When the Facts Change

A heated debate about insulation standards lately has had both health and construction experts up in arms. It's only part, however, of a wider debate about how we approach climate change and how we make decisions about our homes. NZ Green Building Council CEO Andrew Eagles joins Bernard Hickey to pull back the GIB board and take a look at how to build, and heat, cheaper homes over the longer run. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TJ Perenara is a rugby legend whose sporting career and status as the leading try scorer in Super Rugby are matched only by his iconic mullet. Beyond the field, TJ is a dedicated father, husband and passionate advocate for social equity – speaking boldly on issues like Māori fatherhood and pay transparency. If you’ve ever wondered what makes this Kiwi icon tick, then settle in to hear TJ Perenara as you’ve never heard him before. Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes each Monday:5th August - TJ Perenara 12th August - Kirsten Dodgen 19th August - Jess Quinn26th August - Taylor Roche2nd September - Jess Hong9th September - Dane & StaceyA Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happened to the world’s supply chains during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, and how much of the damage caused is permanent? New York Times business journalist and author of ‘How the World Ran Out of Everything’ Peter Goodman joins Bernard Hickey to explain the complex international pathways of manufacturing and transportation that bring products to our doorsteps, through the example of one fledgling American toy startup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aotearoa has never been wealthier, yet demand for food parcels is skyrocketing and the Government won’t extend help to food banks so they can cope. Bernard talks to Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson about a surfeit of wealth at a time food banks are being defunded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Jo Vergara from Kiwibank, an expert on interest rates and housing dynamics, shares her insights on the recent drop in inflation from 7.3% to 3.3%. She delves into its implications for interest rates and the housing market, pointing to potential cuts from the Reserve Bank. The discussion also highlights economic trends such as declining consumer spending and the complexities of monetary policy. Looking ahead, Mary Jo offers an optimistic view for 2025, anticipating recovery in business investment and consumer confidence.

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