

When the Facts Change
The Spinoff
When the Facts Change, Hosted by journalist Bernard Hickey, When the Facts Change is your essential weekly guide to the intersection of economics, business and politics in Aotearoa New Zealand. Presented by The Spinoff. When the Facts Change is currently on hiatus and is open for sponsorship. For more details, contact bec@thespinoff.co.nz
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 25, 2024 • 33min
The latest acronym in the Reserve Bank's tool kit
Earlier this week the Reserve Bank of New Zealand proposed a new debt-to-income (DTI) ratio limit. Along with the 11-year-old loan-to-value ratio (LVR) limit, the RBNZ hopes these lending restrictions will help "limit the build-up of systemic financial risk" in our housing market. Bernard Hickey talks to Helen O’Sullivan, Valocity Global's CEO of Real Estate, to dig into the proposed policy, and whether LVRs have actually made the financial system safer over the last decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 21, 2024 • 40min
This is Kiwi: Jazz Thornton on resilience through adversity
What happens when you take on your trauma with the whole world watching? Jazz Thornton joins Jane Yee for a raw and entertaining kōrero between friends that exposes the reality of turning your pain into purpose in a very public way. The young mental health advocate and social media star speaks openly about the highs and lows of sharing her life through a lens and reveals what motivates her to show up for others every day, even as she continues to work through her own intense historic trauma. With an unwavering commitment to hope and demonstrating a resilience that is both remarkable and inspiring, this is Jazz Thornton as you’ve never heard her before.Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes each Monday:29th January - Te Aorere Pēwhairangi on finding inspiration5th February - Kendall Flutey on focusing your ambition12th February - Louis Davis on modern fatherhood19th February - Nico Porteous on the process of performance26th February - Sarah Hirini on growth and leadershipA Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 18, 2024 • 35min
What's behind New Zealand's water woes?
Aotearoa New Zealand is a rich and functional country, but it can’t seem to operate a safe and well-maintained water system. CEO of Water NZ Gillian Blythe tells Bernard Hickey exactly why that is, and what's needed to get our water infrastructure back on track. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 11, 2024 • 12min
Summer minipod 3: the grim reality for low-lying suburbs
In the final of three summer mini episodes, Bernard Hickey a key moment from 2023 when the political economy in Aotearoa shifted on its axis in real time. Last up is the day the nation’s biggest insurer said Petone and many other low-lying suburbs around the motu would not be insurable in 30-50 years due to climate change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 4, 2024 • 10min
Summer minipod 2: the closing window of hope for our climate
In the second of three summer mini episodes, Bernard Hickey a key moment from 2023 when the political economy in Aotearoa shifted on its axis in real time. Second up is the day the Climate Commission chair, Rod Carr, told the deniers and delayers of climate change action to get out of the way for the rest of us to take advantage of the opportunities for cheaper, healthier and safer lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 28, 2023 • 10min
Summer minipod 1: “end of story”
Chris Hipkins, a political figure who declared the 'end of story' for a wealth or capital gains tax in New Zealand for at least the next decade, discusses the political divide and potential consequences of implementing a wealth or capital gains tax. They explore the challenges of implementing a wealth tax, including taxing land values and determining fair valuations.

Dec 20, 2023 • 12min
Monopod: Reacting to Nicola Willis' mini-budget
National promised their first budget would expose 'fiscal vandalism' by the previous Labour government. Now that Bernard Hickey has had a chance to rifle through the numbers, he finds minimum substance to the claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 18, 2023 • 44min
The Spinoff presents SUPERPOD 2023
SUPERPOD is back! Hosted by Gone By Lunchtime's Toby Manhire and featuring Jane Yee and Alex Casey from The Real Pod, Duncan Greive from The Fold, Gone By Lunchtime's Annabelle Lee-Mather, Simon Pound from Business Is Boring, Bernard Hickey from When The Facts Change and The Spinoff Podcast Network's Te Aihe Butler and Samuel Robinson, SUPERPOD 2023 is the crossover to end all crossovers. From intense discussion of government policy to figuring out what the heck a skibidi toilet is, we celebrate the best and worst of what has been a rollercoaster year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 14, 2023 • 27min
The economic impact of record-high migration
2023 has seen record-high net migration after a large dip during the height of Covid. Bernard Hickey talks with Kiwibank economist Mary-Jo Vergara about the economic effects of high migration on rents, inflation, interest rates and house prices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 7, 2023 • 30min
The real cost of the smoking excise tax
To replace $700 million a year of revenues lost from a foreign buyers tax, the new coalition government is dumping the previous government's smoke free 2025 goal. This relaxing of policies will keep more people smoking for longer, costing thousands of lives per year and at least $10 billion is extra health costs and lost working hours. Bernard Hickey speaks with University of Otago public health researcher Andrew Waa about his analysis of the changes to smoke free, and finds out the true costs of reversing them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices