Wellington has seen five suspicious deaths in around two weeks; a daylight shooting in Featherston, a man found dead on a footpath in Miramar, a suspected murder-suicide of a couple in Roseneath, and a person found dead in Northland. But do these sorts of crimes shock us like they used to?
Also, all New Zealand exports to the United States will be stung with a 10% tariff, announced by President Donald Trump as part of his "liberation day" announcement. How will this impact NZ, and should we be grateful it's only 10 per cent?
To answer those questions, former Wellington mayor Justin Lester and Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick for the Beehive Buzz.
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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 face off with Cordovic Property Management, a better rental
experience for all.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Visit Kuovi dot code on its head start by joining
us for Friday face Off. This week is former Wellington
mayor Justin Lester. Good Morning, justn't go again. Sorry, I forgot.
(00:42):
I'm saying I'll turn your bikerophone on. I forgot good
morning that that's that one joint I had in nineteen
seventy seven. It's made my mind a little bit not
quite right. We were talking about cannabis from nat forgot
made a little bit slower and I didn't turn your
bike on and news Talk said, be political editor. Why
they got you there? Why is Ethon put you down
(01:02):
as a TikTok star, Jason Waters, I'll tell you my story.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Thank you very much for the plug. Ethan the producer there,
because I started making tiktoks. And what I've started doing
is I see so much at Parliament. Okay, I've got
my little z B mike and I'm in with the
Prime Minister, the Opposition leader everything and then people were
just walking past me, and I thought to myself, this
is really cool being in the bowels of Parliament. So
I just started doing little updates where I sort of
(01:26):
filmed what's happening during the day and give a little
voice over as to what the big story of the
day was. So yesterday it was about tariffs. The day
before it was about tea party Marty's Privileges Committee hearing.
The day before that it was about Benjamin Doyle. And
it's quite fun, like it doesn't take as long as
you think it would. The first time I did it, it
took about two and a half hours as I was
just figuring it all out. But now it's like forty
(01:46):
five minutes and it's a real fun, little little hobby
that I've found it. It's a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
And you are that person. I got to say, I
know you reasonably well. You are that guy. I mean
when you were talking about it, I had a smile
inside my head side on your actual face, I could
just well, I could just imagined you with your little cambridge,
your little stand you're talking about immeculately a tie looking
for the spot, a bit like justin Reddy he's doing
that with his own you know, Wellington alive as well.
(02:11):
You know, it's almost like, yeah, I can't be that guy.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I didn't know you knew what TikTok was.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Of course I know what. What's that guy's name from
the Green Party. I'll come to that later, Benjamin oil
Oho in stereo, Yeah, in stereo. Okay, let's start with terrorists.
I'm going to come to you first, Justin, because we've
had it. We did an hour on it this morning,
and I say to myself, we should be thankful that
we've only got ten percent. And yes it's going to
(02:37):
cost us, and yes, the insecurity on the international money
markets and all those things are going to be be
we should be nervous about. But it could have been
a lot worse. New Zealand imports to whoever exports from
New Zealand into the United States are going to be
stung with a ten percent tariff announced by Donald Trump.
What does this actually mean for business in New Zealand? Justin,
(02:58):
you would have had to poink about it overnight. What
is it actually? What's the bottom line?
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Oh, look, there's a lot of sensationalism at the moment,
and understandably, the markets are uncertain, But for us, it's
just a blip. We've come from days where you know,
there are much much larger tariffs into New Zealand. I'm
a globalist personally, so I think it's good that we
don't have tariffs and we generally have free trade around
the world, but not always, so I think it's a
(03:23):
blip for us. Look the markets, you know, the markets
are down, yeah, but they're down to the levels are
out about June July last year. You've got to remember
they've gone up twenty percent since then and there was
a bit of a Trump trade that came in through that.
So it's a blip.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
The world will set itself right.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
We're really well placed. Actually, ironically, I think it's probably
net positive for New Zealand because because we trade with
everybody and we have no tariffs here and so therefore
are exporterers and we have no subsidies, so they're incredibly efficient.
They have access to most of those markets. And already
we're in areas that have been subject to the largest
(03:56):
tariffs or import barriers or export for US in the past,
and that's around the area, it's around agricultures, around horticulture.
So for us, look it creates uncertainty, but I think
nit positive And.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
It's funny you thinking, what's the word Imparliament after it
all came out. I mean they would have been talking before.
It could have been fifteen, could have been twenty percent,
So what's the word?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Well, I mean before the press conference there was a
lot of uncertainty. I mean the Prime Minister was reluctant
to comment on it, so was the Trade Minister, and
so was Winston Peters. But when it came out there
was a sense they wouldn't say it outright, but a
sense of relief that it was only ten percent. In fact,
Winston Peters took it one step further, talking about the
fact that we actually now have a bit of a
competitive advantage against our other competitors. I eat other countries,
(04:41):
if we have a ten percent tariff, if our exporters
are safe, for examples, sending one thousand dollars worth of
beef beef to make it really simple to the US,
now they have to up their prices a little bit.
One thousand dollars now becomes one thy one hundred. The
American consumers pay maybe a dollar extra for a slice
of beef. If our competitors have got a twenty percent tariff.
That means the American consumers are paying twelve dollars for
(05:02):
a slice of beef compared to New Zealand's eleven dollars.
So we actually do have a competitive advantage. Yes, there
are things around the sides and the margins that make
the economics of it a little less cut and dry,
but New Zealand at ten percent is still on the
lower levels.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And I think that securities and things like the money
markets and you know, things like that. I mean, there's
going to be some volatility to talk about. Could create
come some sort of recession in the United States that
surely should be concerning the mum and dad's in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Oh absolutely. And I mean there's the old adage that
when America coughs, the world gets a cold. And this
is something that is absolutely going to make more than
a cough well, I mean, you know, we it remains
to be seen. I agree with justin that there is
a momentary blip in the market, but that it does rebound.
The market hates uncertainty, and so beforehand there was a
lot of will they, won't they? What's going to be happening.
(05:53):
But now that they know to a better degree what
actually is happening in the US, I think things will
start to moderate a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
You think that we should be nervous or do you
think we should just like justin, just get on with
our lives and treat it as a blace.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Oh well, I mean there are other countries in the
world to trede too as well. I mean, if the
US doesn't want our exports, they're going to be slap
what I considered to be an unfair tariff on US.
I mean, our tariff comparatively to the US is less
than two percent, you know, so it is unfair. Why
don't we just sell the more to China. If that's
what the US wants, then let's give it to them.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Do you think justin that we should get some planning
in place now and look to doing something in retaliation,
or do we think we should just put up and
shut up and get on with our lives.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
No.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Look, New Zealand's got one of the freest economies in
the entire world, and we're better place for it. And
that's vastly different from where we were in the nineteen
seventies under Well done and Jude Roger Douglas's reforms in
the eighties. Interesting that I actually wrote my master's thesis
on this around agricultural subsidies and how it impacked in
New Zealand how we moved.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Away from and you're the right person to be talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah a little bit, but.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
Look, we're really well placed for our farmers, for a horticulturalists,
for wine makers and grape growers. I think if anything,
they'll see this as an opportunity relative as Jason was saying,
to other countries. So we've now got a stronger comparative advantage.
And in terms of the markets. Look it's sister blip.
(07:18):
A few were sixty five and retiring today. Yeah a
pain in the ass because yeah, yeah, your soup has
gone down, but actually just hold off for six months.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
What do you say to my comment? And it is
my comment that a major wine grower and Blenham was
looking at a new John Deare tractor, a couple of
hundred thousand dollars and looking like spending all this money
and then suddenly saying I'm feeling a little bit insecure
whether I'm going to sell as much wine to America
as I did beforehand, should I not buy that tractor,
(07:49):
which means the John Deare agent and Blenham doesn't get
to sell and doesn't get to make any money. He
can't pay his staff or she can't pay their staff.
I mean, there's got to be a trickle on effect,
and there is. There's no doubt about that.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
So there'll be on some uncertainty, but people have a
memory span about three to six months. And then beyond that.
What's more important interest rates coming down. We actually been
through the worst of an economic trough. Hopefully this doesn't
mean double dip and we go back into it. I
don't think it will, because inflation's going the right way,
interest rates are coming down, We're already beginning to see
(08:22):
green shoots in the housing market.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I think we're.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Actually on the up and like I said, probably not
positive for New Zealand exported.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Jason, you think we've got anything to be concerned about
for the poor old John Dere dealership in Blenheim.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
No, I mean, as you both a pointed out the
blip situation, I mean we just need to keep an
eye on where the market is and wait for six months.
I mean, if you're a wine grower, you do have
a much better competitive advantage. You look at the Lakes
of Spain and Italy in the European Union, twenty percent
over there, plus New Zealand wine a premium product. You
actually might come out of this better than we went
into it.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Wow, I should have had you guys on for the
first hour. I just thought the insecurity and the ups
and downs, and we wouldn't. Sure.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Well, I didn't do my masters in agricultural economics. I
just did and normal economics. So I think Justin's your
man here.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I did mine on Bourbon and Coke sought they so took.
You're both a little bit better off for me right now.
Socially you probably went out there. Okay. Wellington's seen five
suspicious deaths in around two weeks daylight shooting and Featherston
a man found dead on a footpath and Miramara suspected
murder suicide of a foreign couple based in living in
(09:30):
New Zealand and Roseneath and a person found dead outside
a house in Northland. And Justin and I were just
about to start talking about it, but both of us
look at each other saying, you know, when a murder
used to be a big deal, and now we've brought
fifteen extra policemen into Wellington and I did an hour
on the show and everyone was, oh, it's a bit boring, Nick.
Justin tell me what you were about to leash with before.
(09:53):
We had to come back on a.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
Very similar sentiment to you.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Nick.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Look, and that's I think the one thing of the
last thirty years, and that's showing my age now New
Zealand sense of community and we seem to be losing
it in the range of different reas. And I think
and one is the falling away of local newspapers because
it's really hard. I understand the media landscapes is really hard,
but we don't see the same strength of local reporting
(10:16):
that we once did. It used to be that Carla
Cardiner or anybody else, way back when it was national
news if someone was killed in New Zealand. And I
remember reflecting last year in Auckland, seem there was at
least one a week, if not every few days. And
I hope again this is just a series of unfortunate
events in Wellington because we don't tend to see nearly
as many here in the capitol.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
But it's more too. Can I just ask as an
next mayor. I mean, you know the city better than
us two put together. But you know all in the suburbs.
You know, this is where it really confuses me. And
you're not in your head because you obviously agree, you know,
be different if there was one in town and one
and there. But these are all in the suburbs. And
that's why I fluent suburbs.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
A series of unfortunate events, I mean, the Rose and
Eath couple, the murder suicide, it's perplexing, like I don't
know what's going on there. And again the one where
there was I think a home invasion, a miramar and
then a gentleman was killed outside on the street. And
again I don't have the details. But I am worried
about the New Zealand losing sense of community. It's one
of the things I've loved so much about. It's why
(11:18):
I'm here with my family.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
You know, keyways.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Can you know the very talented sports wise, professionally, they
could live anywhere in the world. We live here because
it's safe. We love it. It's access to everything and
if you've got ambition, can achieve whatever you want to.
But let's not lose that sense of us and who
we are because it's what holds us together.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Jason, what's your take on it?
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Yeah, I mean I'd hate to be a political party
advocating for the radical disestablishment of the police in Wellington
right now, for example, But it does. Yeah, I would
say that, you know, these murders have been covered by reporters,
this is making national news. But the thing is there
is a lot, unfortunately, a lot more murders these days,
(12:01):
so one murder, two murder, three murders doesn't actually make
as much of a splash as it did back in
the day when there were a lot fewer of them.
And that's just sort of the nature of the news.
I'm freed, But it is.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Is it because we're getting the news there? And then
this is something that a couple of people ram me about.
Is it because we would have heard about it through
some other forum rather than the media, you know, before
the you know, before the media got to it.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
I mean, potentially, I mean the vast majority of people
would have heard it through the press. But it doesn't
mean that it's not being covered and it doesn't mean
that people aren't necessarily talking about it. And I kind
of pushed back a little bit on what you're saying
is that people don't care anymore. I think the people do.
There is a worry out there. It just might not
be being discussed as much because it's not as much
of a shocking event anymore, unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
And that's unfortunate. Yeah, that is unfortunate. And to get
to your comment, Justine, I've just got the post in
front of me. Now this I grew up with this paper.
You grew up with this paper. We all grew up
with this paper. You know, Saints played last night in town.
You know, three thousand people odd to the game. It's
not even a story in there. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
And I've been reflecting on this because women doing a
lot of work with the Saints recently. And it's I mean,
quite frankly an embarrassment. I mean, has anyone noticed lately?
You go on to stuff and you'll see a review
of cafe review and it's a review of an Auckland cafe,
and then there's a section which is have a look.
There's an Auckland section on the post, but there's no
Wellington section. I'm absolutely baffled about what's going on there.
(13:28):
And I get out there trying to be a national
media outlet I understand the economics around it, but we
have lost, it.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Feels to me.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
Our local newspaper, likewise, they did do one story about
Cuban Doopet was on the front page, but it was
very light, no build up. That is the largest street
party or urban festival in the entire country. Virtually no coverage.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
They're actually saying South Pacific.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
In South Pacific, Yeah, yeah, I mean, wouldn't be surprised.
It is of the southern hemisphere, our carnival, like Rio Engineer.
I was there and it was so good, Like I
was surprised myself because I've been there a lot, but
it was so blooming good. Virtually no coverage, My gosh.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
I mean that's something that I wanted to keep this
to that, the suspicious death's story. Is there anything that
we can do justin that we're not doing to sort of,
I don't know, make us all feel a bit safer.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Yeah, I mean that's a strong engagement. Strong engagement with
the police has to be right at the heart of it.
So look, and Tamith is a really good friend. Actually
she's part of a two year program, so I mentored
her for a year when she's still at university. But
I think you've just got understand the police in New
Zealand are wonderful advocates for community and safety. I've spent
(14:46):
nights out there with them on the beat and they
are absolutely brilliant. So get alongside them. Yeah, fun them,
better make sure they're visible and that people feel safe.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
And would you think that the media can do more?
Speaker 3 (15:01):
I mean you're a meaning of the coverage. Well, I
mean it's complicated when it comes to the coverage of
alleged murders and various different things because you can't say
everything that you think that you know, you've got to
stick very closely within the bounds of laws around reporting
about these things. So sometimes people can look at a
story and say, well, there are no details, it's very
bare bones, and that's because legally it has to be.
(15:24):
I again, I'm not a crime reporter. I don't know
the ins and outs of these stories, but you've got
to be very careful with the coverage of them because
the worst thing you can do, like, if I get
something wrong, it's politicians going to bring me and yell
at me. Big deal. But if you if you fall
foul of the court, and the law. When it comes
to these sorts of stories, you can be in a
heck of a lot of trouble.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
And they seem these stories, all of them, apart from
the shooting in Featherstone, are all sort of who done
at crime stories, aren't they? I mean, you know you
wouldn't read about it, would you? A guy found dead
outside a house, you know, a couple with apparently suppose.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
You do read about it. I mean, I don't know
where this is going from seeing the coverage.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
You don't know. But what I'm what I'm getting at
is you get that we're not getting the information because
they are who done it and the reporter can't write it.
We're getting the information about all the information we're allowed
to get, but it's all like we don't know that
the story of Mirrormar I live out there, you out there,
We didn't know what the hell was going on because
we weren't you know, reporters weren't legally allowed to write
(16:22):
about it. Sure was the two incidents connected. We didn't
really know until this morning, did we, you know? So
that's what I'm getting.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
I'm not having a cracket, No, I see what you mean.
And like I do agree in so far as the
fact there's if this was an Awkland story or a
Metro story where it was very well resourced in terms
of reporters, this would be an ongoing more details, people
knocking on doors and getting information and you can see
as a journalist and an edit to myself how this
could pan out. And I do, I do have some
(16:50):
sympathy for your view. It's not the coverage that we're getting.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
In Yeah, but I think we're getting a little bit
confused as I'm saying that the stories are aren't writable
because we don't, not even the police know what the
hell's gone on with the situation of Mirrima. We're getting
a little bit more, but it does feel like very
to be part of Wellington right now with all this
going on. That's that's where I wanted to leave it.
