Former PM and finance minister Sir Bill English is the intellectual driving force behind the new government’s plans for the country's biggest landlord. He tells Bernard why a full accounting of its running costs may prove to be too rich for the government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

KiwiBank economist Sabrina Delgado joins the discussion on the potential rate cut from the Reserve Bank, disagreeing with the forecasted timing. The delay in expected rate cuts is analyzed, with insights on economic growth forecast, rising unemployment rates, and regional labor market risks. The housing market trends in New Zealand are also explored, focusing on factors like house price fluctuations, interest rates, migration impact, and regulatory changes.

After ten years at the helm of Transpower, chief executive Alison Andrew is stepping down. She reflects on a tumultuous decade of managing Aotearoa’s most important network, and why she considers being relatively unknown in the public arena as a mark of success.This interview was recorded shortly before a Transpower pylon collapsed in Northland on June 21st, causing widespread power outages in the region. The collapse was caused by contractors who failed to observe proper procedure while carrying out routine maintenance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the Kiwi dream to own a "McMansion", a "shoebox" or something else entirely? Bernard talks with The Urban Advisory’s MD Greer O’Donnell about a major new survey of what type of homes we actually want. She says it may not be the quarter acre "pavlova paradise" still assumed by many voters and politicians when they’re deciding on what should be be built and where.If you'd like to take part in The Urban Advisory's housing survey, click here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bernard revisits the most revolutionary era in our political economy in conversation with Toby Manhire. Together they discuss how much the Labour Government of 1984 to 1989, portrayed in The Spinoff's new hit podcast series Juggernaut, created our modern economy, for good and ill.Listen to Juggernaut here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We thought you might like a wee taster of our brand new #1 series, Juggernaut: The Story of the Fourth Labour Government, hosted by Toby Manhire. Click here to follow Juggernaut so you get every episode as soon as it's released!1. I love you, Mr LangeFuelled by brandy and fury, Sir Rob Muldoon calls a snap election, sparking a 1984 campaign of contrasts – the menacing, protectionist National PM against the fresh, upbeat Labour leader, David Lange. The pretext for the election is the decision by Marilyn Waring, a young, gay MP, to back an anti-nuclear bill and quit the National caucus, prompting an earful from Muldoon. Lange, meanwhile, is joined at the hip by a hungry would-be finance minister, Roger Douglas. They are about to confront a profound crisis, and launch a revolution.Includes previously unheard interviews with David Lange from the 84 campaign trail, and new and exclusive interviews with Marilyn Waring, Roger Douglas, Geoffrey Palmer, Richard Prebble, Peter Harris, Margaret Wilson, Bob Harvey and Gary McCormick.Click here for full details of archive material used in this seriesJuggernaut was made with the support of NZ On Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Conway, Chief Economist at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, offers keen insights on monetary policy and inflation. He discusses why interest rates remain high and the challenges tied to persistent inflation. Conway highlights the complicated relationship between inflation control and economic stability, examining recent trends in the housing market and the implications of fiscal policies. He also warns against oversimplifying the impacts of interest rates, using Turkey as a notable example of what can go wrong.

Bernard Hickey goes deep into the mechanics of the electricity distribution system to find out what really happened during a cold snap in May that almost caused a national energy crisis. He talks to Electric Kiwi CEO Luke Blincoe about how to solve the dry winter and cold snap problem without spending billions of dollars on new generation and lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicola Willis has delivered tax cuts in her first budget, largely as promised. But has the coalition government managed to square the circle of relieving cost of living pressures while avoiding the quicksand of encouraging inflation? In a special crossover episode of Gone By Lunchtime meets When the Facts Change, Toby Manhire quizzes Bernard Hickey on all that, plus: Is Willis right to say the tax cuts are not paid for by borrowing, and can she reasonably blame Labour for the bleak fiscal outlook? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Reserve Bank warned this week of high interest rates and high inflation for even longer, with sticky rental, rates and insurance inflation all partly to blame. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr joins Bernard Hickey to discuss the how blunt our central bank's main monetary policy tool can be, and the developing opinion that high interest rates actually increase, rather than decrease, the inflation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices