October 9, 2025 • 35 mins
Nick Mills wraps the week with outgoing Hutt City Mayor Campbell Barry and former Wellington mayor Justin Lester.
They discuss their picks for all the Wellington regions mayoral elections, their thoughts on amalgamation, give their hot or nots of the week and how we can improve voting turnout.
Plus Campbell Barry gives some departing words on his last day as mayor.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from news Talk said B Wellington's official week interview. It's
Friday Fatar with Kudovic Property Management, a better rental experience
for all. Visit Quovic dot co dot In's head on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Starts Friday.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Friday Face Off Special Friday Face Off because we are
thirty hours away from having you fired.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
You fired, that's right. Yeah, I'm gone.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yep, Campbell Berry welcome, you're fired.
Speaker 5 (00:53):
You got if you're retiring, look ahead, Yeah, yeah, that's right.
He's like, he's a man living in the moment.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Can I say that? Going around in the wind today
and knowing that you don't have to take any election
signs down in that one, I was a slate. Gosh,
this is good.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Yeah, Oh my gosh. That's the biggest problem you've got
on your life. It's not that I've come a bit
closer to the mic place and Formerton Mayor. He got
fired too by the people that wanted to.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
Just unleic I love say it over now come on, Yeah,
you're right, but you're about twenty eight. Damnbell looks a
He's a man refreshed and our kids you know, life
post politics is it's not a relief, but it's it's freeing.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
But come on, you were thinking and running again.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
I know I would have done one more term and
then that was that.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
But you were thinking it again. No way, no way,
you're getting a bit excited.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
Way it was begging me to run. I thought you
were a good option for the left wing, for the
left wing. Yeah, okay, you know I honestly didn't think
you're a good option. Right, let's talk local election voting ends.
As we said, when thirty hours, not even that, it's tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Yeah, twenty five hours.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
What time tomorrow? Does it stop?
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Midday?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Mid day?
Speaker 5 (02:06):
I think given, I think it's going to be a
bit of a landslide victory in Wellington. So I think
we'll have the results out by one and we'll see.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
You know what, I have a little bit of an
argument to start the show. Don't be too worried about
this one, Campbell, but we'll have a little bit of
I reckon if the election had gone for one more month,
car would have won it.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
I think you're speaking in your echo chamber to your
friends who might agree. Having said that, I've heard some
feedback around that people haven't enjoyed people who votes center right,
corral and around car which is great. So he might
get up a second, maybe not, Diane probably will. But
Andrew's going to smash it. It's going to be a landslide.
He's going to get sixty percent of the vote. And
(02:47):
he's the best candidate.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
From a true Laborist person. You know, he's still a
member of the Labour party's.
Speaker 5 (02:56):
A huge observer. But I remember three years ago I
sat here with you on this very day, right the
day for the election, with Peter Dune on you and
yeah and saying you're all saying and he's going to win.
I said, where is the dark horse she's gonna win?
I bumped into somebody, I think on the Thursday who'd
been collecting postal vallots and they had to fold them,
unfold them and send them off to the council. And
(03:16):
they had already said she's she's getting fifty percent of
the vote plus she's killing it. So I think we'll
see the same with Andrew tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Campbell Berry, let's bring it to you because that guy's
not making any sense at all.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Right now, Well, I'm gonna text you tomorrow and act
will see, we'll see.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
I think you're outnumbered on this one. I do think
it will be a landslide for tomorrow. He clearly is
the best candidate.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Part of you are you a member of by the way,
just to get.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Oh well, no, honestly, honestly, I think it's pretty clear.
So we'll have to place a bed on it.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
I did say, I mean, I want to be clear.
I did say that there was another month to go
the momentum, and I just want to just what I
am talking to you, Campbell, But I just want to
say that you've got to for you. Forget that I
outside my echo chamber news talk to him be What
else do I do and who else do I hang with?
And who else do I work with? I work with
(04:12):
a hell of a lot more younger people than I
ever do around here, and I don't think any one
of them. I don't think there's been one person in
my organization. And that's throughout all the people I talk to,
young people that actually like Andrew Little. Andrew Little.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
We'll see tomorrow, chamber. Yeah, it's just me and throwaway comment.
Sixty percent of the vote we'll go to Andrew.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I don't think You're right on that, but I mean,
let's let's move on. Let's move on to Lahart because
I want to get Campbell involved in it. Because I
thought it was an absolute one way, one horse race.
I really did. And then a person that we both
know pretty well I won't mention her name, said to me,
I've got that wrong. It's really tight. What do you think?
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Yeah, I do think it is between two candidates, in particular,
I think Ken lab and Brady Dyer. I would say,
looking at the last three weeks and seeing the ground
game of Ken Laban and looking at the voter turnout
and knowing how Lower Hut works, particularly with that w
MATR vote the last.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Time, can I ask you, because people be asking me
this matter people.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Vote Yes, yep, absolutely, and Matter is the largest suburban
Lower Hut, so it does have a lot of influence.
Ken Laban has strong roots there and I know he's
been campaigning incredibly hard as well. So I do think
Ken will pull away, and that's based on what I've
seen in the last few weeks, but it still could
be quite close.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
You see. I was really impressed with Karen when I
met her, really impressed with her school, principal Bright Smart
wanted to change the world. She just didn't get the traction.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Yeah, I think Karen's a very capable counselor from what
I've seen in the last three years, very articulate. I
would say she just hasn't probably had the profile of
being able to across the entire hut and but she
has been a solid choice for people to be able
to choose from, which is I think a good thing.
So I think we've have four pretty solid candidates, unlike
here in Wellington City, how many to go about ten
(06:08):
or fifteen or something like that.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Did you say solid candidates or were you no? Yeah,
well four? No, No, I'm saying you're looking dwell into
the saying that we've got ten or something. I don't
think there's ten solid candidates.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
No, No, that's right, that's what Yeah, there was. I
was there was in jest a little bit. So I
think we're fortunate in the Hart to have four actually
quite good options, which is a good place to be.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
I want to also ask you, because you're you're just
stepping down a little bit, you know, later than what
Justin did. But the idea that people think and I
get it all the time, Oh, my vote, one vote
doesn't count. It really frustrates me.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Oh, it absolutely does count. And if people had that apathy,
you know, when you look at some of the results,
you know, I think about last election, we had one
councilor get in by four votes, and actually if the
other person had got in, I think we would have
had a very different dynamics around the council table. So
so no, don't ever underestimate the power of your vote.
And it's if everyone thought like that, then we'd probably
(07:06):
have some pretty bad outcomes.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Well we do have a bad outcome, and we'll come
to that in a minute, but justin you are a
classic of that example of you know, ten more people
voting and things could have been.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
Different for yeah, sixty two votes. And funny because I
looked at the results of votes coming in and there's
been an extended voting period this time in Wellington, so
hopefully some more votes come in. But when I was
campaigning for re election, yeah, the vote to that was terrible.
It was woeful because it wasn't a terribly dynamic race
and many people thought it was a fair complete I didn't.
(07:36):
I thought six months of negative headlines that this is
really hard, So never take it one, never take for granted,
and your votes count. You know, Carl Tithan Baker won
a by election against Jordi Rodgers on election day and
specials came in.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
He lost.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
It happens all the time. Peter Gilbert won an election
then lost at the Helen Ritchie and vice versa. So
your votes count. To get in your and vote people,
and don't complain if you don't, because that's democracy.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I'm going to ask you if the quality of people
that are standing makes a difference to whether we get
the numbers of people voting. Do you think it makes
any difference at all, Camel.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
I think they are are far bigger issues at play
of why people don't vote. I think that they do
not see the issues that local government are dealing with,
even though we know they're important and really significant. I
don't think they always connect to that. I think when
you look at across sort of western democracies, when you
have heavily centralized countries where a lot of the decision
making is with government, you have lower voter turnout in
(08:39):
local elections. So that is a common trend, and I
would say that probably what bumps it up a little
bit is when you do have a competitive meural race,
that can then I think, get more people out and
voting or energized, and quality cannets can potentially on the
edges make a difference. But you're not going to see,
you know, a ten to twenty percent uplift.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
I think the percentage of people in lower voted last time.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
I think we're at about thirty eight percent.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
And we were forty percent when we justn't. I mean,
so it's got nothing to do with the quality of
people because I keep looking at it and say, well,
maybe if there was somebody, you know, there was an
all black superstar or something standing with numbers would come up.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
Not necessarily no, I mean, given me a Larmor did
exactly that and he didn't get elected. I think he's
on there, but first time around he didn't. So it's
really around the profile of the campaign and so how
much coverage you get. And it's funny because local government
elections and local government generally affects your day to day
life on a much more significant basis than central government.