The Select Committee reporting to David Seymour's Treaty Principles bill
(17:16):
has just been released in the last few minutes while
Jason Wilves has been in the studio and the committee
recommends the bill doesn't progress further. Jason, can I just
ask you sorry, Justin will come to you in a second,
But what does that mean?
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Yeah? I mean, ultimately nothing right. And I've been reading.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
It's just a whole lot of waste of time, and
let's get on the line.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
The report was always going to be voted down in
the second reading. Winston Peters and Chris Luxon have been
very clear on that. And this whole thing has been
you know, David Seymour will say it's been an exercise
and free speech and people have had the opportunity to
submit on a contentious issue. And I think that, you know,
you look at three hundred thousand submissions on this bill,
I mean, it's absolutely massive. You can't argue that we
(17:58):
haven't had a good thrashing out of the idea. Interesting
in the report itself, just how to read it. It's large,
and it's it's we'll have you coverage on this as
the day goes on. But the final comment says, overall,
this bill has been an international embarrassment. We've attracted international
attention for this legislation, legislative attack on our indigenous people
(18:19):
as well as our inability to honor our agreements. So
that's coming from the report. This is a bipartisan group
of MPs, it's chaired by a national MP. There is
Act Party, MPs, TI Party, Marty MP's Labor MPs all
on the Justice Select Committee and the overall determination of
this report is that they think it should be thrown
(18:40):
out and it's an embarrassment, and I think that that's
probably going to be the lingering taste for a lot
of people.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
And for me, the lingering taste of what a cost
that was involved in a time when we're telling everybody
they've got to lose their jobs and tighten up, we
spend money like that for a result that we knew
was going to be exactly the same. Justin Lister, what
are your thoughts when you hear that.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
Yeah, Look, it's been a massive own goal by the government.
I imagine it's been a political nightmare for the Prime Minister.
He wouldn't have perhaps expected to have the level of
I guess uproar outrage and should have and that's perhaps
the relative naivety of not having a longer career in politics,
(19:20):
so that's become a person like mare for him. There's
no doubt it has been an international embarrassment. It's been
very divisive, it's been toxic. The government will want to
go away as quickly as possible, but that memory will
linger on for many Maldy in particular and supporters for
many a year.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
So, jase, that's it gone finished? Last we hear of it?
Speaker 3 (19:41):
No, no, no, no, it's still it still has to
habits reading in the house, the second reading, so and
we don't know when that is yet. They've just got
the reports. So what happens next is David Seymour, who's
the architect of the bill, couldn't well he could. I
don't think he's going to do it. I think that
he's been asked to do so by the people that
are against the bill. But at this stage, you know,
there'll be the usual twelve readings in the House or
(20:03):
the twelve speeches in the house. It is going to
be content. It's going to be very interesting to see
the Nats on this one, because the first reading the
kind of stood up and mumbled a couple of platitudes
and sat down. Now they have to vault against it.
Are they're going to be very fourth right in their
opposition or are they going to just say I speaking
the party line and sit down. We don't know, but
(20:24):
t party Marty, what are they going to do?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Well?
Speaker 3 (20:26):
I mean, obviously they're obviously.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Going to be they've been turned up to their hearing first.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Well, I don't think that's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Okay, let's move on to let's move slightly, move on.
We'll stay in politics because that's why you're here. Green
MP Benjamin Doyle is under fire for social media posts,
including one where he captured a post a They captioned
a post sorry, I've got to get it right. They
captured a post bussy galore. Winston Peters and the Prime
(20:53):
Minister boasted the post where inappropriate, but the Green say
it was a private account and shouldn't be dragged into
the public domain. Justin what are your thoughts when you've
seen all this unfold and what what? What do you
what do you think should be done here?
Speaker 4 (21:07):
The Greens need to apologize Benjamin Doyle again, I haven't
seen it, but if he hasn't already, he should apologize profusely.
You're a public official, he's not elected, he's a list MP. However,
you are subject to public scrutiny. It's an appropriate so apologize.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Right the point that Audrey Young Maide, who has always
somebody to turn to in these sorts of situations.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Love that article by the way, she's the best.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
She's so good. Is that Benjamin Doyle wants you're an MP,
everything is fair game. So their Instagram account, even though
it was private, even but though it was their Instagram
account before they became a politician, you're still a politician.
And so think about it like this. If it was
an act MP, they would be fair game. I mean,
I was talking to some very senior members of the
(21:54):
National Party about this very issue, and they said, during
the campaign period, there was one of their candidates who
was in an unwinnable seat that had some social media
posts from ten years ago come up and this candidate's
wife was doors stopped in their place of work. You know,
they were relentlessly challenged on these posts.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
I mean, we've we've seen it with high profile politicians
with a swastika when they were fourteen or thirteen at
a fancy dress, losing positions and stuff. So I mean
this is no different.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
It's untenable and on it's it's frankly well not shocking,
but it's you know that the Greens are saying that
there's nothing to see here. And I know that there
has been a debate as of late about the use
of the phrase that one.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Did you had you heard of that phrase before?
Speaker 3 (22:41):
I had?
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Oh? What does it mean?
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Jason?
Speaker 3 (22:45):
I'm not that brave. I don't want another BS complain.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Did you did you know I've heard of it. I
don't really know what it means. I'll explained in the end.
I had I recognized the liberal, most liberal at any
of us in this group, including Ethan. I think I'm
you know, I'm street wise and street smart and all that.
I had never heard of it before.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
But I mean the point is that we we can't
even describe what the word is. I mean, I'm hesitant
to even say it. We had a member of Parliament
that is using this caption on their Instagram post and
that says all it needs.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Shouldn't it? Should it be a fireable? They they they.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Sorry, it's I It's a tough one. I think the
question remains. I mean, to me, the issue is with
the Green Party and their duty of care. They should
have seen this coming as a political mindfield. There is
no way that this post, when it was revealed in
this caption would have not been a political story, and
they should have seen how damaging it could have been
(23:40):
for Benjamin Doyle and how damaging it is and how
damaging it is for the party. They should have made
a decision not to include Benjamin Doyle on their list,
certainly not as a member of Parliament, because they have
a duty of care to the party and also to
Benjamin themselves.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Should they should they have got no. I mean, it's
not a viable offense. But if they do it again,
then your reliability and then they should.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Go Okay, well we'll bussy off of that one. I'm
still confused again.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
We'll do it in the break.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
We'll ever break. We'll ever break. Is twenty minutes to twelve,
And it's Friday, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (24:20):
And it's it's yeah, it's still break. It doesn't matter.
The bsa dog, dog count.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
The town relate to busy. He can keep his job.
I can keep my job. Yeah, they could keep they.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
Keeping of the day.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
Oh gosh, I'm gonna lose my job if they don't
get mentioned to they many times Friday face off. Boh,
you know, I could make a living out of selling
the TikTok accounts, the TikTok things of what gets said
in between breaks of Friday face If that.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Was recorded, we'd be. We didn't see anything untoward. We
just described what the post meant, which we can't say
on air.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Okay we could, We could have probably said it on
you couldn't we I've learned something.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
You can't see his face right now, but justin as
pale as a ghost after after learning the definition.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
It just stopped me in the street tonight. If you
want to know the definition, I'll give it to you.
I can still keep my job. No graphic examples, so please,
no graphic examples. Just enlist the ex Mira of Wellington
and face page o fa Facebook page owner. I still
can't quite.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Did you buy Wellington Live?
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Is that no start up?
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Don't start a live live that's been the subject of
some dispute.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Yeah, yeah, I should show you some texts. Remind me
the next day break to show you some texts. Anyway,
I'm I'm not surprised. And Jason Walls, whose news talk
said bees political editor and general good.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Guy, stop it.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Let's let's talk. What are we going to talk about?
Nixt feries. We haven't talked about the faeries. I used
to have a producer used to tell me these things
when he's be gone to sleep. It's Friday out, it's
Friday afternoon. He's on bees He's already. You know, rail
Minister Winston Peters have bills. His plans for the enter
isem fairy replacements, but the Faeries aren't affirmed and no
contracts have been signed. Jason Woof, Now, we had a
(26:09):
bit of a bit about this, and we're still arguing
whether who said what and what said what. But our
listeners will know that I said, don't expect too much
out of this announcement. You said, oh no, it'll be okay. Well,
we're not going to debate. That was this announcement on
the mail, you know, on the the heading, the nail
on the head. Was it enough information or was it
(26:29):
another waffle?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Listen, it was it was somewhere between a waffle and
the perfect announcement.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
You know.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
We didn't find out a how much money it was
going to cost, which shipbuilders will be building the ships,
anything to do with the breaking fee or anything like that.
