August 13, 2026 • 8 mins
NZME’s head of business reflects on a long and distinguished career in business journalism.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
But let's kick off the show with fran O'Sullivan. She
is en z Edmee's his head of business. Fran I
introduced you by having a long and distinguished career in
business journalism. I hope you accept that compliment. I do.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
But I started in political journalism working for Barry Soper
back in the day when I think I was the
first employee in Parliament in nineteen eighty one. So there
you go.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
She well, Barry's been around, of course, hopefully we'll have
him on later in the show. He's been around since
Muldoon indeed, and so was I. Well that ages is
all that we can even remember Rob Muldoon. Hey, fran
Just to get off track, I mean, I know I've
been following politics since I was a kid, since Keith Holyoak,
and since Helen Clark. If had every Prime Minister of
(00:46):
the country as a regular guest on my show. And
if it comes to ranking them, because you and I
are of a similar generation, from Holyoak through to Chris
Luckson Key is my best followed by Halen Clark, how
would you write them?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
I would put it the other way round? And why
is because Helen Clark did Actually she was a reforming
prime minister together with Michael Cullen, and of course they
put in place Key. We savor the Cullen fun things
like that. Plus they did manage to get the government
account into good order. I think with Key, what he
(01:23):
did though, was he took the country through a very
difficult period. I mean he used to be jested about
by Bill English, the Finance Minister at the time, as
the chair leader in chief. But what he did was
he held the country's spirits up when we'd come through
the earthquakes and arrange and obviously the GFC, and it
took quite a long time to you know, kind of
(01:44):
worm our way out of that. But you know, both
of them different qualities, Helen Clark and also John Key,
both of them still intensely interested in politics, and both
of them commenting all the time.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Still well, lots to comment about this week. What a
ball up from the National Party. Fran, what do you
make about it? You've been as you've been around a
long time.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Yeah. I think one of the interesting comments is in
my column for tomorrow is seven. Frank's put it this way,
basically that mister Pink would have known what it feels
like to look around and find your allies and backers
cowering anonymously in the trenches, or even standing beside your
opponent pointing you out for the artillery. And I think
that's exactly what happened to any of us, know who's
(02:27):
been on out on a big time. The nervous Nellie's
always sort of, you know, kind of fall away. And
I think of this case, you know, for a man
who's had experience as a sub mariner and also in
navy on Tapaho and all the all of that, I
was actually surprised that he allowed himself to go out
and be the stalking of course, and it's just absolute
(02:50):
nonsense to suggest he was a soul ranger.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
I know he wasn't acting alone. There's interesting means going
around on social media about the press conference, the one
press conference afterwards and Mark Mitchell, who's very much the
Prime Minister's minder, giving I was going to say, giving
Erica a bit of a jab in the ribs, saying
move over. Ditto for Chris Bishop. And I noted body
language wise that when that press conference finished, Luxon was
(03:17):
quick to pat Mark Mitchell on the shoulder.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Well, Mark was very much and there is a clique
that sits around around the Prime Minister, and it includes
Mark Mitchell. You know, he's sort of a comely teddy bear,
but he's also a security contractor out of Iraq and
he is actually one tough cookie. Underneath, there's also Louise
Upston and Todd McLay. I would say they're basically the
(03:42):
praetorian guard for the Prime minister. They're very focused, they
are very loyal. They do get tested from time to time,
but they do fall in behind. You could contrast them
with people who are I guess bred in the blood
politically only, and that would include obviously Nikola Willis, Erica
(04:04):
Stanford and Chris Bishop. A large lump of their careers
has been in politics only they haven't actually been out
and held major roles in the private sector. Erica did
to some degree, but you know they do see things politically.
But as you would have observed from them standing behind
the Prime Minister in the banquet hall, they don't dissemble
(04:26):
very well. Chris Bishop is particularly bad at that. He
always has that sideways look at the prime ministers if
you can't quite believe what the Prime minister said. And
Erica is much more poker face, but you know they
do need to learn to visually demonstrate loyalty, not just
make works now.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
As head of business for ENZ me on a scale
of I don't know one to ten, I love scales.
If you hadn't noticed, yes, I do love scales. Where's
the New Zealand business environments or economy sitting at the moment.
It's kind of it's almost on a precarious ledge, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Oh, look it's been flat, but I think you know,
like I've been to a number of business functions this week.
I went to a seminar Minter Allison had which is
a major corporate governance one they hold annually, and just
about every director in town with any sway was there
and very interesting. I mean people obviously it was on
the eve of the so called coup and they were
(05:27):
obviously totaling up the odds of who might be in charge.