(09:37):
But people aren't aware of the people that operates a
little bit more under the radar, so they just don't
understand it with.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Our kind of Friday face off with Campbell Berry and
just the lesson well that we don't want to call
it an election special, but we are going to spend
a bit of time because we're what do we say
we were twenty six hours or something. We haven't got
the clock going. We haven't got the twenty five hours
till your vote final, voters, So please, if you are listening,
get off your backside and vote. Okay, justin, can government
(10:05):
do more to make people understand the importance of voting
because forty percent is not good enough.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Oh look, there's certainly some things that can change. I mean,
who knows we're a mailboxer is these days? I mean
the fact that we're getting them delivered. I don't check
my mailbox at home anymore because it's largely irrelevant. It's
only for a bill. So the fact that we've still
got a postal ballot is, to be honest, pretty disgraceful.
They always hold up this argument, oh, you know, digital
votings and secures that we can do it for everything else.
I can transact for my entire banking, I can send
(10:36):
money over seas, I can buy shares, and so why
can't I vote. So that's one.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Look, I thought you'd have an answer for that, because
that's the question I ask all three years, all through
the three year term, Why the hell can't we just
be able to go online. I can put it, I
can transfer a million dollars across in my bank, but
I can't vote for a politician.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
It's crazy, will be invaded by bots out of Russia
and China. I was like, well, so I could go
and collect up all of the postal ballots and everybody's
mailboxes and hand them in and vote for them. And
I could do the same. Remember, I think there's two
elections ago. The post he dumped all the ballots. Then
you had to live it. They dumped them somewhere in Mirima,
hundreds of them, so it's hardly secure. So that's one thing.
(11:18):
I mean, who knows. You've got to be careful on
the profile. I don't want to subjugate local body candidates,
but why not have election day for central government and
local government at the same time. At least then if
you're getting seventy percent, you're probably seventy percent turn out
for local government too. You've got to be careful because
I know you don't get washed out, but that would
(11:39):
lead to an increase in turn out.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
To Okay, Cam, we'll tell us because you're on that
little you were on that group. We're trying to make
people vote, working out how to make more people vote
and try and change the thing. What was the bottom
line on the on the voting online?
Speaker 4 (11:53):
So the voting online was that it's been talked about
for twenty years and there are always reasons, and when
you have GCSB and other security advice that comes through
the ministers, that it just means that it's not going
to happen anytime soon. So like, let's not time. I
suppose you don't think it's going to happen. No, I won't.
It won't And so our recommendations at anytime soon soon anyway,
and particularly WHATXT couple elections, Yeah, I don't think so.
(12:17):
So I think what we need to do is go, okay, well,
we do need to shift away from the postal system
that's not working, whether that's in person voting. I think
you centralize elections. You know, generally I'm a localist, but
in this case, I think the Electoral Commission should run
elections and they should be a consistency across the country
and there should be greater promotion and encouragement for people
(12:37):
to vote, and I think that that would make a
real difference. And also having some platforms or formalizing the
platforms like policy and Z where you can actually get
some better information on all of the candidates and they're
required to engage in that. So something does need to change.
And I think the burning platform is the postal system.
You know, they extended it intentionally this time round to
(12:57):
enable us to get through this election. Three is time
it's going to be even harder to be able to
manage it via post.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
And the thing is that we lose them. I mean
last election, I lost mine. I got it, I put
it on you know, I put it somewhere and obviously
my wife didn't like where I put it, so she
put it somewhere else. When it came to vote, I said,
where's my papers? Don't know, Well, you must have moved them.
I had them by the window sill, you know.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
I left mine on the fridge for about a week
and a half, did the voting, and then I've just
about literally done what I've telling anyone else not to
do the last two elections.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
So do the same thing.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
So maybe and Grace is just giving it to telling
me in my ear and she's right. Maybe the timing
is too long. Maybe we've get them on and within
two weeks we've got to vote, then we don't lose them.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
But that's the problem with the postal system because.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Because you don't get them within two weeks, that's right.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
So but in person, maybe you could have a shorter window.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Why has there ever been talk and you're both a
lot more experienced than me on this of actually having
the elections on the same.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
Date the has but the same reason we've just outlined,
the local sector isn't in favor of generally, I mean personally,
I think it's a good idea.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Okay, it's the one way you will get photo tune
out to obviously go through the roof right and local
gum elections. We explored that as part of the group
that I was part of, and there was a concern
around well what would that mean around party politics, and
you know that came up. It was one that really
would divide local government. So we just parked that.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Okay, let's look at Upper Hut, Wayne Guppy going to
be a shoett.
Speaker 5 (14:27):
Yeah, I've been watching us really closely, and mine's a
good mate and I'm really well as a good guy.
And I think Gwain will be find because a first
past the post will work for him. He's got three
candidates opposing him, all very accomplished women as deputy mayor
and Helen Swale's Periss running a really strong campaign out
there in the Woldness, also great candidate. If there was STV,
(14:49):
Wayne wouldn't win because the votes would flow not in
his direction. On the first part supposed to be very
close right.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
There is a feeling and upper hut that I could
feel in twenty nineteen where there was a significant mood
for change. The only thing that may get Wayne through
is exactly what Justin has described.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
But I would you think there is a mood for change.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
I would not be surprised if Wayne ended up ranking
third or fourth. Really, it wouldn't surprise me.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
And I've heard very similar from young families on the ground,
strong mood for change. But the question will be do
they flow into one candidate. And it sounds like Perry's
run a really strong campaign, but Emma's strong too, and
so's Helen. A flowing three directions, Wayne could be fine.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Wow party Anita Baker.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I mean, I think she'll have the largest margin in
the region. Well here and Andrew will maybe be battling
that out. She's ran a very strong campaign, I think,
been in a very effective mayor. You know, it's been
fantastic working with her personally over the last six years.
So I think she'll be fine.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
She has been a fantastic mayor. I mean, I don't
want to be going out there and supporting anyone and
you know at this time individually, but for us as
a program, you'd ring she comes on. She's articulate, she's
always got potty rude at the bottom of her heart,
justin if you ever work with yeah, And I think
she's great.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
She's done a really good job with Kai Tahi and
just generally the potty dour business community out there, always supportive,
the council gets in mind local business. She personally helps
where she can, So I think she'll be very solid.
Do we know what's happening in Kaperdill we again type race?
I think so. Janet Holborough is the incumbent mayor, lovely person.
(16:31):
She's run a really collegial council. But Rob McCann's strong
candidate's an effective campaigner. You know, they're both on the left,
you both know each other pretty well. It's a shame
to be honest. They running against each other and both
could do a good job. I think Janet will be
okay because she's the incumbent, right.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Yeah, I think Janet will get through again. She's been
great to work with. Suddenly from a regional perspective, talking
to a few of her counselors, that's the feeling on
the ground is that she'll come through.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
We're doing done a lot of talk about councils because
we're down to the wire a city now. Just as
I mentioned that we were going to talk about supercity,
just UNLESSA got fired up again. He got fired up again. Right.
I've asked all the HUT candidates if they support a supercity.
All of them said some, it said some sort of yes.
(17:24):
Campbell Berry, you've got a referendum at the selection, non
binding one. What do you think the vote's going to
come back?
Speaker 4 (17:30):
And I really don't know on this one. I think
it will probably say no. But I remember back in
twenty fourteen when we did some polling and that wasn't
through an election, but the result there was ninety ten
opposed to any sort of amalgamation. So if we get
something that's sort of forty sixty, that's actually a big shift.
So I'm really interested to see what actually comes back.
(17:52):
I think it's inevitable. I would love for us in
the region to actually own that rather than it'd be
done to us.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
I think that's now justin You don't think it's going
to happen. I think it's going to happen in my
tenure on radio.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
I'm looking forward to this lunch and din around assert
you're taking me out for when I won the bet
and it it'd be great. I'll have a chocolate ganash
for dessert.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Well, what do you say?
Speaker 5 (18:15):
What I'm saying is a lot. I'm personally in favor of.
It makes a lot of sense, as it did in Auckland.
But the government mandated for and credit to Rodney Hyde.
He had the Gonads at the time to actually mandate it,
and it's white got across the line in through the
Local Government Commission. Any amalgamation proposal has to go to
referend them to the region has to have support. None
(18:36):
of them have ever been successful. Nelson Tasman failed, Hastings
Napier failed. The three wided up is a population of
forty five thousand people and three councils. Everyone was in
favor and then politics got in the way and then
they went to a vote and it failed by sixty
percent opposition. Some people in Wellington support it, and Polydor
(18:58):
possibly support.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
It, need it because they don't have the rate payers.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
They do need it, but the further you get away
from Walington cores wrong with the opposition. So I just
I would love for it happened. It won't happen.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Is that just more mindedness? And I live in my
little area. I'm from Kelson, you know, I want to
keep my own vote in place and that sort of stuff.
Is that because of that rather than the big picture stuff.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
I think the big one that I hear on the ground,
and this is I'm not trying to throw shade here,
but because of some of the challenges in Wellington City. No,
genuinely I say, look, we don't want to be merged
up with them.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
So there is a sort of reputational sort of thing
going on that's an issue or a challenge, and I
do think that in this the next mayor is coming
on board. If we want to own our own destiny,
you should go to the Prime Minister, the leader of
the opposition, get both sides on board and say we
are willing to come together. Put this on the table.
If you then come with the toolbox approach where you
(19:52):
give us options of how we can look to have
congestion charging or fuel taxes or whatever to be able
to deal with the financial problems that the councils have
in giving those spreading across rather than relying purely on
rates and debt. So I I think that that type
of approach would be very attractive and you could actually
do it, and you could legislate it. But if you
have to then go through the current process, which is
(20:14):
through the Local Government Commission, it will fail. I agree
with that.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
And my concern that here is this comes around about
every ten years. So we spent eight years talking about
this and it failed. We polled wellingtone in sixty percent
were reposed, about twenty percent in favor, and twenty percent
were undecided, and so right, it's a dead duck. So
unless you've got a really strong mandate for change and
compelling population support, let's not waste another ten years talking about.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
It, or let the government make the decision.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
Like you said, government mandate it. If they get the
cajonees and they're prepared to mandate for it, good, great,
Just do it?
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Can I ask you both? Because this is a question
that I haven't got an answer for and I really
should have an answer for CA well. If we did
amalgamate before I've always only advocated for the basin right
poral willing to light in our part. Would we if
we did that, would we be able to get rid
of the regional council?
Speaker 4 (21:09):
I think you would make it a unitary I think
that with the water entity being set up, which is
the Metro councils, that make sense. And then I think
you'd move transport into a Wellington Transport Authority that could
then work with the Wided Upper Company with the train line.
So I think the regional council would go makes sense.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
It makes sense again, unitary council, very similar to what
we have in Auckland and it's been great for Auckland.
Do you remember the debarcle around the Auckland Waterfront Stadium
which Trevor Mallard, Campbell's predecessor at the wind as well.
He wanted to build a stadium, and Mike Lee and
John Banks, mayors on the regional council on Auckland City
at the time, could not get together and agree, and
(21:47):
so they lost the stadium. And Rodney Hide came in
and said, this system has broken in Auckland. We're gonna
amalgamate and so follow that model hasn't been perfect, but
it's been pretty good.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Have you heard, either of you heard what the government
wants to do about the amalgamation? Are they looking? Because
I think we all agree it has to be a mandate.
I mean they are they talking about it.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
The conversations I've had, it's very clear that their agenda
is already jam packed full of reforms, so this isn't
a priority. However, if the region came together, if you've
got the metropolitan councils on board and they put a
proposal to government and said, hey, we're willing to do
this and do it as part of a city regional deal,
I think they would be very open to it.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
But the funny thing about that, and I agree with
Camp one hundred percent, is very smart man. The wided
up I did exactly that, and then the closer I
got to a vote, everyone got cold feet, the mayors
and council started worrying all your jobs, and local communities
got upset and it failed again. I think sixty percent
were opposed.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Take a short break and be back with Campbell Barry
and just unless I want to ask them about the
new Chamber of Commerce survey that went round the local
businesses to see how it is working with Wellington City Council,
and I want to be I'm very interested to see
whether Campbell Barry thinks it's any different. In Lahart it
is twenty two minutes to twelve.
Speaker 6 (23:11):
Nobody wants to hear that, especially if it wasn't your fault.
But if it happens to you, you'll be glad you
heard this. If your vehicle's damaged in an accident and
you're not at fault, you could be entitled to a
row no cost loan car while yours is up the road.
Secency is applying good to no cost loan cars dot
co dot inz. That's no cost loan cars dot co
dot in Zat we.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Are and we will get you there. We are rove
Bredals Dotoe.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Catching up with mates at the local on the big screen,
debating the ref call don't miss a moment. Call Ordica
Hearing Clinic on eight hundred double O forty three forty
two to book your free hearing check. Enjoy better hearing
for life with Orderica Free Hearing checks for adults over
(24:03):
eighteen years old.
Speaker 7 (24:09):
Catch up in Candala. Need a fresh look or lovely lunch.
You'll find it here. Three great cafes, tasty takeaways, even
a gym. Candala Village has it all. Iconic retailers like
Gub's Shoes, Hamilton and Murray, TP and Vinie enjoy free parking.
Are friendly community and local gems including a p dietrist,
(24:31):
dentist and the florist. Locals rave about Kandala Village closer
than you think. Catch up in Candala.
Speaker 8 (24:39):
Weeknights from six. It's the business hour.
Speaker 9 (24:42):
Thanks to MAS Insurance and Investments.
Speaker 8 (24:44):
MAS has full area replacement house insurance where they'll pay
the reasonable costs for a rebuild, reinstating your home to
the same size and standard as it was before.
Speaker 7 (24:55):
Tens scenes and underwriting criteria may apply.
Speaker 9 (24:57):
Visit nasstot co dot MZAD.
Speaker 8 (25:00):
Focused on local and international issues to keep you fully informed.
It's the Business Hour weeknights from.
Speaker 9 (25:06):
With MAZ on News Talks, EDB.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Digging in to get to the heart of the story.
It's Hither duplicy Ellen Drive.
Speaker 9 (25:14):
The Maori Party has hijacked parliament once again with a hucker.
I'm just surprised that Jerry brownly got hoodwinked so easily
and thinking this wouldn't happen, and as soon as he
suspended Parliament the feed cut. Now it is not unexpected.
So I think given all things, the best outcome may
be the one that was achieved today, which is just
a blackout.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Heather Duplicy Ellen Drive with One New Zealand back today
at four only on News Talks.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
EDB Friday faced offf of Campbell Barry and Justin Lester.
Just I want to start with you on this one.
A new Chamber of Commerce surveys the last couple of
days showed that local business owners are not satisfied with
the council and how they treat businesses. When you saw this,
you would have seen this article. Is that any different
to the years that you were maor is that generinely
(25:59):
always the same? Or is it now that we are
getting worse?
Speaker 5 (26:02):
Our things have gotten worse in terms of probably one
the public perception of the council. And look, I've got
a lot of respect for the council and the people
that work there. They care a lot about their city.
But the comms haven't been great recently, and also the
media coverage, so things have gotten word bad comms, bad
media coverage means bad job being done, doesn't Sometimes it's
(26:26):
also become more sensationless. There is no question that over
the last thirty years media has become less objective or
balanced and slightly more sensational. But it hasn't been grace.
A range of projects either haven't been executed or delivered
well and business is hurting. And it's fair enough. So
(26:46):
their viewpoint is legitimate and it's justified. But also they
could help themselves too by being more constructive and coming
in with counsel and coming up with ideas. Don't always
just criticized and always just oppose and run. Some candidates
vision for Wellington was a great idea but achieved very
little because their vision documented it up looking just like
(27:09):
the council's long term plan. There's spend hundreds of thousands
of dollars and they're not going to change any dynamic.
So it worked really constructively and hopefully we can sort
it out.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
So vision for Wellington, I had the same issue. I
called them the Chardonaye club when they first were announced.
You know, they all think they're all self important, they
all think that they're actually going to change Wellington, but
they've actually done nothing at all.
Speaker 5 (27:33):
Nothing. If the council had run this process and spent
hundreds of thousands of dollars and no one turned up,
and people did turn up said it was a real
shamuzzle and nothing's been achieved, the counts will be castigated.
So run, some candidates step up, I say we do something.
Do something, Yeah, do something. To everyone that runs, I've
got enormous respect people don't like them or just agree
(27:55):
with them, enormous respect because they actually have the guts
to get.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Up and run. Run cambill. If the Chamber of Commerce
did the same survey in La Hut, how do you
think that your counsel would fear.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
It is hard to say. I think there generally is
perception issues that local government has across the board, regardless
of the council. Though I would say in working like
we have a really close partnership with our Chamber of Commerce.
We really closely with them on making sure that we're
actually getting out there were visiting businesses, We're involving them
in our major projects and giving them opportunities to be
(28:31):
able to supply and provide services. So look, I think
that we're in a good space, but I you know,
I'm not also going to pretend like there isn't that
perception issue generally for councils.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
It's my feedback from the business people that I know
that do business and Lahart for your for your is
your rubbish stuff? It seems to always everyone always talks
about rubbish and Lahart. I mean, do you charge too
much for your rubbish or something? Well, you make it
difficult for people to get their rubbish collected or something.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
We did change a few years ago around the recycling
and how it worked for some commercial premises, so they
were previously being able to use I suppose places that
where it was being charged directly to residential rates and
we stopped that so that could be it. But also
our Silverstream landfill prices have gone up, but that waste
levy that we charge does go back into actually making
(29:24):
sure you know, we can continue the landfill that the
landfall was sustainable into the future, and other sort of
waste minimization efforts.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
I just quickly want to ask you both what you
thought of the whole Winston Peter's home getting windows getting smashed,
you know, the actress from One New Zealand getting canceled.
You know, what did you what did you make of that? Campbell?
Speaker 4 (29:46):
I didn't know too much about it, actually, so I
hadn't caught up to it until this morning. I think
that you know, any invasion on politicians or public public
figures home lives is unacceptable. Weether this particular person broke
any laws, I'm not sure, but at the end of
the day, your actions have consequences, So I mean I
(30:07):
think that you know, it's sort of commercial decision of
one in z to then decide to remove them. I mean,
that's that's their prerogative. So actions have consequences.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Yeah, great line.
Speaker 5 (30:15):
Just yeah. Again, any attack or any harassment of politicians,
as it would be for any member of the public,
is unacceptable. I don't know why people think that's appropriate
behavior to give out on some Peter's addresses. Again, silly
and ive behavior and actions have consequences. So you live
in you live in your loan.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Let's get some hots and knots and have a bit
of a farewell chat to Campbell Bear.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
The Friday Fiet, just.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Unless they give us your hots.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
And not what's hot. Last weekend I spent the morning
just walking around the city and enjoying it as a tourist.
I never shop. I'm not much of a shopper, but
I went to the opening of a friend's studio, O
Studio and Courtney Precinct Exchange. Beautiful design, elegant, glow Glow
next door, the Cafe again new fantastic, Hummingbird Ross the
Road looks great, thunder Road also great. Cooder Order. Loved
(31:11):
all of them, so I was just really stoked to
see all these new businesses opening and doing well.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
Goodbye host there too it. Oh you wasn't there. Did
you see him speak? No, you didn't, obviously what you're
not hot? Not hot?
Speaker 5 (31:21):
We're losing Campbell Barry looking established mare in the region.
He's a saying voice, he's very smart. I look forward
to when he comes back into politics one day. Camb
we'd done a bloody good job and it's been a
pleasure to work with you. When I was there, and yeah,
I wish you the very best mate.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Thank you cal Berry hots knots hots.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
So my final full day is mere. It was awesome
to be at Fraser Park this morning to open the
Global Games New Zealand Junior Rugby Girls tournament, which was
sixty two teams from around the country, top of the North,
bottom of the South, all being hosted over the next
few days playing rugby and it's just fantastic. So shout
out to Tyrone Campbell, who's actually a hot man. It's
(32:03):
the first time he's brought this tournament to which is exciting.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Not hot, not hot.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Well, actually I sent out a farewell email as you
do on Wednesday to everyone that you sort of been
engaged with, and I've got a few replies with no
nice replies, and then one person came back and said, Campbell,
I've been trying to sort out this water lick issue
for and I went, oh, no, gosh. So anyway, I
was able to spend a bit of time and so
maybe it's not a not hot in fixing that person's
(32:35):
leak that have been going on for a while and
some problems there.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
Well, Campbell on behalf of this show, I want to
say that I've thoroughly enjoyed any time that we've spent together.
I think that you're a really really good, straight up
and down honest person. Apart from not telling me what
you're going to do when your next career moving, which
I think, I know it'll have something to do with
infrastructure and something to do with water. But I think
(32:58):
that you've been amazing for La Hut. I know that
people you're absolutely in your area absolutely love you, or
they think that you're trying to them, but the majority
of people think that you're an amazing person and you
are an amazing young politician. So I wish you all
the best in your new job in infrastructure in New
Zealand or Willing to Water or whatever it's going to be,
(33:20):
and look forward to having you on the show in
future times, just like ex mayors that we do have
on the show.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
Oh thank you, Nick, and you can I just say
thank you to you. It's been awesome to be able
to come in to this space, to be able to
talk to your listeners, to be able to listen to
them as well. I know you've got a lot of
very loyal listeners out in the Hut who tune in regularly.
It has been the privilege of my life to serve
as men for the last six years total of fifteen
years in local government. I'm pretty proud that I'm able
to start and leave at a younger age than what
(33:48):
most people actually even start their local government journey. So
I don't know what that says about me, but it's
just been fantastic.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
You know.
Speaker 4 (33:55):
I look at the numbers five hundred and seventy businesses
I've been able to visit the last six years, the connections,
the innovation that occurs, and the schools that you get
to visit. I mean, it is all about people and
when you can do things like the new Tonight and
I Paul and fitness which I justin came and has
been utilizing with his family. And also you know that
stuff that has been neglected for a while, like our
(34:17):
pipes in fifty seven kilometers of pipe replace in five
years would have taken thirty years pre twenty nineteen. Pretty
proud of that stuff.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
You've got twelve or fifteen seconds. What are you most
proud of?
Speaker 4 (34:27):
I've been asked this question a bit, and I would
say it is the culture that we've instilled at the Council.
I think that that culture has enabled us to build partnerships,
build connection relationships, opportunity, a government investment, and to create
all the upcomes and what we've been able to achieve
in the last six years in a short space of time.
Without that culture wouldn't be possible.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
Well, thank you, Thank you for being you. Thanks Justin
Lester for being you as well. Appreciate you both coming
in on Friday. Get excited, get excited for the weekend.
It's election time. Why do we not get excited about
local election?
Speaker 4 (35:01):
I'm excited those election parties. Are you going to go to?
