Taxpayer Talk

Should the Government buy back the BNZ, break up the supermarket giants, and overhaul New Zealand's electricity market? Former Financial Markets Authority chair and New Zealand First candidate Craig Stobo joins Peter Williams to put some of the party's biggest economic promises under the microscope. With decades of experience in financial markets, Stobo faces tough questions on whether New Zealand First's ambitious plans would actually deliver lower prices and greater competition. The convers...

Is National about to throw away the election? Former MP and New Zealand First candidate Michael Laws joins Peter Williams for a fiery discussion on why he believes National's refusal to embrace tactical voting could hand power to Labour and its allies. But there's plenty more on the table. From the case for buying back the BNZ and taking on Australia's banking giants to breaking up the electricity market and tackling soaring power bills, Laws lays out some of New Zealand First's more controve...

As he prepares to leave Parliament after 12 years, former Minister Andrew Bayly joins Peter Williams for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of New Zealand’s finances, the future of superannuation, and the reforms he believes the Government still needs to tackle. From cutting government waste and tackling soaring debt costs to raising the retirement age and protecting KiwiSaver, Bayly isn't holding back on the tough decisions facing the country. He also reflects on his controversial depa...

Germany’s politics are fracturing, its economy is stalling, and once-dominant parties are being squeezed by populist challengers on both the left and right. Jordan is joined by Oliver Hartwich from the New Zealand Initiative for a special look at what is going wrong in Germany, from the rise of the AfD and pro-Russian populism to migration, energy policy, debt, and the collapse of old political certainties. It’s a fascinating look at whether Germany’s MMP-style system is cracking under pressu...

Jordan Williams sits down with Simon Watts, Minister of Local Government, for a frank conversation on the Government’s local government reforms. From scrapping Three Waters and introducing rates caps to co-governance in water entities, councillor access to information, unelected committee members, and council amalgamations, this episode puts the Minister under pressure on whether National has really delivered the accountability and local democracy it promised. Support the show