What we did learn was some logistical details such as
the size of the ferries, the level of port infrastructure,
and where that is going to be happening. So it
kind of met in the middle. There was a un listen,
we talked about this before. I still don't know the
(26:57):
difference between rail capable and rail enabled, but it's one
of those two. It's Winston Peter's he loves his rail
so it's probably the better of the two of those.
But it's not bad in the sense that it was
absolutely nothing in it. I do have some sympathy for
the idea that these things take time their commercial negotiations
and giving the game away by saying who are these
(27:19):
who are these companies competing for the tender would actually
diminish the their corporate standings when it comes to bidding
for that contract. I do understand that, However, we have
been waiting a long time for some information and I
would have liked to see a little bit more justin liston.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
You would have had a lot of involvement in this
when you were mayor or Warrington, with what was wanted?
What was Every mayor has a lot to do with it.
What did you make out of the announcement?
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Look again, it's another massive own goal for the government.
So at the moment it's too now we're at halftime
the selection in eighteen months or so and they've got
to play some catch up. So they're going to have
to show that the economy's growing interest threats come down.
They've been the architect of that because DREADI principle was
built an own goal and this is another one. They
didn't have to do this. If you think back to
(28:03):
John Key, what made him so popular in his at
the time was he was really moderate and quite pragmatic
and sensible. I imagine his approach would have been at
the time, blame labor. Okay, there's been a cost blowout.
We will fund it up to this point. You'll receive
no more funds and every step of the way, yep,
we're sucking this up.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Was labor cocked it up. They didn't.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
They said we're going to get a better deal and
they've got a much worse deal and worst case so
we actually don't know what deal we're going to end
up with and we're not going to have theories for
many years. Again, it's internationally embarrassing. The infrastructure is not
at the level it needs to be in neither other ferries.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
And to be fair, Christip Cans did come out and
say that they got it wrong as well, so in.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
Terms of the cost blow but let's not forget that's
all port side, and that's all an investment in the
future proofing of Wellington and Picton infrastructure. And let's also
not forget this is perhaps the most important piece of
infrastructure that exists in New Zealand between the two islands,
and it's a continuation of State Highway One. And we
fed him massive we do. It's a massive, massive own goal.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
The Friday fact and not.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Okay, it's that time of the week where we have
our guest Justin Lester and Jason Walls. They'll tell us
they're hot takes of the week and they're not takes
something that went really well and something that they are
very upset about. Jason, will'd you start.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
With my hots? I would say the Mahi and the
diligence of my other political reporters in the gallery. We
had Sophie Trigger breaking the yarn front page of The
Herald earlier this week about the time frame extension for
the government's five hundred new police officers and how hard
it's actually going to meet. That fantastic story, really good
(29:49):
work from her, and then a couple of days before
Azariah Howl with the scoop on Tamatha Paul's comments about
the police. Very it's very hot to work with. Sorry,
it's not very hot to work with. It's very great
to work I was trying to incorporate the hot or not.
It's very great to work with people that are just
so on their game and fantastic It can make me
as an editor look great. So that's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Can I just say both of them are colleagues ex
colleagues of ours. Oh yeah, coming through the training of
news talks there Be and Wellington.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
They're both former Wellington reporters, So fantastic job.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
My way over there.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
He's trying to claim them. My not is. I was
supposed to play golf with Max Toll, who did the
news before last Saturday, but I was too sick to
get out on the course. So hopefully we're playing on Sunday,
where I'm going to score fifty five over part probably
you know what, playing.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
I would love to be a fly on the wall.
That would be a great conversation, you're Max told I
would love just to.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
Be just not trash o you the whole time.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
I'd just like to be your Keddy. That'd be some
great conversation, some very intelligent conversation, just the list to
come on, hit me with your hots and not.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
Well, I'm a much more basic person to my heart.
