“Given that these issues are important to all New Zealanders, the Taxpayers’ Union Chair [Richardson] is willing to debate Minister Willis so long as it is a substantive discussion, rather than performative theatre.”
The spokesperson proposed hosting the “round table discussion” next Thursday morning in a “studio in Wellington moderated by an appropriately economically knowledgeable journalist or commentator”.
The Spinoff editor-at-large Toby Manhire had been tipped as Willis’ preferred moderator.
The union spokesperson nominated former ANZ chief economist Cameron Bagrie, describing him as a “neutral but expert moderator”.
“That way, it’s a serious debate on how best to get New Zealand’s books into shape, rather than personal attacks or a distraction from the real issues.”
The statement said it would be livestreamed and available to all media. A debate on Thursday morning would mean both Willis and Richardson would be able to use data from the annual half year economic and fiscal update, announced on Tuesday.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Willis said: “There are still a few details to be sorted out, but it’s looking more promising than 24 hours ago.”
Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen, reacting to the union’s statement, condemned the proposed timing as “particularly dumb”, given the latest GDP data from the September quarter is due to be released on Thursday morning.
“Don’t do it when GDP is coming out because that would distract from more important things,” he said.
Olsen, who emphasised he had no dog in this fight, suggested any distraction from a key economic data release would be seen as “self-serving” and would only degrade coverage of both the GDP data and the debate.
He also questioned what would come of the debate, given neither Willis nor Richardson was likely to change their views.
“I don’t think it’s going to matter a great deal,” Olsen said of the debate.
The Taxpayers’ Union launched its anti-Willis campaign on Thursday this week: boxes of fudge, punningly accusing Willis of fudging promises on debt and spending.
Public Service Association (PSA) national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons has called the debate a “false flag operation” designed to make Willis look more moderate than she actually is.
Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.
