Money
Covid-19: United States wants to borrow record $US3tn
The United States says it wants to borrow a record $US3tn in the second quarter, as coronavirus-related rescue packages blow up the budget.
Social Development Ministry preparing for wave of unemployment - leaked documents
Leaked Ministry of Social Development documents show the agency is planning for hundreds of thousands of extra people to apply for benefits as Covid-19 creates a tidal wave of unemployment.
RNZ… Video, Audio
Some consumers left with no refunds after travel cancellations
Some travellers who's trips have been cancelled are not seeing a full refund, but Flight Centre has reneged on its initial refusal to give money back. Jessica Wilson from Consumer NZ explains what… Audio
Big investors echo calls for sustainable recovery
Institutional investor groups are the latest voices calling for government's around the world to plan for a sustainable recovery from Covid-19. The Investor Group on on Climate Change represents… Audio
Drought stretches on amid pandemic
Farmers in Hawke's Bay say their problems with drought are becoming desperate, especially in the central and southern parts of the district.
Not only is there little grass available in the paddocks… Audio
Banks defend Covid-19 response after criticism they aren't doing enough
Large retail banks have come under fire for not doing enough to support those struggling financially during the lockdown.
Coronavirus: Infrastructure NZ backs consenting changes
Reform of the Resource Management Act can't come soon enough.
That's the view of Infrastructure New Zealand, which says the Act is cumbersome, complex, and not fit to help recovery from the Covid-19… Audio
Coronavirus: Banks' relief efforts not enough
High street banks are taking flak for not doing enough to support those Kiwis who are struggling financially during the Covid-19 lockdown. Critics say efforts trumpeted loudly as "customer care", such… Audio
Budgeting services want their budget doubled
Budgeting services are calling for a doubling of their funding to help deal with an expected tidal wave of people seeking help.
An idea to fix the media funding model
We speak to Eric Crampton the Chief Economist at the New Zealand Initiative. Audio
Coronavirus: Fewer foreign students in NZ than first thought
New figures show the number of international students in the country is even lower than first thought.
Immigration New Zealand says there are just 51,500 people with valid study visas in the country… Audio
Coronavirus: Transmission Gully facing further delays
Wellington's billion dollar Transmission Gully highway is facing new delays as work on the four lane highway is drastically curtailed.
Many of the roading sub-contractors are no longer employed and… Audio
The troubling economics of cruise ships
If the cruise industry sinks due to Covid-19, journalist Zachary Crockett will have limited sympathy for the big companies. Crockett decided to dive into the industry and found some questionable facts… Audio
Inside Colombia's cocaine cartels
War correspondent Toby Muse spent 15 years living in Colombia and gained an unprecedented level of access to the local drug cartels. His new book, Kilo, traces the life cycle of a kilogram of cocaine.
…Govt pledges interest-free loans to small businesses
The government is to give small businesses interest free loans to help them with the economic turmoil post-lockdown.
The Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme will provide assistance of up to a… Audio
Is new loan scheme enough to help small businesses?
A loan scheme to assist small to medium businesses set to be announced today, could be the answer to the cashflow problems faced by the sector.
The Small Business Cashflow Scheme was part of the… Audio
Coronavirus: Loan shark bill accelerated through Parliament
A long held plan to change rules around high-interest loans was accelerated through Parliament yesterday, forming part of a Covid-19 Response bill that becomes law once it is granted Royal Assent.
… Audio
Top Stories for Friday 1 May 2020
Coronavirus: Tourism industry wants travel allowed at Level 2; Coronavirus: Fast food workers feeling unsafe on the job; Coronavirus: Countdown installs temperature scanners for staff; Coronavirus… Audio
$7.4m loss not as bad as expected at NZ Rugby
New Zealand Rugby's top decision makers opened the books on the state of the country's biggest sport today.
The national body was expecting to make a substantial loss last year - but things turned… Audio
Sepuloni refuses law change to help desperate migrant workers
The Minister of Social Development is under growing pressure to do more to help migrant workers in desperate circumstances after losing their jobs due to Covid-19 lockdown and who are unable to access… Video, Audio
