1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Vazaria. How's with us now, senior political correspondents. I'm welling 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: to Zari. 3 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 2: Good afternoon, good afternoon, Good to be with you. 4 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: And this poll has got Winston probably I mean he 5 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: doesn't like Poles, but probably celebrating. 6 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 2: Anyway, a new year, a new poll. This is a 7 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 2: big one Rattana obviously taking place tomorrow. The election date 8 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 2: was announced yesterday. Seems like parties are trying to shape 9 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 2: up how the campaign is going to look. Let's get 10 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 2: into it, as you say, huge gains for New Zealand. First, 11 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 2: a record high for that party eleven point nine percent, 12 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 2: so well into the double digits, and a rise of 13 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 2: three point eight percent in terms of that compared to 14 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 2: the last poll. Labor is up two point eight percent 15 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 2: to thirty four point four. National is up one and 16 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 2: a half percent to thirty one point five. The Greens, though, 17 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 2: have seen the biggest drop. They're down three point one 18 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 2: points to seven point seven percent. Meanwhile, Actors down one 19 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 2: point nine points. They're below the Greens, they're on seven percent, 20 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 2: Tepati Maori setting on three percent. The poll would see 21 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: the coalition rear elected, but it does come with the 22 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 2: fact that National is behind labor on party vote numbers. 23 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 2: The big headline of this though huge momentum for New Zealand. 24 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: First absolutely now in government's books are looking better than expected. 25 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 2: It's good news today for the government's books. Treasuries released 26 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 2: the interim financial statements for the five months to the 27 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: end of November. Things are looking better than initially thought so. 28 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 2: Crunching the numbers, the operating balance was that at a 29 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 2: surplus of three and a half billion dollars. That's compared 30 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 2: to a forecast deficit of zero point two billion. Although 31 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 2: the debt to GDP ratio is still not on target, 32 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: the government is wanting it to track below forty percent. 33 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 2: The latest numbers show net core crown debt was nine 34 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 2: hundred million dollars, lower than forecast, but it is at 35 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: forty one point six percent of GDP. The forecast, though, 36 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 2: did estimate this to be at forty one point nine percent, 37 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 2: so it is a better result than expectations, something not unexpected. 38 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 2: There's worth pointing out superannuation. It appears to be significantly 39 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 2: to blame for core crown expenses being higher in the 40 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five period than the same period the year prior. 41 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 2: A two billion dollar increase, and notably social security and 42 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: welfare expenses increase by one point one billion dollars, a 43 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 2: whole billion of that due to superannuation payments, essentially a 44 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 2: growing number of people becoming eligible for the pension. 45 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: My dad's in that camp. You just got a gold 46 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 1: card sent in the mail, is gloating about it. 47 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: Meanwhile, I'm sure that debate will kick off as well 48 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 2: around the election in terms of the superage. It always does. 49 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 2: And you'd have to think one point one billion dollars 50 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 2: one billion of them, you'd probably expect the debate. 51 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: They don't deserve it, Zaria, they don't deserve it. Of 52 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: politicians heating at Arta tomorrow, what are we expecting to 53 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: see there? 54 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:55,519 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's in a very significant essentially marks the start 55 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 2: of the political year. MP's planning to gather in the 56 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 2: Central North Island Pass that is near Wanganui. It is 57 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 2: a really significant political leader though, has decided not to 58 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: attend this year's Ratana church celebrations that is Odawiti Way City. 59 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 2: He's the co leader of Tepati Mali. He's posted on 60 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 2: social media saying he made the decision not to travel 61 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,079 Speaker 2: there this year. He's going to remain in Wyotiki to 62 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 2: support any recovery needs from that severe weather. No final 63 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 2: call yet from the Prime Minister on if he will 64 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 2: be able to make it given that severe weather. We 65 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 2: will keep you updated on those plans, but currently it 66 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 2: is believed that Luxon is planning to attend. Chris Hopkins 67 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 2: also planning to be there, as are Winston Peters and 68 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 2: the co leaders of the Greens. A really important time 69 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 2: last year saw David Seymour skip out and he held 70 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: a speech about his Treaty Principles Bill at the same time. 71 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: Given its election year, we might see some of the 72 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 2: same tactics or similar tactics again a bit of politeching, 73 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: as Seymour is notably not a fan of the event. 74 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 2: So first up it's Thattna. After that we'll have our 75 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: eyes on White Tonguey as the next big event. 76 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: Cheers, Azariah, good to have you on as always. Zaria 77 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: how Senior political correspondent for News Talks, it'd be for 78 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen live to News 79 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: Talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the 80 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.