Patrick O'meara
Govt told to focus on fixing social ills not debt or tax cuts
The budget surplus more than quadrupled in the year to June. Should the Government loosen the purse strings and fix the country's growing social ills rather than than bribe people with tax cuts? Audio
Morning Markets for 14 October 2016
A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio
Unions say practice of low hours widespread among retailers
Unite Union is taking Burger King and McDonald's to court, arguing they're cheating their staff of their rights to guaranteed hours and shifts. Audio
Kiwisaver funds for first homes doubles to $500m
The amount of Kiwisaver money used to help people get a foot on the property ladder has more than doubled to nearly half a billion dollars. Audio
More Kiwisaver members taking contribution holiday
Increasing numbers of Kiwisaver members are halting payments into the scheme, raising fears that households are digging into their retirement nest eggs to make ends meet. Audio
Early Business News for 29 September 2016
A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio
Banking expert says LVR exemptions for first home buyers admin
Exempting first home buyers from lending restrictions may create more problems that it solves, a banking expert says. Audio
Morning Markets for 26 September 2016
A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio
Fonterra posts $834 million year profit
The country's biggest company, Fonterra's annual profit has surged by two thirds to $834 million, despite low milk prices. Video, Audio
RBNZ set to hold interest rates today
The Reserve Bank seems certain to sit on the sidelines when it issues its latest interest rate review statement at nine o'clock. Audio
Council limits on borrowing prompts calls for creative thinking
Struggling councils are feeling the strain as they're warned traditional ways of funding essential projects won't be enough to get them through. Population shifts towards fast growing regions are… Audio
NZ economy forges ahead, with GDP growing 3.6% in a year
New Zealand's surging housing market is pushing the economy ahead, with gross domestic product up 3.6% for the year. Economics correspondent Patrick O'Meara reports. Audio
Investors warned to tread carefully amid booming sharemarket
Analysts are picking a market correction is on the cards, and say central banks have done little more than sew the seeds for another crash, despite a booming sharemarket. Audio
Trans-Atlantic trade deal in doubt
Another big trade deal is in doubt. The controversial TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, known as Tee-TIP, is under threat, with German and French Ministers declaring the talks have… Audio
Air NZ annual profit up 42 percent
Air New Zealand's profit has soared to its highest in the airline's 78-year history. The airline made $463 million in the year to June, up 42 percent on a year ago. Video, Audio
Fonterra raises forecast payout but caution remains
Debt-laden dairy farmers have been given some relief after Fonterra raised its forecast payout by 50 cents to $4.75 a kilogram of milk solids. Audio
Former US trade tzar says TPP needs to be re-opened
Clayton Yeutter, a former US trade representative is warning that the TPP agreement may have to be renegotiated if it's going to survive. Our economics correspondent, Patrick O'Meara reports. Audio
Music industry wants TPP copyright phase in to be dropped
The music industry says the phase in period to extend copyright from 50 to 70 years under the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement is cumbersome and costly. Audio
Analyst confident economy creating jobs, despite survey caution
Analysts are confident the economy is creating more jobs, though they say new figures showing a slight drop in unemployment need to be treated with care. Audio
Labour says RBNZ has lost its grip on inflation and dollar
Has the Reserve Bank lost its grip on inflation and the dollar? The official cash rate is now at a record low Our economics correspondent Patrick O'Meara talks to Susie Ferguson. Audio
