 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: Actors on eight up one. New Zealand first on five, 6 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: down one, Tiptimari is on four, and Top is on 7 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: three up two. Now in the preferred prime minister stakes, 8 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: Chris Luxen twenty five percent, down three, Chris Hopkins fifteen percent, 9 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: down three, and weird Legisin Daardun has registered at one percent, 10 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: eight past six. Heller killer Will it's our finance minister 11 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: is with us now, Hey, Nikola, Hi, Heather, Yeah, it's 12 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: not flash a a year in. Those are not really 13 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: numbers to be kind of crowing about, are they. 14 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 2: Ah, we'll look, they're there or thereabouts. If there was 15 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 2: an election tomorrow based on those numbers, New Zealander would 16 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 2: elect the same government right right now? No? 17 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: True? But why is Chris Luxan only on twenty five percent? 18 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: What's going on? Oh? 19 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: Well, look, as he has said, he's not focused on 20 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 2: those numbers they bounce up and down. He's focused on 21 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 2: delivery results for New Zealanders, and I look at three 22 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 2: key metrics that we set for ourselves that really matter. 23 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 2: One is are we getting a little on inflation? Answer? Yes, 24 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: down to three point three and we'll see if it 25 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: goes lower this week. Are we getting interest rates down? Yes, 26 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 2: they've dropped seventy five basis points and they have come 27 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 2: lower faster than many were forecasting. And our business is 28 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 2: feeling more confident about the future of the economy. Yes, 29 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 2: they are so. Our plan is showing progress. But I 30 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 2: will be the first to admit that it has been 31 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,759 Speaker 2: a tough year for the New Zealand economy. We inherited 32 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: a real mess. We're getting on with what we said 33 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 2: we would and we're making progress. 34 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you're not getting rewards for it. So when 35 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: do you start getting the popularity rewards in the polls it? 36 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: Do you think when the economy picks up? 37 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: Yes, I do. I think when New Zealanders start feeling 38 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 2: in their own household that things are getting a bit better, 39 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 2: when they start switching themselves onto lower mortgage rates, when 40 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: they notice that grocery prices are rising as fast as 41 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 2: they were, when they start feeling more confident about their 42 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,399 Speaker 2: job and their future then you see that flowing through 43 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 2: into their reflections on the government. And we're working really 44 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: hard across the board to get results, and I'm confident 45 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 2: that the changes we're making at pace will deliver results. 46 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 2: Whether that's increased educational achievement in our schools with our 47 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 2: structured literacy approach and our stricter approach to maths, whether 48 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 2: that's making sure we're getting those waiting less times down 49 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 2: in our health system. Even the emergency housing numbers. You know, 50 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: that's something that I think was a scourge on the country. 51 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 2: We had literally thousands of children living in motel rooms 52 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 2: for the first time in years. We've now got that 53 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 2: lower than a thousand. So these things are starting to 54 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 2: show progress, but we want to see that accelerate. And 55 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 2: as new Zealanders see that, I think their support for 56 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 2: the government will grow as well. 57 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 1: Okay, are you on board with David Seymore's foreign investment 58 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: rule changes? 59 00:02:59,360 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: Yes? 60 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: Why is it going to take so long then to 61 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: do it? I mean he's talking about passing the law 62 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:05,079 Speaker 1: at the end of next year. 63 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. Look, this is a detailed area of law. 64 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 2: We need to get it right because the point is 65 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 2: to say to people overseas who might be interested in 66 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 2: investors land, whether that's in a power generation scheme, a factory, 67 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 2: a business. Here are the rules, here's how they work. 68 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 2: Please come and give us your money and create New 69 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 2: Zealand jobs and incomes. Making sure those rules are clear, 70 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 2: well understood and achieve what we want them to achieve 71 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 2: requires attention to detail. That's what he's doing. To be 72 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 2: fair to him, he has already made some pretty quick 73 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 2: changes to make sure that the processing times at the 74 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 2: Overseas Investment Office have been able to speed up, and 75 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 2: that's apparently already had quite a practical effect for many investors. 76 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 2: But this is something he's working hard to get right. 77 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: So do we know that there are investors who want 78 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: to spend their money here, want to invest here? 79 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 2: Absolutely. Look the Prime Minister never returns from a visit 80 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: overseas without telling us about the investors he sat down with, 81 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 2: who just say, look, we look at New Zealand and 82 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 2: we see a great country with big prospects. But what 83 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 2: they want to invent institutions. Well, they're interested in the 84 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 2: areas where they can see growth happening. So renewable energy generation, 85 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 2: for example, they can see that that's something there's going 86 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 2: to be more demand for. They look at our food industry. 