When the Facts Change

Bernard Hickey’s essential weekly guide to the intersection of economics, business and politics in Aotearoa. Created by The Spinoff together with Kiwibank.

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Latest Episodes

14 May 2021

What have we got to lose by standing up to China?

Bernard Hickey talks to Natasha Hamilton-Hart from the University of Auckland business school and Sam Roggeveen from Australia’s Lowy Institute about why we should stop worrying about trade and stand up to China on human rights abuses.

New Zealand has made international headlines in recent weeks for deciding to take the word “genocide” out of a parliamentary motion criticising China for its treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang province. Basically, we were afraid it would hurt our trade relationship. In this episode, Bernard Hickey wants to change… New Zealand has made international headlines in recent weeks for deciding to take the word “genocide” out of a parliamentary motion criticising China for its treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang province. Basically, we were afraid it would hurt our trade relationship. In this episode, Bernard Hickey wants to change our minds on how New Zealand deals with China, and explain why we should follow Australia's lead and stop worrying so much about trade and start standing up for our views on human rights. To find out more, he talks to Natasha Hamilton-Hart from the department of management and international business at the University of Auckland business school, before Sam Roggeveen from the Lowy Institute offers an Australian perspective. When the Facts Change is brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank. Follow When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

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11 May 2021

Bonus episode: Sustainability with Kiwibank’s Julia Jackson

The Spinoff business editor Michael Andrew is joined by Kiwibank sustainability lead Julia Jackson to talk about the evolving concept of sustainability, its growing influence on businesses and how New Zealanders can better integrate it into their lives.

The Spinoff business editor Michael Andrew is joined by Kiwibank sustainability lead Julia Jackson to talk about the evolving concept of sustainability, its growing influence on businesses and how New Zealanders can better integrate it into their lives. When the Facts Change is brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast… The Spinoff business editor Michael Andrew is joined by Kiwibank sustainability lead Julia Jackson to talk about the evolving concept of sustainability, its growing influence on businesses and how New Zealanders can better integrate it into their lives. When the Facts Change is brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank. Follow When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

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7 May 2021

The value of investing in health and happiness

How does a government work out the best way to spend money to maximise not just GDP but the long-term health and happiness of its population?

How does a government work out the best way to spend money to maximise not just GDP but the long-term health and happiness of its population? This is something our government is trying to do, or says it’s trying to do – but when it comes to the wellbeing side… How does a government work out the best way to spend money to maximise not just GDP but the long-term health and happiness of its population? This is something our government is trying to do, or says it’s trying to do – but when it comes to the wellbeing side of the equation, is it doing a good enough job? In this episode, Bernard Hickey talks to Girol Karacaoglu, head of the school of government at Victoria University and one of the architects of the way New Zealand analyses happiness. He then talks to Susan St John, an economist at the University of Auckland’s business school who has an interesting take on what we should be spending our money on. When the Facts Change is brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank. Follow When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

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30 April 2021

What will the Reserve Bank’s decisions mean for house prices?

Bernard Hickey talks to Valocity Global CEO Carmen Vicelich and Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr about the big decisions being made by the Reserve Bank at the moment.

Imagine if the value of your house doubled overnight. Could that actually happen? In this week’s episode, Bernard Hickey explains how it could – and how the Reserve Bank and government are doing things in the next couple of weeks to make sure it doesn’t. To find out more about… Imagine if the value of your house doubled overnight. Could that actually happen? In this week’s episode, Bernard Hickey explains how it could – and how the Reserve Bank and government are doing things in the next couple of weeks to make sure it doesn’t. To find out more about how banks, lending and the housing market all operate, Bernard talks to Carmen Vicelich, CEO of Valocity Global. She knows exactly how banks decide who to lend to, when to lend to them and how much the property under the loan is worth. He then asks Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr what type of restrictions the Reserve Bank could apply in the coming weeks, and just how landlords are reacting to the government’s big changes announced last month. Spoiler alert: they’re not rushing for the exits. When the Facts Change is brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank. Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

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23 April 2021

New Zealand’s temporary migration scandal

Bernard Hickey talks to economist Julie Fry and Anu Kaloti from the Migrant Workers’ Association about how New Zealand is failing to live up to its image as a kind country when it comes to temporary migration.

A new report on temporary migration in New Zealand suggests the current settings are letting down migrants and contributing to a low wage, low productivity and low wellbeing society. To find out more, in this episode Bernard talks to Julie Fry, the economist who wrote the report, and asks Anu… A new report on temporary migration in New Zealand suggests the current settings are letting down migrants and contributing to a low wage, low productivity and low wellbeing society. To find out more, in this episode Bernard talks to Julie Fry, the economist who wrote the report, and asks Anu Kaloti from the Migrant Workers’ Association about the scale of temporary migrant exploitation in New Zealand and what needs to change. Because right now, we’re not exactly living up to our image as a kind country. When the Facts Change is brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank. Subscribe and listen to When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

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16 April 2021

The real fight for climate and housing action is at council level

This week we’re talking about the political economy of housing affordability and climate change, and how the big decisions in these debates are actually being made at local government level.