Speaker 3 (35:03):
I don't know. I haven't been invited to any. I
don't think I'll get invited to any maybe on Monday afternoon.
I will thank you both very very much. Look forward
to probably talking to you in the next couple of
weeks over what happens.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news Talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from news Talk said B Wellington's official week interview. It's
Friday Fatar with Kudovic Property Management, a better rental experience
for all. Visit Quovic dot co dot In's head on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Starts Friday.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Friday Face Off Special Friday Face Off because we are
thirty hours away from having you fired.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
You fired, that's right. Yeah, I'm gone.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yep, Campbell Berry welcome, you're fired.
Speaker 5 (00:53):
You got if you're retiring, look ahead, Yeah, yeah, that's right.
He's like, he's a man living in the moment.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Can I say that? Going around in the wind today
and knowing that you don't have to take any election
signs down in that one, I was a slate. Gosh,
this is good.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Yeah, Oh my gosh. That's the biggest problem you've got
on your life. It's not that I've come a bit
closer to the mic place and Formerton Mayor. He got
fired too by the people that wanted to.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
Just unleic I love say it over now come on, Yeah,
you're right, but you're about twenty eight. Damnbell looks a
He's a man refreshed and our kids you know, life
post politics is it's not a relief, but it's it's freeing.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
But come on, you were thinking and running again.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
I know I would have done one more term and
then that was that.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
But you were thinking it again. No way, no way,
you're getting a bit excited.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
Way it was begging me to run. I thought you
were a good option for the left wing, for the
left wing. Yeah, okay, you know I honestly didn't think
you're a good option. Right, let's talk local election voting ends.
As we said, when thirty hours, not even that, it's tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Yeah, twenty five hours.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
What time tomorrow? Does it stop?
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Midday?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Mid day?
Speaker 5 (02:06):
I think given, I think it's going to be a
bit of a landslide victory in Wellington. So I think
we'll have the results out by one and we'll see.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
You know what, I have a little bit of an
argument to start the show. Don't be too worried about
this one, Campbell, but we'll have a little bit of
I reckon if the election had gone for one more month,
car would have won it.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
I think you're speaking in your echo chamber to your
friends who might agree. Having said that, I've heard some
feedback around that people haven't enjoyed people who votes center right,
corral and around car which is great. So he might
get up a second, maybe not, Diane probably will. But
Andrew's going to smash it. It's going to be a landslide.
He's going to get sixty percent of the vote. And
(02:47):
he's the best candidate.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
From a true Laborist person. You know, he's still a
member of the Labour party's.
Speaker 5 (02:56):
A huge observer. But I remember three years ago I
sat here with you on this very day, right the
day for the election, with Peter Dune on you and
yeah and saying you're all saying and he's going to win.
I said, where is the dark horse she's gonna win?
I bumped into somebody, I think on the Thursday who'd
been collecting postal vallots and they had to fold them,
unfold them and send them off to the council. And
(03:16):
they had already said she's she's getting fifty percent of
the vote plus she's killing it. So I think we'll
see the same with Andrew tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Campbell Berry, let's bring it to you because that guy's
not making any sense at all.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Right now, Well, I'm gonna text you tomorrow and act
will see, we'll see.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
I think you're outnumbered on this one. I do think
it will be a landslide for tomorrow. He clearly is
the best candidate.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Part of you are you a member of by the way,
just to get.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Oh well, no, honestly, honestly, I think it's pretty clear.
So we'll have to place a bed on it.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
I did say, I mean, I want to be clear.
I did say that there was another month to go
the momentum, and I just want to just what I
am talking to you, Campbell, But I just want to
say that you've got to for you. Forget that I
outside my echo chamber news talk to him be What
else do I do and who else do I hang with?
And who else do I work with? I work with
(04:12):
a hell of a lot more younger people than I
ever do around here, and I don't think any one
of them. I don't think there's been one person in
my organization. And that's throughout all the people I talk to,
young people that actually like Andrew Little. Andrew Little.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
We'll see tomorrow, chamber. Yeah, it's just me and throwaway comment.
Sixty percent of the vote we'll go to Andrew.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I don't think You're right on that, but I mean,
let's let's move on. Let's move on to Lahart because
I want to get Campbell involved in it. Because I
thought it was an absolute one way, one horse race.
I really did. And then a person that we both
know pretty well I won't mention her name, said to me,
I've got that wrong. It's really tight. What do you think?
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Yeah, I do think it is between two candidates, in particular,
I think Ken lab and Brady Dyer. I would say,
looking at the last three weeks and seeing the ground
game of Ken Laban and looking at the voter turnout
and knowing how Lower Hut works, particularly with that w
MATR vote the last.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Time, can I ask you, because people be asking me
this matter people.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Vote Yes, yep, absolutely, and Matter is the largest suburban
Lower Hut, so it does have a lot of influence.
Ken Laban has strong roots there and I know he's
been campaigning incredibly hard as well. So I do think
Ken will pull away, and that's based on what I've
seen in the last few weeks, but it still could
be quite close.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
You see. I was really impressed with Karen when I
met her, really impressed with her school, principal Bright Smart
wanted to change the world. She just didn't get the traction.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Yeah, I think Karen's a very capable counselor from what
I've seen in the last three years, very articulate. I
would say she just hasn't probably had the profile of
being able to across the entire hut and but she
has been a solid choice for people to be able
to choose from, which is I think a good thing.
So I think we've have four pretty solid candidates, unlike
here in Wellington City, how many to go about ten
(06:08):
or fifteen or something like that.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Did you say solid candidates or were you no? Yeah,
well four? No, No, I'm saying you're looking dwell into
the saying that we've got ten or something. I don't
think there's ten solid candidates.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
No, No, that's right, that's what Yeah, there was. I
was there was in jest a little bit. So I
think we're fortunate in the Hart to have four actually
quite good options, which is a good place to be.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
I want to also ask you, because you're you're just
stepping down a little bit, you know, later than what
Justin did. But the idea that people think and I
get it all the time, Oh, my vote, one vote
doesn't count. It really frustrates me.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Oh, it absolutely does count. And if people had that apathy,
you know, when you look at some of the results,
you know, I think about last election, we had one
councilor get in by four votes, and actually if the
other person had got in, I think we would have
had a very different dynamics around the council table. So
so no, don't ever underestimate the power of your vote.
And it's if everyone thought like that, then we'd probably
(07:06):
have some pretty bad outcomes.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Well we do have a bad outcome, and we'll come
to that in a minute, but justin you are a
classic of that example of you know, ten more people
voting and things could have been.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
Different for yeah, sixty two votes. And funny because I
looked at the results of votes coming in and there's
been an extended voting period this time in Wellington, so
hopefully some more votes come in. But when I was
campaigning for re election, yeah, the vote to that was terrible.
It was woeful because it wasn't a terribly dynamic race
and many people thought it was a fair complete I didn't.
(07:36):
I thought six months of negative headlines that this is
really hard, So never take it one, never take for granted,
and your votes count. You know, Carl Tithan Baker won
a by election against Jordi Rodgers on election day and
specials came in.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
He lost.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
It happens all the time. Peter Gilbert won an election
then lost at the Helen Ritchie and vice versa. So
your votes count. To get in your and vote people,
and don't complain if you don't, because that's democracy.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I'm going to ask you if the quality of people
that are standing makes a difference to whether we get
the numbers of people voting. Do you think it makes
any difference at all, Camel.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
I think they are are far bigger issues at play
of why people don't vote. I think that they do
not see the issues that local government are dealing with,
even though we know they're important and really significant. I
don't think they always connect to that. I think when
you look at across sort of western democracies, when you
have heavily centralized countries where a lot of the decision
making is with government, you have lower voter turnout in
(08:39):
local elections. So that is a common trend, and I
would say that probably what bumps it up a little
bit is when you do have a competitive meural race,
that can then I think, get more people out and
voting or energized, and quality cannets can potentially on the
edges make a difference. But you're not going to see,
you know, a ten to twenty percent uplift.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
I think the percentage of people in lower voted last time.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
I think we're at about thirty eight percent.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
And we were forty percent when we justn't. I mean,
so it's got nothing to do with the quality of
people because I keep looking at it and say, well,
maybe if there was somebody, you know, there was an
all black superstar or something standing with numbers would come up.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
Not necessarily no, I mean, given me a Larmor did
exactly that and he didn't get elected. I think he's
on there, but first time around he didn't. So it's
really around the profile of the campaign and so how
much coverage you get. And it's funny because local government
elections and local government generally affects your day to day
life on a much more significant basis than central government.
