Roman Travers: It seems the Associate Health Minister has lost the plot

For the record, New Zealand doesn’t have a minister for the tobacco industry. Or does it?

The Associate Health Minister, Casey Costello is being labelled by some as the Minister for the Tobacco Industry, based on a proposal that’s yet to be confirmed by Casey Costello, that she wants to see a 3-year freeze on the tobacco tax.

Roman Travers: What is achieved by Mitre 10 changing the names?

More so than ever, we live in a world where virtually everyone is outraged or offended more frequently.

There’s never been anything wrong with being outraged or offended – the difference in recent years is that we don’t only want to tell everyone who’ll listen about how we feel, we also want to shame the offender into stopping what they’re doing. We want to cancel them.

Roman Travers: How NZ sits on the global financial stage

It's been 27 days since New Zealand general election.

27 days of relative peace, calm, and tranquillity, even though our GDP resembles a 737; out of gas and plummeting to earth at less than 1% growth.

Isn't it luxurious to live in a country where perhaps our biggest problem is wondering if the pre-election promises will be fulfilled to turn everything around?

Roman Travers: Any political party - just promise to fix NZ and then actually fix it once you’ve won

Getting to work on time isn’t usually an issue for me.

I have a well-staged and orchestrated routine that has me rolling out of bed on the first alarm, staggering with mediocre accuracy to the bathroom where I plunge my freshly light tortured eyes and body into an overly hot shower, before dressing at fireman like speed and sliding down the lift shaft to my Newstalk ZB racing car.

Roman Travers: The only way we can make a difference is you and me choosing where we bank

Yesterday's news that another of our major banks has made another record profit, just about had me falling off my financially unstable rocking horse.

ASB have reported another record annual profit in the same week that the TSB have said they'll be closing seven of their 25 branches, even though they are rated highly in customer service and satisfaction surveys.

Roman Travers: Remember, no politician can determine your future

Look, when it comes to having a political view and an editorial opportunity, the expectation is often that I should combine the two and become outraged about something that is or isn’t being done in a way to compel you to think differently or collusively direct you on how to use your two ticks on October 14.

Although I’m a strong believer in exercising our democratic right to vote, I’m also collectively conflicted and compelled to convince you to think carefully before unleashing your two ticks upon your voting form.

Roman Travers: How do NZ's primary industries diversify to keep ahead of global markets?

You'll be well and truly aware that when our primary producers do well, the whole country benefits.

When our farmers, orchardists and horticulturalists make a decent living, they’re able to invest a new capital and clear debt. That all trickles down through to our towns and cities.

Those selling farm implements, car dealers with the latest utes and farm to town cars for the family, boarding schools looking to increase their roles, and the likes of appliance clothing retailers, all reap the benefits of a good harvest.

The problem is that for a long time, even with decent payouts, the rate of inflation and rising costs has absorbed a lot of that disposable income.

Some in the dairy sector have commented about the excitement of increased payouts due to success at the global dairy auction - only to have their margins smashed with rising costs.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel.