In December it was reported by Child Poverty Action Group that ethical lending schemes should be a model for adoption nationwide. They referenced Ngā Tangata Microfinance, a not for profit organisation designed as an alternative to the more merciless loan shark type models of lending companies.
Loan sharks often force families into an endless cycle of debt. Ngā Tangata Microfinance on the other hand provide no-interest loans to qualifying clients for family well-being and relief from high interest debt. A report from the organisation says this type of loan has improved people’s well being and reduced stress. It is estimated the loans have saved recipients collectively over a million dollars in interest and other charges. Lillian Hanly speaks with Robert Choy, the Executive Officer of the organisation.
Last week, a number of researchers presented the government with modelling on the vaccination rates required to protect New Zealanders in the coming years. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to one of the researchers, Professor Shaun Hendy, about the models and their implications. They also discussed New Zealanders' attitudes towards lockdown, whether the government could have prepared better in their rollout, and how Auckland's housing crisis is exacerbating the pandemic.
Congratulations are in order for NZ's first family - and being a recent(ish) father himself, Mike's as pleased as punch. And just what is a piece of errant budget modelling code? Or, more importantly, _whose responsibility_ is a piece of errant budget modelling code?
Sam mans the Breakfast ship this morning! Dr Kirsten Zemke brings us Afrobeats on Travelling Tunes. Sam speaks to Rachael Norcross, guitarist and vocalist of Model Home about the band’s new debut album, out today, titled ...And Nobody Made A Sound. Joel Armstrong is our Viewmaster, reviewing the One Piece live action, streaming on Netflix. Whakarongo mai nei!
Today on your bFM Breakfast: as Winston steps up, Dr. Bryce gives us the low-down; Troy wants to sway Mikey's feelings about sax - all the while discussing the important stuff a.k.a Crash Bandicoot or Sonic the Hedgehog; and, oh yeah, best wishes to the PM on this exciting day - Jacinda's in Labour! (sorry.)
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On Tuesday, the Treasury announced some unemployment figures based on modelling from different scenarios relating to the Covid19 pandemic and our subsequent rāhui.
The scenarios show:
That unemployment can be kept below 10%, and return to 5% in 2021 with additional Government support. Work is already well advanced on further fiscal support.
Without additional support, unemployment could have hit 13.5% under scenario 1 (four weeks in Level 4), while scenarios requiring more time in Level 4 showed a peak of 17.5%-26%.
New Zealand’s underlying strength means the economy can bounce back to be $70 billion larger by 2024 than in 2019.
So, the best outlook we are dealing with at the moment is an increase in unemployment to just under 10 percent, and some commentators have pointed out this number is already a reality for Māori. So! What does this all mean? And what effect will Covid19 have on the economic system in general? To get some idea, Lillian Hanly rang Rod Oram. They started off by talking about the figures but ended up talking about Capitalism more generally.
Image credit:
Original image from Harvard Business Review | Animation by Thomas Fink-Jensen
New legislation will see councils directly own and operate public transport services, a move which Transport Minister Michael Wood claims will alleviate worker shortages and give local authorities greater flexibility.
The changes will see the existing, long-running operating model be replaced with a Sustainable Public Transport Framework.
Emily spoke with New Zealand Bus and Coach Association Chief Executive Ben McFadgen about the changes.
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