Damien Grant: Nicola Willis talks fiscal discipline — then Winston Peters enters the chat

We saw two very different visions of our economic future last week, from two parties in the same government. Let’s take a closer look.

Nicola Willis has discovered fiscal discipline. She has promised her budget will begin a process of reducing the public service headcount by nearly nine thousand and cutting most agencies operating budgets by 2% in the coming year and 5% in subsequent years.

DTNZ: Peters unveils KiwiSaver-from-birth scheme and BNZ buyback plan

NZ First leader Winston Peters has announced a pair of major economic policies, including compulsory KiwiSaver enrolment at birth with a $1000 Crown contribution and a proposal to buy back the Bank of New Zealand from Australian ownership.

Speaking at a campaign event in West Auckland today Peters said every New Zealand citizen would automatically become a KiwiSaver member at birth under what he called the “KiwiSaver Generation” policy.