Adam Pearse: NZ Herald political reporter on Luxon and Willis underperforming in the annual Mood of the Boardroom survey

Questions have been raised as to how the Government can bounce back after the recent Mood of the Boardroom survey result.

The annual survey of New Zealand business leaders showed Luxon slipping in the rankings of ministers - from 6th to 15th.

NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse says the economy isn't improving the way the Government needs and people still aren't feeling hopeful.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks EDB and joining me now.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Is New Zealand Herald Deputy Political editor Adam Pierce. Good morning, Adam.

Speaker 3 (00:18):
Good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
It's a bit of a tough week for the government
and as you're not that much better for the opposition
and I'm thinking about the mood of the boardroom survey here,
So what now, what next? How does the government get
themselves back into the good books.

Speaker 3 (00:35):
Well, it's a tough question and when you look at
the strategy that they've pursued thus far, it does come
down to economic recovery. And you know when you see
you look at the findings of the mood of the boardroom,
it could have been a lot worse. You know, the
survey closed before the latest GDP figures came out, which
sodd point nine economic contracts, so you know that feedback
could have been could have been much worse. I mean,

(00:56):
it wasn't all bad. You know, you had the support
for the fast track process and you see those projects
getting underway a lot between now and the end of
the year and the boosts they like that, but the
clear message is having a clearer strategy on those big
national issues and just getting to them faster. But at
the end of the day, you know, there's only so much.

(01:18):
There's only so much that the government can do. If
the economy is not if the economy is not moving,
if the economy is not improving at the rate they
need it to to be able to really boost those
ratings and get people feeling as though their wages are
growing and their and the economy is getting back on track,
then there's not a lot they can do.

Speaker 2 (01:36):
So does it come down to messaging at them, Well,
a lot of it.

Speaker 3 (01:40):
A lot of it is and you've seen consistent messaging
from Christopher Luxe and Nikola willis that they you know,
that it's a turnaround job and that there's a two
spared economy, and you know, you hear from a lot
of people that that is the case. You're looking at
areas like christ Church Hawks Bay as well are both
referenced as areas. Particularly when it comes to haut of culture,
the primary industry. You know, we hear a lot about

(02:02):
how that's going very very well overseas, but people aren't
in Auckland and Wellington, and I think the government really
accepts that, but how quickly they can turn that around
will be key in terms of moving that public sentiment.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
And of course, you know you mentioned that GDP figure
and we're talking about sort of this lack of productivity
and quite a lot of it has come down to
the cost of energy. And I believe that there is
an energy announcement today. Is that correct?

Speaker 3 (02:29):
Well, it will be coming soon, okay, when we're not sure.
The reform has been described as significant but surgical, So
take from that what you will. I mean, energy was
a massive point that was raised through the mood of
the border and feedback that they that is a key issue,
particularly from a business perspective, and we saw a story

(02:50):
from my college, Jamien saw a Curier pole commissioned by
the Auckland Business Chamber and this energy had some interesting
insights there. So sixty two percent of people supported the
government underwriting the cost of new electricity generations. About twenty
one percent we're against that. About half of people actually
supported breaking up the gentailor so that's separating the generation

(03:14):
and the retail arms. About twenty percent post that, well,
about a third, well, I'm sure, so there's certainly appetite
in the public for for change in the sector. It
will just depend on who wins the battle in cabinet
now Shane Jones in New Zealand. First, they're big supporters
of intervention to lower power prices, which will also it
will aid Shane Jones' regional development aspirations. Obviously, you know

(03:37):
everyone will have seen the middle closures in small town
New Zealand, which is really painful for those communities. At
the other end of the spectrum though, you have ACT
which is going to oppose this kind of intervention. You know,
we just want to leave it up to the market
and then you've got the mats in the middle. So
we should get a good sense of how that debate

(03:59):
has gone on in cabinet once we see this announcement,
which should be coming in the coming days.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
Thanks so much, Adam, appreciate that.

Speaker 1 (04:08):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
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