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John MacDonald was joined by Labour's Dan Rosewarne and National's Gerry Brownlee for today's Budget Special edition of Politics Friday.  Why is $14 million being spent on MP security, when just $15 million is going into retail crime prevention? Will free prescriptions make a huge difference for New Zealanders and every day living costs? And should we be investing so much into Te Matatini funding....

The Prime Minister called it the 'Bread and Butter Budget'. Pundits have called it bland, basic brand, bare bones, bread crumbs and the baked beans budget. Most have agreed it was a glamour less affair and restrained. Highlights include the removal of the $5 prescription fee, expanding free early childhood education, and free public transport for children. Dentons Kensington Swan Partner and tax e...

New Zealand Herald Political Editor Claire Trevett says Thursday's Budget is not an election winner, but it's not an election loser either. Claire Trevett joined Kerre Woodham Mornings to discuss the Budget from a political point of view. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The real value of the Budget for me is not the so-called lolly scramble people seem to expect each year. A bus trip here, a prescription there and a handful of EV chargers - that's rats and mice. The real value of a Budget is the big picture and the big picture is a disaster. For what it's worth, the gaming deal is not bad. But then again, it's classic Labour. Yes, we give rebates for film, but no...

The Budget came with a somewhat surprising investment into the gaming sector. Including a 20 percent rebate for video game developers and an allocation of $160 million. Along with $27 million for a digital skills package with apprenticeship like pilot programmes. Although it doesn't quite match what Australia has to offer it could help keep gaming in New Zealand. John O'Reilly, founder and creativ...

With the threat of mega-companies IKEA and Costco moving in on New Zealand business, the Briscoe Group are looking to lift their game to combat the big players. Group Managing Director at Briscoes Rod Duke joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2023 Budget offered $11.5 billion over the next four years but left nothing for farmers. But it's farmers saying that more than money, they'd just like relief from the endless regulations. Federated Farmers Acting President Wayne Langford joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions for the Government this morning, over whether its Budget could make the Government's balance sheet even worse. The Budget includes removal of $5 prescription fees, the introduction of 20 hours free early childcare for two-year-olds, and public transport discounts for under 25s. Finance Minister Grant Robertson is branding it a "back to basics" budget. But JMI Wealth Director Andrew Kelle...

Multiple offers have been received in an attempt to buy the Mount Ruapehu skifields. However, locals have concerns surrounding how transparent the MBIE is being about these offers. Spokesperson for the Ruapehu Skifields Stakeholders Association, Peter Thomson, joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2023 is focused on the 'bread and butter' issues.. The Government has injected tens of billions of dollars, in the hope it battles the high cost of living. Questions remain as to what it means in terms of inflation, spending and debt. Associate Minister of Finance Michael Wood joined Kate Hawkesby to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says the Government is spending more than it planned to in the Budget, because of Cyclone Gabrielle. Under the so-called "back to basics" budget, the $5 prescription fees will be abolished from July, and two-year-olds will be eligible for 20 hours free early childcare from next March. Public transport will be made free for under 13s, and half price public transport will contin...

The grim economic outlook for 2023 could have set New Zealand up for an austerity-focused Budget. Instead, Grant Robertson said today's numbers show New Zealand's economy will avoid a recession and the Government will return to a wafer-thin surplus in 2025. NZ Herald business editor Liam Dann says the Government could have been more cautious with this year's Budget, but Labour took the polls into...

Australia's unemployment rate rose from 3.5 percent to 3.7 percent, surprising economists. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, an estimated 4,300 jobs were lost in the last month. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says economists are hoping this slight rise in unemployment will help inflation ease. Murray Olds says the Reserve Bank of Australia is due to meet next month,...

New Zealand's video game industry will be able to survive and thrive thanks to a 2023 Budget boost. The Government announced $160 million would be allocated to the sector and a 20 percent rebate would be available for game development studios that met the expenditure threshold. New Zealand Game Developers Association chair Chelsea Rapp is excited about this development and says the sector has been...

As much as shoppers enjoy shopping online, having a physical retail presence is becoming an advantage for many retailers - as omnichannel shopping makes a boom. Online stores play a key role in the decision making process which then leads to shoppers making a physical in store purchase. Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford joined Mike Hosking to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener...

Creepy crawlies are continuing to pop up in food items. The latest is insect larvae which was nestled in a boy's Whittakers bar, the second bug incident the chocolate company has dealt with in less than two weeks. So what's the reputation damage? Marketing expert Bodo Lang joined Kate Hawkesby to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building supply prices will now be monitored by the Government - along with land covenants across the country being reviewed. This all comes in response to the findings from the Commerce Commission's study into building supplies, which was undertaken in December. Chairperson of the Combined Building Supplies Co-operative Carl Taylor joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener f...

Hopes the biggest needs won't be forgotten, in today's "bread and butter budget". Bailey Gair from Civil Contractors New Zealand says the budget needs to address the country's $210 billion infrastructure deficit. "We've also got flood and cyclone rebuild as well as a historical underinvestment in maintenance." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There has been much discussion over whether or not changes to tax will be made in today's Budget announcement. The Government has ruled out any major changes to tax brackets, despite a wealth tax report showing a major gap between tax paid by the wealthy and poor. KPMG Tax Partner Rebecca Armour joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't expect any big surprises, when the Government releases its Budget at 2pm today. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Kate Hawkesby pre-Budget statements and announcements show the Government is taking a "back to basics" approach. He says there isn't nearly as much wriggle room in this Budget as there has been before. Olsen says it's good to see more restraint, following the Covid...

Budget 2023 is due to be released tomorrow afternoon, and experts have expressed their hopes about the outcome. Investors will be looking to see how this Budget impacts New Zealand's debt to GDP ratio, especially following the last three years. Milford Asset Management's Mark Riggall says New Zealand is in a more favourable position compared to Australia, the US and the UK, and investors won't wan...

ANZ are the latest major bank to release their revised prediction for the OCR. The bank forecasts that the RBNZ will raise the OCR by 25 basis points to 5.50 percent next week and again in July, peaking at 5.75 percent.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibrshraeny says ANZ economists know the economic picture is currently as 'clear as mud' because of all the variables. "They're really f...

The Government will be making moves to monitor key building supply prices to improve competition and transparency. Last December, the Commerce Commission made some recommendations to improve competition in the building supply sector, and the Government agreed to 8 out of the 9 suggestions. These include supporting alternative products and lifting offsite manufacturing at least 10 percent year on y...

People may be finally sick of taking meetings on Zoom as in-person meetings appear to be the leading reason for corporate travel. Travel demand in both business and leisure across the globe is expected to be at 85.5 per cent of 2019 levels and in the first quarter of this year and there was a 27 per cent rise in online adoption of domestic booking trends. Corporate traveller and FCM General Manage...

Mortgaged investors are choosing to buy fewer properties as interest rates soar. CoreLogic's latest monthly housing report shows a record 19.9 percent decline in purchases by multiple property owners. Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.