Govt prefers households take the pain instead

The Kākā by Bernard Hickey · Mar 16, 2026 · 14m

Briefly in the news in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty Tuesday, March 17:

* Finance Minister Nicola Willis has spelled out the terms of any Government help for households dealing with the fuel cost shock from the war in Iran, saying any help would have to be ‘timely, targeted and temporary,’ and could not worsen the Government’s Budget position.

* She said the Government did not want to cut fuel taxes or suspend future fuel tax increases because drivers who didn’t need the help would also get the help, and it would increase Government borrowing.

* Willis also…