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# Three wins for the government: Hosking backs Willis, Seymour and school reform
- URL: https://goodoil.news/three-wins-for-the-government-hosking-backs-willis-seymour-and-school-reform/
- Published: 2025-05-07T08:24:16.000Z
- Updated: 2025-05-07T23:22:00.000Z
- Description: “Financial literacy will materially improve our kids’ future. Willis and her austerity will materially improve our economy.”
- Author: Centrist
- Tags: News

Summarised by [Centrist](https://www.centrist.nz/?ref=goodoil.news)

**Mike Hosking’s latest Newstalk ZB commentary gives the government a rare triple endorsement he believes show genuine reformist intent: financial literacy in schools, Nicola Willis’ tough budget moves, and David Seymour’s attack on bureaucratic bloat.**

**“In many respects, it’s the more valuable end of the education spectrum. It’s education you can actually use,” he said.**

On the economic front, he singles out Finance Minister Nicola Willis for cutting the operating allowance from $2.4 billion to $1.3 billion. “The $2.4b number already had headlines for being skinny, or unrealistic. $1.3b is rabbit out of a hat material.” 

ACT Leader David Seymour earns credit for naming what Hosking calls the “bloat” of modern government. “In his speech, he alerted us to just how much – 82 portfolios, 41 departments and 28 ministers. If ever you wanted an example of bloat, there it is.” Hosking describes the proliferation of portfolios as a political tool to ”appease people” and reward party loyalty.

Though impressed by Seymour’s diagnosis, Hosking is sceptical about his ability to achieve meaningful cuts: “Unlike the real world, you will note Cabinet and Government never downsize… If Seymour somehow trims a single minister or ministry, it won’t be an idea – it will be a miracle.”

“Financial literacy will materially improve our kids’ future. Willis and her austerity will materially improve our economy,” he said.

[**Read more over at NewstalkZB**](https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-three-good-ideas-from-the-govt-this-week/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fmedium=email)

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