There is some sense that all of this is enormous
distraction from getting on again. The economy is on the
verge of growth as you look at the figures that
have come out of the OECD projections earlier this week
going into twenty seven, and so you always get a
(05:50):
little bit of disturbance around an election. People I think
would prefer to see a continuation of this government if
it could get it backed together in that three year term.
You know, they introduced some certainty. There's a lot of
time for a new government to beden, you know in
the first year, and you really do need to have
a sizeable period in government to get stuff done. So
(06:13):
and that's not being disrespectful to the other side of politics.
It's just saying people really would like to plan with confidence.
But however, I think what you are seeing is quite
a bit of eyes on at the stage. Who are
the king people in labor, who do they need to
go and you know make contact with Again, there is
a lot of briefing going on by people like Barbara
(06:36):
Edmonds to the business community, and she's been hard at
it really for the last two years up in Auckland.
She's there pretty much every week talking to various bordering
groups and business meetings. And she was at the Financial
Services Council conference earlier in the week where Nikola would
have been as well if she hadn't have been tied
up in the caucus meeting.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Okay, just to finish on we all know how important
the primary sector is to the New Zealand economy. I
think this government under luxeen and to be fair to
Winston and Seymour, they're both very profarming as well. It's
essential that we remain so even if there is a
change of guard. Do you think Labor has softened its
(07:18):
approach to farming a weather because they were brutal under
David Parker and Damian O'Connor.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yes they were, and I'm sure that's the messaging they'll
take on board. The problem is also, of course they
will be in partnership one way or another with the Greens.
Obviously opportunity is also a player now. But I mean
what is really interesting and obviously they're all done in
christ Church today at the South Island election conference and
(07:45):
a lot of policies as you mentioned, then being put
into the marketplace. I mean, essentially you've got a two
tier economy and you've got the money if you like,
which came into the economy through dairy and all the rest.
A lot of that is floating around more in the
South Island than in the North Island. It's been totally different.
(08:06):
You've got a two tear economy, much more growth in
the South island less unemployment, and so everyone has to
kind of balance that, and they have to balance it
against the fact that, you know, we're still in difficult
times to come. We still may have to pay the
bills further on what's happening internationally with hor Moon and
(08:26):
some pent up costs from all of that.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
All right, Brando Sullivan, thanks for your time Head of
Business for end ZB.
But let's kick off the show with fran O'Sullivan. She
is en z Edmee's his head of business. Fran I
introduced you by having a long and distinguished career in
business journalism. I hope you accept that compliment. I do.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
But I started in political journalism working for Barry Soper
back in the day when I think I was the
first employee in Parliament in nineteen eighty one. So there
you go.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
She well, Barry's been around, of course, hopefully we'll have
him on later in the show. He's been around since
Muldoon indeed, and so was I. Well that ages is
all that we can even remember Rob Muldoon. Hey, fran
Just to get off track, I mean, I know I've
been following politics since I was a kid, since Keith Holyoak,
and since Helen Clark. If had every Prime Minister of
(00:46):
the country as a regular guest on my show. And
if it comes to ranking them, because you and I
are of a similar generation, from Holyoak through to Chris
Luckson Key is my best followed by Halen Clark, how
would you write them?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
I would put it the other way round? And why
is because Helen Clark did Actually she was a reforming
prime minister together with Michael Cullen, and of course they
put in place Key. We savor the Cullen fun things
like that. Plus they did manage to get the government
account into good order. I think with Key, what he
(01:23):
did though, was he took the country through a very
difficult period. I mean he used to be jested about
by Bill English, the Finance Minister at the time, as
the chair leader in chief. But what he did was
he held the country's spirits up when we'd come through
the earthquakes and arrange and obviously the GFC, and it
took quite a long time to you know, kind of
(01:44):
worm our way out of that. But you know, both
of them different qualities, Helen Clark and also John Key,
both of them still intensely interested in politics, and both
of them commenting all the time.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Still well, lots to comment about this week. What a
ball up from the National Party. Fran, what do you
make about it? You've been as you've been around a
long time.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Yeah. I think one of the interesting comments is in
my column for tomorrow is seven. Frank's put it this way,
basically that mister Pink would have known what it feels
like to look around and find your allies and backers
cowering anonymously in the trenches, or even standing beside your
opponent pointing you out for the artillery. And I think
that's exactly what happened to any of us, know who's
(02:27):
been on out on a big time. The nervous Nellie's
always sort of, you know, kind of fall away. And
I think of this case, you know, for a man
who's had experience as a sub mariner and also in
navy on Tapaho and all the all of that, I
was actually surprised that he allowed himself to go out
and be the stalking of course, and it's just absolute
(02:50):
nonsense to suggest he was a soul ranger.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
I know he wasn't acting alone. There's interesting means going
around on social media about the press conference, the one
press conference afterwards and Mark Mitchell, who's very much the
Prime Minister's minder, giving I was going to say, giving
Erica a bit of a jab in the ribs, saying
move over. Ditto for Chris Bishop. And I noted body
language wise that when that press conference finished, Luxon was
(03:17):
quick to pat Mark Mitchell on the shoulder.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Well, Mark was very much and there is a clique
that sits around around the Prime Minister, and it includes
Mark Mitchell. You know, he's sort of a comely teddy bear,
but he's also a security contractor out of Iraq and
he is actually one tough cookie. Underneath, there's also Louise
Upston and Todd McLay. I would say they're basically the
(03:42):
praetorian guard for the Prime minister. They're very focused, they
are very loyal. They do get tested from time to time,
but they do fall in behind. You could contrast them
with people who are I guess bred in the blood
politically only, and that would include obviously Nikola Willis, Erica
(04:04):
Stanford and Chris Bishop. A large lump of their careers
has been in politics only they haven't actually been out
and held major roles in the private sector. Erica did
to some degree, but you know they do see things politically.
