Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

New Zealand's unemployment rate is unchanged at 3.4 percent. Stats NZ has just released the March 2023 quarterly figure, which hasn't budged since the December 2022 figure. Economists had picked the rate would stay close to record lows. NZ Herald Business Editor at Large Liam Dann joined Kerre Woodham to break down the figures. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looks like Census 2023 is another failure. Stats New Zealand is not on track to achieve its target of getting responses from 90 percent of the population. Still time, but it seems unlikely to meet that target, despite protestations from the Minister of Statistics Deborah Russell that it's still early days. The low return rate has nothing to do with the effects of Cyclone Gabriel, most of the unreturned forms are from major cities. And the failure of 2023 aligns with the failure of the 2018 Census, where response rates were even worse. They fell to just 86 per cent, even worse for Maori and Pacifica, with 65 and 63 per cent return rates respectively. You would have thought they would have learned lessons from the past, and they did, a bit. There was a review into the 2018 Census and it found that there was too much focus on a digital-first approach. That focus led to too little attention to on-the-ground requirements to get the Census done. Basically, people knocking on doors and handing over papers and then going to collect them. I absolutely guarantee you could put the lack of response down to distrust of the Government and suspicion around how the information will be used. Dave Letele, who was employed as an ambassador for the Census 2023, said there's a massive distrust between our people and the Government and that's what we need to overcome. He said a lot of people are wary about sharing their personal information with authorities, but it's not just something you can throw money at to fix, which is quite true. So there's been the breakdown of trust, there's been suspicion, and I understand that, but by choosing not to participate, the Government is going to have to come up with another way of allocating resources. How else to do it other than with the Census? Many of the communities who need schools and hospitals and money to go into community groups and outreach services the most will miss out. Five years from now, when you hear people from communities bemoaning the lack of facilities for their neighbourhoods, I will remember to ask them, or make a note for my successor to ask them, did you fill out your Census? If you say no, you're getting no sympathy from me.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A concession from Census officials: they will have to switch from the carrot to the stick. Stats NZ is handing out food vouchers and free Warriors tickets to encourage those yet to complete their forms, to do so. So far 4.4 million people have returned their papers. Deputy Government Statistician Simon Mason told Kerre Woodham he's got no desire to prosecute people, but it may come to that. He says they will probably end up prosecuting a small group of society who continually refuse to do the Census. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not a new idea.  It's been around for a while and it's certainly something a number of you have been wanting. National announced over the weekend that, if elected, newly qualified nurses and midwives will receive up to $4500 per year towards their student loans, if they agree to stay working in this country for five years. The bonding scheme will also be open to nurses and midwives who have recently graduated. If you graduated last year and think you’ve missed out, not to worry - Christopher Luxon will extend that to you as well. He says we have to do all we can to hold on to the nurses and midwives we've trained in this country.  Now there is a bonding scheme of sorts that exists right now, but it's only open to those who work in hard to staff areas such as mental health and aged care, and it's only available in a handful of regions such as the West Coast.   National’s proposed bonding scheme would be open to everyone. Everyone, everywhere, all at once, if you will. This is just one of the measures announced to try to bolster the under-siege health workforce. The other measures put on the table by National include allowing nurses to come into this country on six-month visas to have a look-see. They're also looking to offer relocation grants to up to 1000 nurses who want to come in from overseas.  As I say, it's not a new idea to bond young professionals.  I think Peter Dunne’s talked about it. Certainly Winston Peters has. So why isn't it standard practice? To me it makes sense. I know a lot of young people say it's not fair, we had to pay for our loans and you old people didn't. Well, there was a much more stringent and strict criteria to get into university. Not everybody who wanted to go to university could go. And on the basis that it's a slightly freer application system, it means you have to carry the cost of some of your education, but ultimately most of it is borne by the New Zealand taxpayer. You are not paying the entire cost of your degree or your training. The taxpayer is picking up the lion’s share of it.   Many of you are taking out large loans that you're finding pretty burdensome. Is it a win-win if you get your money back, and we get you for five years before you go off seeking greener pastures? To me it is and I would love to know why it hasn't worked before. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leader of the Opposition, Christopher Luxon, joined Kerre Woodham live in studio to take your calls and answer your questions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, in fact, this very time last week, we were speculating wildly as to whether the IRD's report on New Zealand's wealthiest individuals was going to pave the way for a capital gains tax in this country. The report came out yesterday afternoon.  It just sort of sat there - there was a big ta-da and then nothing. We're an outlier as far as the rest of the wealthy nations of the world go, in that we have no capital gains tax, unless you count the bright line test, which is kind of a mini capital gains tax. The report came out yesterday, and then what? Nothing. At the same time as he released the report David Parker said look, for heaven’s sake, we're not using it as laying the groundwork for a capital gains tax, heavens no, we just thought you'd be interested. And yet, at the same time that he was pouring cold water on the idea that he was using it to lay the groundwork for a capital gains tax, he was also saying, ‘I hold the view and I have done for some time,  that there is an inherent unfairness in New Zealand's tax system.’ I remain of the view, he said, and I think this report proves that case, that there is unfairness in the tax system. So what is he playing it? What the report found was that 311 of New Zealand's wealthiest individuals paid 9.4 per cent of their total incomes and tax versus an average tax rate of 20.2% paid by middle-income Kiwis. So David Parker has spent years campaigning for a capital gains tax. He believes our tax system is unfair in part. And yet both he and the Prime Minister have spent considerable time stressing to us all, underlining, making the point they won't be changing the tax system at this particular point in time. So what was the point of the report? It could have just come out like any other report, sunk like a stone and we'd never have seen anything of it ever again. But there was a press conference for him to say ‘look at these incredibly wealthy people who are only paying nine per cent of tax. I think our tax system is unfair. We're not going to introduce a capital gains tax. Don't be silly. Where did you get that idea from?’ I don't know, David, where did we get that idea from?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tax expert says the Government's wealth report covers what we already know. Inland Revenue's wealth report shows the top one percent of earners pay a median effective tax rate of 9.4 percent when including capital gains on investments. That's compared to an estimated 20 percent for "middle wealth" people. Dentons Kensington Swan tax partner Bruce Bernacchi told Kerre Woodham the wealthy earn a substantial amount from legally untaxed capital gains. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I understand and I totally appreciate you cannot possibly fence off every waterway in the country. Imagine you've been hiking for hours through glorious back country, to come across the crest of a hill and in the near distance spy a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by a wire fence, with all sorts of health and safety warnings. That would not be the experience you'd be after. Homeowners who have a water feature or a swimming pool in their backyard are required to comply with rigorous regulations around the fencing of their pools. If a tree is too close to a fence or a wall, there are consequences. Adjustments must be made, I know this from personal experience. And the regulations are policed by the local councils, fines and remedial work must be undertaken if anything at all is found to be in breach of the regulations. Fair enough. Our death by swimming pool drownings of children was horrific up until the late 80s and the regulations were introduced. They have dropped off a cliff since then.   The beaches, rivers, lakes. There's an acceptance that they can't possibly be fenced even in this overregulated society, and nor, indeed should they. But what about a body of water that edges along a thriving hospitality area? Wellington's waterfront is absolutely gorgeous. The mix of public spaces, apartments, hospitality areas make it a fantastic place to visit and a template for how to do waterfront living. But far too many people are ending up in the harbour with fatal consequences. 2006, 2020, 2023, 2025, 2026, 2017, 2019, two in 2021. These are the people who have ended up dead after falling into the waterfront for whatever reason. Three people have been rescued over that time, barely alive. A local skipper who reckons he's pulled several people out of the water over the 15 years he's worked in the harbour says permanent barriers are a no brainer. Permanent balustrades would have saved every one of those lives.   There's something beautiful about the sea flowing onto the land and having a connection with the water. Having people able to be right up to the water's edge and be a part of the beauty. That mixed living, mixed spaces – fantastic. But at what point do you say too many people have died. If this was a workplace, if Wellington Waterfront Inc. was a workplace and you'd had deaths between 2006 and 2023, you'd be shut down if you were a workplace. What do you do? You've visited Wellington. You have walked around areas of Auckland where there is that same level of mixed living where the sea comes right up to the people. You don't seem to have the same problems in Auckland’s harbour around the viaduct area. Possibly because there are so many people around there night and day, they could spot you if you went in. So what is it about Wellington that makes it a draw card for so many people but also the final destination for so many people?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is PM Chris Hipkins living in la la land?  When the announcement was made that New Zealanders would have new pathways to citizenship in Australia, with citizenship now guaranteed after four years, Hipkins said he didn't think this would lead to an exodus of New Zealanders quitting the country and heading across the ditch.  New Zealanders travel to Australia and live there regardless, he said. People go there for a wide variety of reasons. I don't think, he said, that guaranteed citizenship will make a significant difference to that calculation.  He's right of course in that Kiwis have been going to Oz to make a better life for themselves for years. Traditionally, there's been a net migration loss from NZ to Oz. Nearly 30k New Zealanders left every year between 2004 and 2012. 3000 a year during 2014 and 2019.  Then our borders were closed.  But once they were open we were off again, and this time in greater numbers.  In year to June 2022, there was a net migration loss of 8100 people to Australia, taking their skills, their determination, their optimism with them. They left, as Hipkins quite rightly said, for a variety of reasons.  Some had family already there. Some were headhunted. Some went when they saw what they could be earning - nurses earn a minimum 24 thousand more than they do in New Zealand, primary school teachers 32 thousand dollars more, doctors and specialists nearly 70 thousand more.  But it’s not all about the money. New Zealand is home. Connections run deep. It’s a huge wrench to upsticks and go and make a new life in a new land.  But to stay here you have to feel like you belong here. That you have a place here. That you have a future here. Is that how you feel? I haven't heard so much I'm off to Australia chat since - well, since those years between 2004 and 2013. That might be just so much letting off steam.  It will be interesting to see the figures next year. But really the question might be not why would you leave for Australia. But why would you stay in New Zealand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Heritage New Zealand, there are more than 2500 shipwrecks in New Zealand's marine and fresh waters. Of those, only about 200 have been accurately located. Bill Day is a shipwreck expert. He's spent 36 years searching for the wreck of the General Grant in the Auckland Islands and he joined Kerre Woodham. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.