87 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: They see that we have successful farmers, but they also 88 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 2: see that there's more value we can be creating from 89 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 2: that New Zealand food and aquaculture story. Some of them 90 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,679 Speaker 2: look at the forestry industry and see potential not only 91 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 2: for forestry, but for how do we make more out 92 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 2: of manufacturing those products to deliver more value. Some of 93 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 2: them look at New Zealand's smaller tech firms and they 94 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: see exciting things happening, and they can see that there's 95 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: often they're under capitalized. There's not a lot of competition 96 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 2: to invest in firms, and they think, well, maybe we 97 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: could be the next ones to envy. So Zero I. 98 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: Change the rules, like he says, and we get this 99 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: little past at the end of next year, floodgates open. 100 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 2: No, because our judgment no a significant boost because our 101 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 2: judgment is we want to see investment flowing in that 102 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 2: benefits New Zealanders through better paid jobs, better and comes 103 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 2: more opportunities. And we think the policy settings right now 104 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 2: are holding back wage growth, they're holding back the ability 105 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 2: of any of our businesses to grow. So the mark 106 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 2: of success for our reforms will be Is it easier 107 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: for international investors to put their money here? And we 108 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 2: want to make sure that it is And you should 109 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: see that pretty much straight away. 110 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: Cool. I'm pleased to hear. Now, did we retrou fit 111 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: the money when when we bought the thing a commercial 112 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 1: vessel from Norway? Did we put water tight compartments in 113 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: it before we made it a warship or whatever ship 114 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: it was here. 115 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 2: That I haven't been briefed on that operational detail, so 116 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,799 Speaker 2: I can't give you an answer on it. What I 117 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 2: know is that the Defense Force operate with the expectation 118 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 2: that their vessels are up to performance, that they're well 119 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: maintained and can deliver on the function for which they're 120 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 2: procured for. 121 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, the reason I'm asking it is because Ron Markho 122 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 1: was the former Defense minister who bought the things, suggested 123 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: that that didn't happen. That would be remarkable if that 124 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 1: didn't happen. Right. 125 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 2: Well, look, that's really a question for Judith Collins. But 126 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 2: as she has said, we've got this special Commission of Inquiry. 127 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 2: We'll look at what were the circumstances that lead to 128 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 2: that ship? 129 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: Thinking how much is it going to cost to clean 130 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 1: the place up. 131 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 2: I don't have a figure on that. What I do 132 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: know is that we have a small amount of insurance 133 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 2: to cover those clean up costs and environmental effects if 134 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 2: there are any. And obviously so you must have freaked discussion. 135 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: I mean you must have seen this happen and gone, 136 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: oh no, because we're broke already and now it's just 137 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 1: more stuff to pay for. 138 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 2: Quite honestly, Heather, I locked and I just had my 139 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 2: head in my mouth because I thought, thank goodness, those 140 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,719 Speaker 2: people are safe, because if that had been a national 141 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 2: tragedy where young Navy officers had lost their lives, that 142 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 2: would have been a far far true. 143 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: I mean, glass half full, I totally get it. Has 144 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: anybody said to you whether this is going to be 145 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: more expensive or less expensive than the arena cleanup? 146 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 2: No, they haven't. But what I have been briefed on 147 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 2: is that actually this is so far a lot more 148 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 2: straightforward than that, and that we don't have any leakage 149 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 2: occurring at present. 150 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: Listen on Wellington City Council. Are we yet at the 151 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 1: stage where the government intervens. 152 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 2: Well, it's a shambles and the fact that the long 153 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: term plan is now having to go back to the 154 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 2: drawing board, that it's already one of the most highly 155 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 2: biggest increases in rates in the country, That Wellingtonians are 156 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 2: sort of despairing about the council's focus on itself rather 157 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 2: than the people it's meant to serve. Those are all 158 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 2: factors that I'm certainly concerned about, and I know that 159 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 2: the Minister for Local Government, Simeon Brown, is concerned about. 160 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 2: He is watching the situation very closely, and he has 161 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 2: a number of options under the Local Government Act. 162 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: Is he going to use those options now or is 163 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: he going to wait until I think it's May next 164 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: year when they are likely to have another crack at 165 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 1: the long term. 166 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: Plan A Well, look, he will be taking advice on 167 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 2: that himself and making his own judgments about that. Under 168 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 2: the Local Government Act, there are a number of options 169 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 2: that he has. You often hear people talking about a commissioner, 170 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 2: but there are things other than a commissioner that he 171 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 2: can do and sound take my advice on that. 172 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: You're making it sound like a Crown monitor. Maybe a 173 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: consideration right now? 174 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 2: Well, I know, as I say, being upfront with you, 175 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 2: I know that Simeon Brown shares my concerns that we 176 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 2: have what appears to be not a very functional counsel 177 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 2: in Wellington right now, we take that pretty seriously. He's 178 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 2: looking carefully at that situation, taking advice on it and 179 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 2: if there is an action that the government can and 180 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 2: show sensibly take, then will be prepared to brilliant. 181 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: Hey, Nicolas, thank you very much, really appreciate your time. 182 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 1: As always, talked to again next week. That's Nicola Willis, 183 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: Finance Minister. For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen 184 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 1: live to news Talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, 185 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,199 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio