December 8, 2025 • 8 mins
Falls for the Greens and Te Pati Maori in the latest 1 News Verian Poll - which gives the coalition more than enough seats to govern.
National is on 36 percent, up two - while Act is also up two to 10 percent, and New Zealand First steady on nine.
In the left bloc, Labour was up three to 35, but the Greens dropped four to seven, and Te Pati Maori - after weeks of infighting - fell two points to one percent.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge they're focused on doing things to make sure people are better off, can get ahead, and have strong public services.
She says it's positive to see that most people, if given the chance to vote tomorrow - would re-elect the current Government.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now this pole from TV and Z, the variant pole,
is all the reason you need to know as to
why you don't roll the leader of your party, why
Luckxeon should still have the job. National is up to
on thirty six percent, Labour is on thirty five, they're
up three, act Is on ten, up two, New Zealand
first on nine steady, the Greens down four on seven percent,
(00:21):
Party Marti on one, down two. So you've got National,
Act and New Zealand first they can govern together. Preferred
Prime Minister stakes, Well, Luckson's actually up to on twenty three.
Chris Hipkins is up three, but he's on twenty one,
so Luxon's still out ahead. Chris Bishop registered for the
first time at two percent. Now you don't roll a
leader when the main contender is on two percent, do
(00:43):
you now? The interesting thing about this pole, as previous
has shown, is that in order for even if you
don't trust Winston, you think Winston will go with Labor
still only get to fifty four seats, don't have enough
to govern, So that would require Winston having to go
with Labour and the Greens and potentially to Party Mary,
which I think is a step too far. Nichola Willis
is the Finance Minister, joins us live good evening, Good evening.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Ron.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
You happy with those results?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, as we always say, polls go up and down,
and we're focused on doing the things to make sure
New Zealanders are better off. They can get ahead and
they've got strong public services and that's positive to see
that most New Zealanders, if they had the chance to
vote tomorrow, would re elect our current government.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
So long as Winston goes with you.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Well, he is currently part of the government.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Do you feel like you've made the right decision in
sticking with the boss?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
There was never a question about that.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Hey Costa so formerly obviously boss of Social Investment Agency.
What did you make of his interview over the weekend.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Ah, I'm not going to get into commenting on an
interview that was commenting on people's comments on a report
that was published. The clear thing is that the Independent
Police Complaints Authority found very clear failings at police under
mister Costa's leadership. He's reflected on that and I think
made the right decision to resign from his role as
the chief executive of the Public Social Investment Agency. And
(02:08):
as far as i'm concerned. That's the line that we
need to draw. Moving ahead, what's really important is that
police make the changes needed to ensure that if any
other young woman presents in the way that the woman
at the center of this complaint did, that she gets
treated a whole lot better.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
The problem for you, though, Minister, is you recommended him
for this job you question.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
So that is not a problem for me, Ryan, because
in fact, mister Costa was appointed on the twenty fourth
of September in twenty twenty four, and the complaints about
Deputy Commissioner MC skimming were not made until the tenth
of October. They were not referred to the DA until
after mister Costa's appointment.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Had been But when did he start the job? Not
until after you were told?
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Well, actually I was not told about the ins and
the outs of what mister Costa had or hadn't done.
In fact, what the ips we're investigating was the way
that complaints about mix skimming were handled, and it was
appropriate that a full investigation take place before people leapt
to conclusions about what that investigation would say. Then a
report was published, the government acted swiftly to respond to
(03:17):
those conclusions. We've accepted all of its conclusions, and mister
Costa has now resigned.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
What's the public mean to think? I mean, you've got
a guy that you appointed for a job now saying
that one of your colleagues, Mark Mitchell, a minister, is
basically a liar. Who do we believe?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Well, I believe Mark Mitchell.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
So cost is lying, well, I.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Believe Mark Mitchell when he says that he was not
briefed at the tap.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Which means just say you think cost is lying.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, I'm not going to get into a who said what,
except to say that I believe mister Mitchell.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Okay, all right, I think that's clear enough. Hey, this
tax pos union campaign that they're going to launch apparently
on Thursday, are you worried about Do you know who's
funding it? Have you found that out?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
No, I'm not worried about it. Look, democracy is people
have debates about the different ways of addressing issues. Clearly
Ruth Richardson wants a repeat of the Mother of All budgets. Well,
I'm not going to do that, and I make no
apologies for taking an approach which means that we are
getting the books back in balance, we are ensuring that
(04:26):
there's less extravagant spending by government. We are ensuring that
we'll get our debt down over time. That's the right
thing to do, but it's also the right thing to
do to keep delivering New Zealanders, quality education services, quality
health services, more police on the front line, to ensure
that there is a social safety net. Now, Ruth Richardson
may want a slash and burn exercise, I don't. She's
(04:49):
absolutely welcome to campaign against this government's approach, but I
stand by it.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
So you're not going to push the surpace out again?
What do you mean you have to hay for? You're
not going to push the surpace again?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Well, I am going to stick to the undertakings which
our government has made about retaining fiscal discipline, and I
will be publishing updated forecasts on what the books will
look like next week.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Yeah, but hang on that. You have said that twenty
twenty nine will be the ober Gallex surplus. It'll be small,
but we'll get there. Are we not going to get there?
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Well, what I have said is that that's what the
forecasts showed at the last budget update, and I will
share the next forecast next week. And despite you being
a very good interviewer Ryan, I'm not going to reveal
what the forecasts say a week early, just as I'm
on news talk Z Beata.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Let's forget the forecasts. Do you stick by your promise
to get us back to surplus by twenty twenty nine?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
In terms of our fiscal strategy, we retain the intention
to return to surplus, and what the forecasts will show
I will share next week.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
So your commitment stands.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
We are committed to returning the books to surplus, and
I will be sharing the forecasts about what the books
will look like.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Forget about yeah, no, no, forget about the books. I'm asking you,
as a politician, on the promise you've made to return
to serplace by twenty twenty nine. Is it happening or not?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Well? Actually, what I have had is a fiscal intention
which is part of our fiscal strategy, which has been
to return.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Not a promletless.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
We have always sad as well. Under the Public Finance Act,
we need to set out fiscal intentions about how we
wish to manage the public finances, and I've set an
intention by which we intend to reach surplus. You'll note
that at the last half year update we head downward
(06:44):
revisions in the forecasts, and at that point we also
revised the ober gall X measure. And we have intended
always to keep to our operating allowances, which are the
discretionary spending choices. And in fact, and this year's budget,
we reduced our operating allowance.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
But you can in order to dissip the books will
say what the book, the forecast will say, what the
forecast will say. If you want to get to surplus,
you can get to surplus, you just cut more. Are
you going to do it or not?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I do not intend to cut my operating allowances further
than that which we published at the budget.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
So we are at risk of delaying surplus.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Again, that is always the case that forecasts move up
and down, and that has an effect on when surplus
is posted or not. In fact, on average, in fifty
percent of cases, it's up to seven billion dollars out.
I will be publishing the forecasts transparently and openly next week,
and I will share those with New Zealanders at that point,
(07:40):
and I make this commitment to everyone listening. We will
be sticking to disciplined government spending. We will be retaining
our intention to get the books back to surplus to
get debt leveling of by when spending is a proportion
of the economy reduces, I will set that out.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Very Lukes is sounding and slippery as a turd in
the spring rain.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Well, here's why. Because I announced these budget sensitive, market
sensitive pieces of data next week. There's a full lock
up at that point. If I ribble out some of
that information today in an undisciplined way, that is not
good for the market. That's not good for anyone. And
I will be sharing that information in full with all
New Zealanders next week. And when you interview me about
(08:25):
that next week, I will answer every single question in detail.
But what I'm not going to do is release the
details of that half yer update today.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Nkotle Well, iss appreciate your time tonight, Finance Minister. For
more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to News
Talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
Now this pole from TV and Z, the variant pole,
is all the reason you need to know as to
why you don't roll the leader of your party, why
Luckxeon should still have the job. National is up to
on thirty six percent, Labour is on thirty five, they're
up three, act Is on ten, up two, New Zealand
first on nine steady, the Greens down four on seven percent,
(00:21):
Party Marti on one, down two. So you've got National,
Act and New Zealand first they can govern together. Preferred
Prime Minister stakes, Well, Luckson's actually up to on twenty three.
Chris Hipkins is up three, but he's on twenty one,
so Luxon's still out ahead. Chris Bishop registered for the
first time at two percent. Now you don't roll a
leader when the main contender is on two percent, do
(00:43):
you now? The interesting thing about this pole, as previous
has shown, is that in order for even if you
don't trust Winston, you think Winston will go with Labor
still only get to fifty four seats, don't have enough
to govern, So that would require Winston having to go
with Labour and the Greens and potentially to Party Mary,
which I think is a step too far. Nichola Willis
is the Finance Minister, joins us live good evening, Good evening.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Ron.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
You happy with those results?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, as we always say, polls go up and down,
and we're focused on doing the things to make sure
New Zealanders are better off. They can get ahead and
they've got strong public services and that's positive to see
that most New Zealanders, if they had the chance to
vote tomorrow, would re elect our current government.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
So long as Winston goes with you.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Well, he is currently part of the government.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Do you feel like you've made the right decision in
sticking with the boss?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
There was never a question about that.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Hey Costa so formerly obviously boss of Social Investment Agency.
What did you make of his interview over the weekend.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Ah, I'm not going to get into commenting on an
interview that was commenting on people's comments on a report
that was published. The clear thing is that the Independent
Police Complaints Authority found very clear failings at police under
mister Costa's leadership. He's reflected on that and I think
made the right decision to resign from his role as
the chief executive of the Public Social Investment Agency. And
(02:08):
as far as i'm concerned. That's the line that we
need to draw. Moving ahead, what's really important is that
police make the changes needed to ensure that if any
other young woman presents in the way that the woman
at the center of this complaint did, that she gets
treated a whole lot better.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
The problem for you, though, Minister, is you recommended him
for this job you question.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
So that is not a problem for me, Ryan, because
in fact, mister Costa was appointed on the twenty fourth
of September in twenty twenty four, and the complaints about
Deputy Commissioner MC skimming were not made until the tenth
of October. They were not referred to the DA until
after mister Costa's appointment.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Had been But when did he start the job? Not
until after you were told?
