The Country 12/09/25: Barry Soper talks to Jamie Mackay

We talk politics with Newstalk ZB's senior political correspondent about 9/11, Tom Phillips, Tākuta Ferris, and Stuart Nash.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, let's wrap the country with our political editor Barry
Soper nine to eleven, Charlie Kirk Stewart, Nash, Tom Phillips,
Takouter Ferris. Oh, where do we start, Barry?

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well, probably the worst was Tom Phillips. Of course, he
was described as a monster by the Minister of Police
Mark Mitchell.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
Hey, Barry, Barry, and I know these rumors are circulating
and nothing's confirmed. That's the giveaway that the rumors widely
circulating are true.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
Surely, Yeah, well, you know, obviously I know a lot
that I can't say Jamie, but yeah, this man, certainly,
you know, he was not the kindly father that probably
people think he was, and that's probably going a bit far.
But the other thing is Takuter Ferris. I mean, the

(00:53):
man I don't know what he was doing at midnight
when he posted this piece on Facebook. I had a
log at it and he was very deliberate, but very
slow and said what would be described in some quarters
as quite racist things. Now, the leadership of the party

(01:13):
had apologized for his first out, first saying that ethnic
minorities had no right campaigning for Labor in a Maldy seat,
which of course is absolute rubbish. Anybody can campaign for anybody,
but they apologize for that. But we've heard nothing of
them since he not only doubled down, he tripled down

(01:34):
on what he had originally said. So I don't know
what this man's future is like with the Maldi Party,
but he holds handsomely the whole of the South ardl
and the seat that was with the Turry Cartany Sullivan's
for I think seventy odd years.

Speaker 1 (01:52):
What about political futures, what about Stuart Nash with New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
First, Well, you know you'd have to wonder where the
comment came from when it's not even as you and
I were talking earlier, Jamie, you wouldn't hear it in
a bar room, you know, between boys describing what he
says as a woman. It was very bad choice, but

(02:16):
I think you know, give him that he's been in
trouble before he spoke. At the New Zealand First conference,
he and Winston Peters seemed to get on pretty well,
although Winston wouldn't like the comment he made. I would
think you'll see him on the New Zealand First ticket movie.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
Time's a great hairler. Now, if you were born after
World War Two, you and I both are, but we're
proud baby boomers. Nine to eleven was the biggest event
of your life, Winston. Of course you mentioned was born
before the end of the World War Two. Just I've
got thirty seconds, Barry, what are your collections? It is
the biggest event of our lifetime surely.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yes, Well. I was called from one of my old
cellphone mates in New York the late end. Phillips called
me and he said, turn on your television in the
middle of the night, and I did and saw the
horror of the planes crashing into the buildings. Chrisphin Layson
was a neighbor of mine, and he came over in
the early hours of the morning and we all watched

(03:14):
it unfolding together, and it was very difficult to explain
to my boys, who were very young at the time,
just exactly what had happened.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
Yeah, today, none of us will ever forget. Barry Soper.
Thanks for your time, and don't try and cross the
Harbor Bridge this weekend. We'll see you later.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
Nice talking to you, Jamie.