(09:37):
But people aren't aware of the people that operates a
little bit more under the radar, so they just don't
understand it with.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Our kind of Friday face off with Campbell Berry and
just the lesson well that we don't want to call
it an election special, but we are going to spend
a bit of time because we're what do we say
we were twenty six hours or something. We haven't got
the clock going. We haven't got the twenty five hours
till your vote final, voters, So please, if you are listening,
get off your backside and vote. Okay, justin, can government
(10:05):
do more to make people understand the importance of voting
because forty percent is not good enough.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Oh look, there's certainly some things that can change. I mean,
who knows we're a mailboxer is these days? I mean
the fact that we're getting them delivered. I don't check
my mailbox at home anymore because it's largely irrelevant. It's
only for a bill. So the fact that we've still
got a postal ballot is, to be honest, pretty disgraceful.
They always hold up this argument, oh, you know, digital
votings and secures that we can do it for everything else.
I can transact for my entire banking, I can send
(10:36):
money over seas, I can buy shares, and so why
can't I vote. So that's one.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Look, I thought you'd have an answer for that, because
that's the question I ask all three years, all through
the three year term, Why the hell can't we just
be able to go online. I can put it, I
can transfer a million dollars across in my bank, but
I can't vote for a politician.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
It's crazy, will be invaded by bots out of Russia
and China. I was like, well, so I could go
and collect up all of the postal ballots and everybody's
mailboxes and hand them in and vote for them. And
I could do the same. Remember, I think there's two
elections ago. The post he dumped all the ballots. Then
you had to live it. They dumped them somewhere in Mirima,
hundreds of them, so it's hardly secure. So that's one thing.
(11:18):
I mean, who knows. You've got to be careful on
the profile. I don't want to subjugate local body candidates,
but why not have election day for central government and
local government at the same time. At least then if
you're getting seventy percent, you're probably seventy percent turn out
for local government too. You've got to be careful because
I know you don't get washed out, but that would
(11:39):
lead to an increase in turn out.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
To Okay, Cam, we'll tell us because you're on that
little you were on that group. We're trying to make
people vote, working out how to make more people vote
and try and change the thing. What was the bottom
line on the on the voting online?
Speaker 4 (11:53):
So the voting online was that it's been talked about
for twenty years and there are always reasons, and when
you have GCSB and other security advice that comes through
the ministers, that it just means that it's not going
to happen anytime soon. So like, let's not time. I
suppose you don't think it's going to happen. No, I won't.
It won't And so our recommendations at anytime soon soon anyway,
and particularly WHATXT couple elections, Yeah, I don't think so.
(12:17):
So I think what we need to do is go, okay, well,
we do need to shift away from the postal system
that's not working, whether that's in person voting. I think
you centralize elections. You know, generally I'm a localist, but
in this case, I think the Electoral Commission should run
elections and they should be a consistency across the country
and there should be greater promotion and encouragement for people
(12:37):
to vote, and I think that that would make a
real difference. And also having some platforms or formalizing the
platforms like policy and Z where you can actually get
some better information on all of the candidates and they're
required to engage in that. So something does need to change.
And I think the burning platform is the postal system.
You know, they extended it intentionally this time round to
(12:57):
enable us to get through this election. Three is time
it's going to be even harder to be able to
manage it via post.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
And the thing is that we lose them. I mean
last election, I lost mine. I got it, I put
it on you know, I put it somewhere and obviously
my wife didn't like where I put it, so she
put it somewhere else. When it came to vote, I said,
where's my papers? Don't know, Well, you must have moved them.
I had them by the window sill, you know.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
I left mine on the fridge for about a week
and a half, did the voting, and then I've just
about literally done what I've telling anyone else not to
do the last two elections.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
So do the same thing.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
So maybe and Grace is just giving it to telling
me in my ear and she's right. Maybe the timing
is too long. Maybe we've get them on and within
two weeks we've got to vote, then we don't lose them.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
But that's the problem with the postal system because.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Because you don't get them within two weeks, that's right.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
So but in person, maybe you could have a shorter window.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Why has there ever been talk and you're both a
lot more experienced than me on this of actually having
the elections on the same.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
Date the has but the same reason we've just outlined,
the local sector isn't in favor of generally, I mean personally,
I think it's a good idea.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Okay, it's the one way you will get photo tune
out to obviously go through the roof right and local
gum elections. We explored that as part of the group
that I was part of, and there was a concern
around well what would that mean around party politics, and
you know that came up. It was one that really
would divide local government. So we just parked that.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Okay, let's look at Upper Hut, Wayne Guppy going to
be a shoett.
Speaker 5 (14:27):
Yeah, I've been watching us really closely, and mine's a
good mate and I'm really well as a good guy.
And I think Gwain will be find because a first
past the post will work for him. He's got three
candidates opposing him, all very accomplished women as deputy mayor
and Helen Swale's Periss running a really strong campaign out
there in the Woldness, also great candidate. If there was STV,
(14:49):
Wayne wouldn't win because the votes would flow not in
his direction. On the first part supposed to be very
close right.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
There is a feeling and upper hut that I could
feel in twenty nineteen where there was a significant mood
for change. The only thing that may get Wayne through
is exactly what Justin has described.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
But I would you think there is a mood for change.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
I would not be surprised if Wayne ended up ranking
third or fourth. Really, it wouldn't surprise me.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
And I've heard very similar from young families on the ground,
strong mood for change. But the question will be do
they flow into one candidate. And it sounds like Perry's
run a really strong campaign, but Emma's strong too, and
so's Helen. A flowing three directions, Wayne could be fine.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Wow party Anita Baker.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I mean, I think she'll have the largest margin in
the region. Well here and Andrew will maybe be battling
that out. She's ran a very strong campaign, I think,
been in a very effective mayor. You know, it's been
fantastic working with her personally over the last six years.
So I think she'll be fine.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
She has been a fantastic mayor. I mean, I don't
want to be going out there and supporting anyone and
you know at this time individually, but for us as
a program, you'd ring she comes on. She's articulate, she's
always got potty rude at the bottom of her heart,
justin if you ever work with yeah, And I think
she's great.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
She's done a really good job with Kai Tahi and
just generally the potty dour business community out there, always supportive,
the council gets in mind local business. She personally helps
where she can, So I think she'll be very solid.
Do we know what's happening in Kaperdill we again type race?
I think so. Janet Holborough is the incumbent mayor, lovely person.
(16:31):
She's run a really collegial council. But Rob McCann's strong
candidate's an effective campaigner. You know, they're both on the left,
you both know each other pretty well. It's a shame
to be honest. They running against each other and both
could do a good job. I think Janet will be
okay because she's the incumbent, right.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Yeah, I think Janet will get through again. She's been
great to work with. Suddenly from a regional perspective, talking
to a few of her counselors, that's the feeling on
the ground is that she'll come through.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
We're doing done a lot of talk about councils because
we're down to the wire a city now. Just as
I mentioned that we were going to talk about supercity,
just UNLESSA got fired up again. He got fired up again. Right.
I've asked all the HUT candidates if they support a supercity.
All of them said some, it said some sort of yes.
(17:24):
Campbell Berry, you've got a referendum at the selection, non
binding one. What do you think the vote's going to
come back?
Speaker 4 (17:30):
And I really don't know on this one. I think
it will probably say no. But I remember back in
twenty fourteen when we did some polling and that wasn't
through an election, but the result there was ninety ten
opposed to any sort of amalgamation. So if we get
something that's sort of forty sixty, that's actually a big shift.
So I'm really interested to see what actually comes back.
(17:52):
I think it's inevitable. I would love for us in
the region to actually own that rather than it'd be
done to us.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
I think that's now justin You don't think it's going
to happen. I think it's going to happen in my
tenure on radio.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
I'm looking forward to this lunch and din around assert
you're taking me out for when I won the bet
and it it'd be great. I'll have a chocolate ganash
for dessert.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Well, what do you say?
Speaker 5 (18:15):
What I'm saying is a lot. I'm personally in favor of.
It makes a lot of sense, as it did in Auckland.
But the government mandated for and credit to Rodney Hyde.
He had the Gonads at the time to actually mandate it,
and it's white got across the line in through the
Local Government Commission. Any amalgamation proposal has to go to
referend them to the region has to have support. None
(18:36):
of them have ever been successful. Nelson Tasman failed, Hastings
Napier failed. The three wided up is a population of
forty five thousand people and three councils. Everyone was in
favor and then politics got in the way and then
they went to a vote and it failed by sixty
percent opposition. Some people in Wellington support it, and Polydor
(18:58):
possibly support.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
It, need it because they don't have the rate payers.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
They do need it, but the further you get away
from Walington cores wrong with the opposition. So I just
I would love for it happened. It won't happen.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Is that just more mindedness? And I live in my
little area. I'm from Kelson, you know, I want to
keep my own vote in place and that sort of stuff.
Is that because of that rather than the big picture stuff.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
I think the big one that I hear on the ground,
and this is I'm not trying to throw shade here,
but because of some of the challenges in Wellington City. No,
genuinely I say, look, we don't want to be merged
up with them.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
So there is a sort of reputational sort of thing
going on that's an issue or a challenge, and I
do think that in this the next mayor is coming
on board. If we want to own our own destiny,
you should go to the Prime Minister, the leader of
the opposition, get both sides on board and say we
are willing to come together. Put this on the table.
If you then come with the toolbox approach where you
(19:52):
give us options of how we can look to have
congestion charging or fuel taxes or whatever to be able
to deal with the financial problems that the councils have
in giving those spreading across rather than relying purely on
rates and debt. So I I think that that type
of approach would be very attractive and you could actually
do it, and you could legislate it. But if you
have to then go through the current process, which is
(20:14):
through the Local Government Commission, it will fail. I agree
with that.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
And my concern that here is this comes around about
every ten years. So we spent eight years talking about
this and it failed. We polled wellingtone in sixty percent
were reposed, about twenty percent in favor, and twenty percent
were undecided, and so right, it's a dead duck. So
unless you've got a really strong mandate for change and
compelling population support, let's not waste another ten years talking about.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
It, or let the government make the decision.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
Like you said, government mandate it. If they get the
cajonees and they're prepared to mandate for it, good, great,
Just do it?
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Can I ask you both? Because this is a question
that I haven't got an answer for and I really
should have an answer for CA well. If we did
amalgamate before I've always only advocated for the basin right
poral willing to light in our part. Would we if
we did that, would we be able to get rid
of the regional council?
Speaker 4 (21:09):
I think you would make it a unitary I think
that with the water entity being set up, which is
the Metro councils, that make sense. And then I think
you'd move transport into a Wellington Transport Authority that could
then work with the Wided Upper Company with the train line.
So I think the regional council would go makes sense.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
It makes sense again, unitary council, very similar to what
we have in Auckland and it's been great for Auckland.
Do you remember the debarcle around the Auckland Waterfront Stadium
which Trevor Mallard, Campbell's predecessor at the wind as well.
He wanted to build a stadium, and Mike Lee and
John Banks, mayors on the regional council on Auckland City
at the time, could not get together and agree, and
(21:47):
so they lost the stadium. And Rodney Hide came in
and said, this system has broken in Auckland. We're gonna
amalgamate and so follow that model hasn't been perfect, but
it's been pretty good.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Have you heard, either of you heard what the government
wants to do about the amalgamation? Are they looking? Because
I think we all agree it has to be a mandate.
I mean they are they talking about it.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
The conversations I've had, it's very clear that their agenda
is already jam packed full of reforms, so this isn't
a priority. However, if the region came together, if you've
got the metropolitan councils on board and they put a
proposal to government and said, hey, we're willing to do
this and do it as part of a city regional deal,
I think they would be very open to it.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
But the funny thing about that, and I agree with
Camp one hundred percent, is very smart man. The wided
up I did exactly that, and then the closer I
got to a vote, everyone got cold feet, the mayors
and council started worrying all your jobs, and local communities
got upset and it failed again. I think sixty percent
were opposed.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Take a short break and be back with Campbell Barry
and just unless I want to ask them about the
new Chamber of Commerce survey that went round the local
businesses to see how it is working with Wellington City Council,
and I want to be I'm very interested to see
whether Campbell Barry thinks it's any different. In Lahart it
is twenty two minutes to twelve.
Speaker 6 (23:11):
Nobody wants to hear that, especially if it wasn't your fault.
But if it happens to you, you'll be glad you
heard this. If your vehicle's damaged in an accident and
you're not at fault, you could be entitled to a
row no cost loan car while yours is up the road.
Secency is applying good to no cost loan cars dot
co dot inz. That's no cost loan cars dot co
dot in Zat we.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Are and we will get you there. We are rove
Bredals Dotoe.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Catching up with mates at the local on the big screen,
debating the ref call don't miss a moment. Call Ordica
Hearing Clinic on eight hundred double O forty three forty
two to book your free hearing check. Enjoy better hearing
for life with Orderica Free Hearing checks for adults over
(24:03):
eighteen years old.
Speaker 7 (24:09):
Catch up in Candala. Need a fresh look or lovely lunch.
You'll find it here. Three great cafes, tasty takeaways, even
a gym. Candala Village has it all. Iconic retailers like
Gub's Shoes, Hamilton and Murray, TP and Vinie enjoy free parking.
Are friendly community and local gems including a p dietrist,
(24:31):
dentist and the florist. Locals rave about Kandala Village closer
than you think. Catch up in Candala.
Speaker 8 (24:39):
Weeknights from six. It's the business hour.
Speaker 9 (24:42):
Thanks to MAS Insurance and Investments.
Speaker 8 (24:44):
MAS has full area replacement house insurance where they'll pay
the reasonable costs for a rebuild, reinstating your home to
the same size and standard as it was before.
Speaker 7 (24:55):
Tens scenes and underwriting criteria may apply.
Speaker 9 (24:57):
Visit nasstot co dot MZAD.
Speaker 8 (25:00):
Focused on local and international issues to keep you fully informed.
It's the Business Hour weeknights from.
Speaker 9 (25:06):
With MAZ on News Talks, EDB.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Digging in to get to the heart of the story.
It's Hither duplicy Ellen Drive.
Speaker 9 (25:14):
The Maori Party has hijacked parliament once again with a hucker.
I'm just surprised that Jerry brownly got hoodwinked so easily
and thinking this wouldn't happen, and as soon as he
suspended Parliament the feed cut. Now it is not unexpected.
So I think given all things, the best outcome may
be the one that was achieved today, which is just
a blackout.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Heather Duplicy Ellen Drive with One New Zealand back today
at four only on News Talks.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
EDB Friday faced offf of Campbell Barry and Justin Lester.
Just I want to start with you on this one.
A new Chamber of Commerce surveys the last couple of
days showed that local business owners are not satisfied with
the council and how they treat businesses. When you saw this,
you would have seen this article. Is that any different
to the years that you were maor is that generinely
(25:59):
always the same? Or is it now that we are
getting worse?
Speaker 5 (26:02):
Our things have gotten worse in terms of probably one
the public perception of the council. And look, I've got
a lot of respect for the council and the people
that work there. They care a lot about their city.
But the comms haven't been great recently, and also the
media coverage, so things have gotten word bad comms, bad
media coverage means bad job being done, doesn't Sometimes it's
(26:26):
also become more sensationless. There is no question that over
the last thirty years media has become less objective or
balanced and slightly more sensational. But it hasn't been grace.