But as you would have observed from them standing behind
the Prime Minister in the banquet hall, they don't dissemble
(04:26):
very well. Chris Bishop is particularly bad at that. He
always has that sideways look at the prime ministers if
you can't quite believe what the Prime minister said. And
Erica is much more poker face, but you know they
do need to learn to visually demonstrate loyalty, not just
make works now.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
As head of business for ENZ me on a scale
of I don't know one to ten, I love scales.
If you hadn't noticed, yes, I do love scales. Where's
the New Zealand business environments or economy sitting at the moment.
It's kind of it's almost on a precarious ledge, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Oh, look it's been flat, but I think you know,
like I've been to a number of business functions this week.
I went to a seminar Minter Allison had which is
a major corporate governance one they hold annually, and just
about every director in town with any sway was there
and very interesting. I mean people obviously it was on
the eve of the so called coup and they were
(05:27):
obviously totaling up the odds of who might be in charge.
There is some sense that all of this is enormous
distraction from getting on again. The economy is on the
verge of growth as you look at the figures that
have come out of the OECD projections earlier this week
going into twenty seven, and so you always get a
(05:50):
little bit of disturbance around an election. People I think
would prefer to see a continuation of this government if
it could get it backed together in that three year term.
You know, they introduced some certainty. There's a lot of
time for a new government to beden, you know in
the first year, and you really do need to have
a sizeable period in government to get stuff done. So
(06:13):
and that's not being disrespectful to the other side of politics.
It's just saying people really would like to plan with confidence.
But however, I think what you are seeing is quite
a bit of eyes on at the stage. Who are
the king people in labor, who do they need to
go and you know make contact with Again, there is
a lot of briefing going on by people like Barbara
(06:36):
Edmonds to the business community, and she's been hard at
it really for the last two years up in Auckland.
She's there pretty much every week talking to various bordering
groups and business meetings. And she was at the Financial
Services Council conference earlier in the week where Nikola would
have been as well if she hadn't have been tied
up in the caucus meeting.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Okay, just to finish on we all know how important
the primary sector is to the New Zealand economy. I
think this government under luxeen and to be fair to
Winston and Seymour, they're both very profarming as well. It's
essential that we remain so even if there is a
change of guard. Do you think Labor has softened its
(07:18):
approach to farming a weather because they were brutal under
David Parker and Damian O'Connor.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yes they were, and I'm sure that's the messaging they'll
take on board. The problem is also, of course they
will be in partnership one way or another with the Greens.
Obviously opportunity is also a player now. But I mean
what is really interesting and obviously they're all done in
christ Church today at the South Island election conference and
(07:45):
a lot of policies as you mentioned, then being put
into the marketplace. I mean, essentially you've got a two
tier economy and you've got the money if you like,
which came into the economy through dairy and all the rest.
A lot of that is floating around more in the
South Island than in the North Island. It's been totally different.
(08:06):
You've got a two tear economy, much more growth in
the South island less unemployment, and so everyone has to
kind of balance that, and they have to balance it
against the fact that, you know, we're still in difficult
times to come. We still may have to pay the
bills further on what's happening internationally with hor Moon and
(08:26):
some pent up costs from all of that.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
All right, Brando Sullivan, thanks for your time Head of
Business for end ZB.
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.