You may think the big decisions around housing affordability and climate change are being made in the Beehive, and that these are national policies. But in this week’s episode, Bernard suggests these issues are actually manifesting in a series of house-to-house and street-by-street fights at council level. To find out… You may think the big decisions around housing affordability and climate change are being made in the Beehive, and that these are national policies. But in this week’s episode, Bernard suggests these issues are actually manifesting in a series of house-to-house and street-by-street fights at council level. To find out more, he speaks to Tamatha Paul from the Wellington City Council and Auckland city councillor Efeso Collins about how young renters and activists wanting higher density housing and more pedestrian and cycling friendly transport routes will have to fight the battle of their lives in next year’s local elections. When the Facts Change is brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank. Subscribe and listen to When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

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15 April 2021

Bonus episode: Shannon Te Huia, Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year

In this bonus episode of When the Facts Change, The Spinoff’s business editor Michael Andrew talks with Shannon Te Huia, the 2021 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year

For the last 12 years, Kiwibank has supported the Local Hero Award, acknowledging the people making a difference to New Zealand communities. In this bonus episode of When the Facts Change, The Spinoff’s business editor Michael Andrew talks with Shannon Te Huia, the 2021 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year.… For the last 12 years, Kiwibank has supported the Local Hero Award, acknowledging the people making a difference to New Zealand communities. In this bonus episode of When the Facts Change, The Spinoff’s business editor Michael Andrew talks with Shannon Te Huia, the 2021 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year. Shannon established Pūniu River Care in 2015, a marae-based initiative designed to improve water quality and biodiversity by planting trees along the banks of the Pūniu river in the Waikato. He talks about where the idea came from, how he grew it into a viable project and what the award means to him and means for the project. When the Facts Change is brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank. Subscribe and listen to When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

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9 April 2021

Global capitalism’s ‘doom loop’ and how to stop it

Bernard Hickey talks to economists Ganesh Nana and Craig Renney about global capitalism’s ‘doom loop’ and how addressing inequality and improving productivity can help stop it.

This week we’re talking about global capitalism, and how it's in danger of destroying itself from the inside out. The concept is known as a “doom loop”: as the economy grows, those who own all the assets get more and more, those who don’t get poorer and poorer, and as… This week we’re talking about global capitalism, and how it's in danger of destroying itself from the inside out. The concept is known as a “doom loop”: as the economy grows, those who own all the assets get more and more, those who don’t get poorer and poorer, and as a result growth slows as the machine grinds to a halt. And the key to stopping this doom loop lies in addressing inequality and productivity. To explore this idea and how it affects New Zealand, Bernard Hickey talks to the Productivity Commission's Ganesh Nana and Council of Trade Unions economist Craig Renney. When the Facts Change is brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank. Subscribe and listen to When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

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1 April 2021

The rise of the work from home economy

This week we’re looking at the rise of the work from home economy that has grown out of global lockdowns.

This week we're looking at the rise of the work from home economy that has grown out of global lockdowns. Bernard talks to Dr Paula O’Kane of Otago University about the encouraging evidence around productivity and flexibility as well as the negative effects of disconnection, Zoom fatigue and the blurring… This week we're looking at the rise of the work from home economy that has grown out of global lockdowns. Bernard talks to Dr Paula O’Kane of Otago University about the encouraging evidence around productivity and flexibility as well as the negative effects of disconnection, Zoom fatigue and the blurring of work and home boundaries. He also speaks with Kiwibank’s Chief People Officer Charlotte Ward about how large organisations managed sudden remote working conditions and the long term changes being made as a result. In addition, Bernard takes a moment to reflect on the dust that has settled since last week’s housing package announcement, and he challenges the government to set a clear target for housing affordability. When the Facts Change is brought to you by The Spinoff Podcast Network together with Kiwibank. Subscribe and listen to When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

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26 March 2021

Unpacking Labour’s new housing package

The facts changed earlier this week when the government announced a major new housing package. In this episode, we’ll work out what it all means for buyers and renters.

The facts changed earlier this week when the government announced a major new housing package. In this episode, we’ll work out what it all means for buyers and renters with Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr, before talking to architectural designer, writer and housing advocate Jade Kake (Ngāti Hau, Te Parawhau,… The facts changed earlier this week when the government announced a major new housing package. In this episode, we’ll work out what it all means for buyers and renters with Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr, before talking to architectural designer, writer and housing advocate Jade Kake (Ngāti Hau, Te Parawhau, Ngāpuhi, Te Whakatōhea, Te Arawa) about a part of the market that didn’t get a lot of attention. Subscribe and listen to When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

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19 March 2021

Can NZ’s housing affordability problem ever be solved?

Welcome to When the Facts Change, a new podcast from The Spinoff together with Kiwibank. This week, we’re talking about housing.

Welcome to When the Facts Change, a new podcast from The Spinoff together with Kiwibank. Each week host Bernard Hickey and guests will be peeling back the layers of New Zealand’s economy to reveal how it’s changing our lives and our society. This week, we’re talking about housing. Bernard is… Welcome to When the Facts Change, a new podcast from The Spinoff together with Kiwibank. Each week host Bernard Hickey and guests will be peeling back the layers of New Zealand’s economy to reveal how it’s changing our lives and our society. This week, we’re talking about housing. Bernard is joined by Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr to discuss what’s going on with interest rates and whether more high-density housing will help solve our affordability issues. He then speaks with National housing spokesperson Nicola Willis about how she wants to improve the number of apartments being built, and Helen O’Sullivan, an expert on managing and developing these apartments.

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