A range of projects either haven't been executed or delivered
well and business is hurting. And it's fair enough. So
(26:46):
their viewpoint is legitimate and it's justified. But also they
could help themselves too by being more constructive and coming
in with counsel and coming up with ideas. Don't always
just criticized and always just oppose and run. Some candidates
vision for Wellington was a great idea but achieved very
little because their vision documented it up looking just like
(27:09):
the council's long term plan. There's spend hundreds of thousands
of dollars and they're not going to change any dynamic.
So it worked really constructively and hopefully we can sort
it out.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
So vision for Wellington, I had the same issue. I
called them the Chardonaye club when they first were announced.
You know, they all think they're all self important, they
all think that they're actually going to change Wellington, but
they've actually done nothing at all.
Speaker 5 (27:33):
Nothing. If the council had run this process and spent
hundreds of thousands of dollars and no one turned up,
and people did turn up said it was a real
shamuzzle and nothing's been achieved, the counts will be castigated.
So run, some candidates step up, I say we do something.
Do something, Yeah, do something. To everyone that runs, I've
got enormous respect people don't like them or just agree
(27:55):
with them, enormous respect because they actually have the guts
to get.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Up and run. Run cambill. If the Chamber of Commerce
did the same survey in La Hut, how do you
think that your counsel would fear.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
It is hard to say. I think there generally is
perception issues that local government has across the board, regardless
of the council. Though I would say in working like
we have a really close partnership with our Chamber of Commerce.
We really closely with them on making sure that we're
actually getting out there were visiting businesses, We're involving them
in our major projects and giving them opportunities to be
(28:31):
able to supply and provide services. So look, I think
that we're in a good space, but I you know,
I'm not also going to pretend like there isn't that
perception issue generally for councils.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
It's my feedback from the business people that I know
that do business and Lahart for your for your is
your rubbish stuff? It seems to always everyone always talks
about rubbish and Lahart. I mean, do you charge too
much for your rubbish or something? Well, you make it
difficult for people to get their rubbish collected or something.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
We did change a few years ago around the recycling
and how it worked for some commercial premises, so they
were previously being able to use I suppose places that
where it was being charged directly to residential rates and
we stopped that so that could be it. But also
our Silverstream landfill prices have gone up, but that waste
levy that we charge does go back into actually making
(29:24):
sure you know, we can continue the landfill that the
landfall was sustainable into the future, and other sort of
waste minimization efforts.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
I just quickly want to ask you both what you
thought of the whole Winston Peter's home getting windows getting smashed,
you know, the actress from One New Zealand getting canceled.
You know, what did you what did you make of that? Campbell?
Speaker 4 (29:46):
I didn't know too much about it, actually, so I
hadn't caught up to it until this morning. I think
that you know, any invasion on politicians or public public
figures home lives is unacceptable. Weether this particular person broke
any laws, I'm not sure, but at the end of
the day, your actions have consequences, So I mean I
(30:07):
think that you know, it's sort of commercial decision of
one in z to then decide to remove them. I mean,
that's that's their prerogative. So actions have consequences.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Yeah, great line.
Speaker 5 (30:15):
Just yeah. Again, any attack or any harassment of politicians,
as it would be for any member of the public,
is unacceptable. I don't know why people think that's appropriate
behavior to give out on some Peter's addresses. Again, silly
and ive behavior and actions have consequences. So you live
in you live in your loan.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Let's get some hots and knots and have a bit
of a farewell chat to Campbell Bear.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
The Friday Fiet, just.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Unless they give us your hots.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
And not what's hot. Last weekend I spent the morning
just walking around the city and enjoying it as a tourist.
I never shop. I'm not much of a shopper, but
I went to the opening of a friend's studio, O
Studio and Courtney Precinct Exchange. Beautiful design, elegant, glow Glow
next door, the Cafe again new fantastic, Hummingbird Ross the
Road looks great, thunder Road also great. Cooder Order. Loved
(31:11):
all of them, so I was just really stoked to
see all these new businesses opening and doing well.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
Goodbye host there too it. Oh you wasn't there. Did
you see him speak? No, you didn't, obviously what you're
not hot? Not hot?
Speaker 5 (31:21):
We're losing Campbell Barry looking established mare in the region.
He's a saying voice, he's very smart. I look forward
to when he comes back into politics one day. Camb
we'd done a bloody good job and it's been a
pleasure to work with you. When I was there, and yeah,
I wish you the very best mate.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Thank you cal Berry hots knots hots.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
So my final full day is mere. It was awesome
to be at Fraser Park this morning to open the
Global Games New Zealand Junior Rugby Girls tournament, which was
sixty two teams from around the country, top of the North,
bottom of the South, all being hosted over the next
few days playing rugby and it's just fantastic. So shout
out to Tyrone Campbell, who's actually a hot man. It's
(32:03):
the first time he's brought this tournament to which is exciting.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Not hot, not hot.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Well, actually I sent out a farewell email as you
do on Wednesday to everyone that you sort of been
engaged with, and I've got a few replies with no
nice replies, and then one person came back and said, Campbell,
I've been trying to sort out this water lick issue
for and I went, oh, no, gosh. So anyway, I
was able to spend a bit of time and so
maybe it's not a not hot in fixing that person's
(32:35):
leak that have been going on for a while and
some problems there.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
Well, Campbell on behalf of this show, I want to
say that I've thoroughly enjoyed any time that we've spent together.
I think that you're a really really good, straight up
and down honest person. Apart from not telling me what
you're going to do when your next career moving, which
I think, I know it'll have something to do with
infrastructure and something to do with water. But I think
(32:58):
that you've been amazing for La Hut. I know that
people you're absolutely in your area absolutely love you, or
they think that you're trying to them, but the majority
of people think that you're an amazing person and you
are an amazing young politician. So I wish you all
the best in your new job in infrastructure in New
Zealand or Willing to Water or whatever it's going to be,
(33:20):
and look forward to having you on the show in
future times, just like ex mayors that we do have
on the show.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
Oh thank you, Nick, and you can I just say
thank you to you. It's been awesome to be able
to come in to this space, to be able to
talk to your listeners, to be able to listen to
them as well. I know you've got a lot of
very loyal listeners out in the Hut who tune in regularly.
It has been the privilege of my life to serve
as men for the last six years total of fifteen
years in local government. I'm pretty proud that I'm able
to start and leave at a younger age than what
(33:48):
most people actually even start their local government journey. So
I don't know what that says about me, but it's
just been fantastic.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
You know.
Speaker 4 (33:55):
I look at the numbers five hundred and seventy businesses
I've been able to visit the last six years, the connections,
the innovation that occurs, and the schools that you get
to visit. I mean, it is all about people and
when you can do things like the new Tonight and
I Paul and fitness which I justin came and has
been utilizing with his family. And also you know that
stuff that has been neglected for a while, like our
(34:17):
pipes in fifty seven kilometers of pipe replace in five
years would have taken thirty years pre twenty nineteen. Pretty
proud of that stuff.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
You've got twelve or fifteen seconds. What are you most
proud of?
Speaker 4 (34:27):
I've been asked this question a bit, and I would
say it is the culture that we've instilled at the Council.
I think that that culture has enabled us to build partnerships,
build connection relationships, opportunity, a government investment, and to create
all the upcomes and what we've been able to achieve
in the last six years in a short space of time.
Without that culture wouldn't be possible.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
Well, thank you, Thank you for being you. Thanks Justin
Lester for being you as well. Appreciate you both coming
in on Friday. Get excited, get excited for the weekend.
It's election time. Why do we not get excited about
local election?
Speaker 4 (35:01):
I'm excited those election parties. Are you going to go to?
Speaker 3 (35:03):
I don't know. I haven't been invited to any. I
don't think I'll get invited to any maybe on Monday afternoon.
I will thank you both very very much. Look forward
to probably talking to you in the next couple of
weeks over what happens.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news Talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.