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Well, actually I was not told about the ins and
the outs of what mister Costa had or hadn't done.
In fact, what the ips we're investigating was the way
that complaints about mix skimming were handled, and it was
appropriate that a full investigation take place before people leapt
to conclusions about what that investigation would say. Then a
report was published, the government acted swiftly to respond to
(03:17):
those conclusions. We've accepted all of its conclusions, and mister
Costa has now resigned.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
What's the public mean to think? I mean, you've got
a guy that you appointed for a job now saying
that one of your colleagues, Mark Mitchell, a minister, is
basically a liar. Who do we believe?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Well, I believe Mark Mitchell.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
So cost is lying, well, I.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Believe Mark Mitchell when he says that he was not
briefed at the tap.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Which means just say you think cost is lying.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, I'm not going to get into a who said what,
except to say that I believe mister Mitchell.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Okay, all right, I think that's clear enough. Hey, this
tax pos union campaign that they're going to launch apparently
on Thursday, are you worried about Do you know who's
funding it? Have you found that out?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
No, I'm not worried about it. Look, democracy is people
have debates about the different ways of addressing issues. Clearly
Ruth Richardson wants a repeat of the Mother of All budgets. Well,
I'm not going to do that, and I make no
apologies for taking an approach which means that we are
getting the books back in balance, we are ensuring that
(04:26):
there's less extravagant spending by government. We are ensuring that
we'll get our debt down over time. That's the right
thing to do, but it's also the right thing to
do to keep delivering New Zealanders, quality education services, quality
health services, more police on the front line, to ensure
that there is a social safety net. Now, Ruth Richardson
may want a slash and burn exercise, I don't. She's
(04:49):
absolutely welcome to campaign against this government's approach, but I
stand by it.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
So you're not going to push the surpace out again?
What do you mean you have to hay for? You're
not going to push the surpace again?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Well, I am going to stick to the undertakings which
our government has made about retaining fiscal discipline, and I
will be publishing updated forecasts on what the books will
look like next week.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Yeah, but hang on that. You have said that twenty
twenty nine will be the ober Gallex surplus. It'll be small,
but we'll get there. Are we not going to get there?
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Well, what I have said is that that's what the
forecasts showed at the last budget update, and I will
share the next forecast next week. And despite you being
a very good interviewer Ryan, I'm not going to reveal
what the forecasts say a week early, just as I'm
on news talk Z Beata.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Let's forget the forecasts. Do you stick by your promise
to get us back to surplus by twenty twenty nine?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
In terms of our fiscal strategy, we retain the intention
to return to surplus, and what the forecasts will show
I will share next week.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
So your commitment stands.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
We are committed to returning the books to surplus, and
I will be sharing the forecasts about what the books
will look like.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Forget about yeah, no, no, forget about the books. I'm asking you,
as a politician, on the promise you've made to return
to serplace by twenty twenty nine. Is it happening or not?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Well? Actually, what I have had is a fiscal intention
which is part of our fiscal strategy, which has been
to return.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Not a promletless.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
We have always sad as well. Under the Public Finance Act,
we need to set out fiscal intentions about how we
wish to manage the public finances, and I've set an
intention by which we intend to reach surplus. You'll note
that at the last half year update we head downward
(06:44):
revisions in the forecasts, and at that point we also
revised the ober gall X measure. And we have intended
always to keep to our operating allowances, which are the
discretionary spending choices. And in fact, and this year's budget,
we reduced our operating allowance.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
But you can in order to dissip the books will
say what the book, the forecast will say, what the
forecast will say. If you want to get to surplus,
you can get to surplus, you just cut more. Are
you going to do it or not?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I do not intend to cut my operating allowances further
than that which we published at the budget.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
So we are at risk of delaying surplus.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Again, that is always the case that forecasts move up
and down, and that has an effect on when surplus
is posted or not. In fact, on average, in fifty
percent of cases, it's up to seven billion dollars out.
I will be publishing the forecasts transparently and openly next week,
and I will share those with New Zealanders at that point,
(07:40):
and I make this commitment to everyone listening. We will
be sticking to disciplined government spending. We will be retaining
our intention to get the books back to surplus to
get debt leveling of by when spending is a proportion
of the economy reduces, I will set that out.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Very Lukes is sounding and slippery as a turd in
the spring rain.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Well, here's why. Because I announced these budget sensitive, market
sensitive pieces of data next week. There's a full lock
up at that point. If I ribble out some of
that information today in an undisciplined way, that is not
good for the market. That's not good for anyone. And
I will be sharing that information in full with all
New Zealanders next week. And when you interview me about
(08:25):
that next week, I will answer every single question in detail.
But what I'm not going to do is release the
details of that half yer update today.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Nkotle Well, iss appreciate your time tonight, Finance Minister. For
more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to News
Talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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