Calling b******t on a pro-cyclical tightening of fiscal policy

The Kākā by Bernard Hickey · May 4, 2025 · 25m

Briefly, here’s the six big things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate in the week to Sunday, May 4:

* In response to slower global growth and wider deficit forecasts, Nicola Willis signalled another $4.4 billion in spending cuts over the next four years, all to get an uncertain extra 5-10 basis points of cuts in interest rates. See more below

* Over 5,500 hospital doctors struck on Thursday against a Health NZ pay offer of 1.5% per year, which would cut their pay in real terms and do little to fill the staffing holes that cost $380 million a year to…