So you ever driven past esther Nord at the base
of the dem Attuckers and there's a sign there it
says bacon and eggs ten dollar breakfast, and I always
want to.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
I wonder what the food's like.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Pop Dan Best Ribs and Wellington best Ribs. I reckon
and the Wellington region. Their entire food is incredible.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
It's a cording it.
Speaker 4 (31:09):
It's called Aston Norwood at the base of the EMU Tuckers.
So just out pass upper Heart, stop in, grab yourself
from lunch or dinner. Try the ribs bottomless ribs even
although bottomless bodomless ribs, as many as you want. How
much bottom it was very reasonable. I think twenty five
thirty bucks bottomless ribs.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
Oh, I'm gonna I'm gonna go there for.
Speaker 4 (31:29):
It was so good, the best ribs, but I won't
use it. Ribs very very good. So highly recommend if
you like ribs right there you go on. You're not hot,
well my not hot as Actually this is a silver lining.
So the Phoenix haven't had the best of seasons after
being wonderful performers last year, so that's not so hot. However,
(31:50):
the silver lining is all of their academy teams just
smashing it at the moment, so actually the process is working.
So let's see these youngsters as they get into the team,
get more established and they'll start winning and maybe sell
a few of them too. So it's great to see
the academy teams or winning.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
I'm going to put you on the spot because you're
an ex mayor Wellington and you're reduced to making these
big decisions. Would you have cheap be back next year?
Speaker 4 (32:12):
Yes, I would, because he's nobody else to replace him.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
It's going to be better.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
He had success in his first year. They lost what
seven eight players? They lost it goal Alex Paul some
here's the best paying the league.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
They lost. It's so much trouble. It's all about.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
One game. Should you kick him out and trust the process.
If he's no good next year, it might be time
for a move.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
There's someone's just text and agreeing with you their ten dollars.
Bacon and eggs are very good. Also the bottomless robs.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
Honestly the best ribs you'll ever have.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
I'll put it on our Facebook page. What was it called? Again?
We'll give another aston Nor would never heard of it,
but I'm going there. Yeah, I've got a new name
for I'll text him and give them my new name
for their ribs. It'll be very good. Uh, Justin, Lester
and Jason will thank you both for coming and taking
time out of your very busy schedules, both of you
to join us this morning. Thoroughly enjoyed having you here.
Have a great weekend and enjoy your cricket with Max.
(33:07):
Told I'd love to be golf golf. What did I say?
Speaker 3 (33:10):
You said, cricket.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Golf fast mix. Well, God, I told you I shouldn't
had that. Join in the nineteen sixty.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Six dissecting the week sublime and ridiculous Friday face off
with Quinovic Property Management, a better rental experience for all.
Call eight hundred Quinovic 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 face off with Cordovic Property Management, a better rental
experience for all.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Visit Kuovi dot code on its head start by joining
us for Friday face Off. This week is former Wellington
mayor Justin Lester. Good Morning, justn't go again. Sorry, I forgot.
(00:42):
I'm saying I'll turn your bikerophone on. I forgot good
morning that that's that one joint I had in nineteen
seventy seven. It's made my mind a little bit not
quite right. We were talking about cannabis from nat forgot
made a little bit slower and I didn't turn your
bike on and news Talk said, be political editor. Why
they got you there? Why is Ethon put you down
(01:02):
as a TikTok star, Jason Waters, I'll tell you my story.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Thank you very much for the plug. Ethan the producer there,
because I started making tiktoks. And what I've started doing
is I see so much at Parliament. Okay, I've got
my little z B mike and I'm in with the
Prime Minister, the Opposition leader everything and then people were
just walking past me, and I thought to myself, this
is really cool being in the bowels of Parliament. So
I just started doing little updates where I sort of
(01:26):
filmed what's happening during the day and give a little
voice over as to what the big story of the
day was. So yesterday it was about tariffs. The day
before it was about tea party Marty's Privileges Committee hearing.
The day before that it was about Benjamin Doyle. And
it's quite fun, like it doesn't take as long as
you think it would. The first time I did it, it
took about two and a half hours as I was
just figuring it all out. But now it's like forty
(01:46):
five minutes and it's a real fun, little little hobby
that I've found it. It's a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
And you are that person. I got to say, I
know you reasonably well. You are that guy. I mean
when you were talking about it, I had a smile
inside my head side on your actual face, I could
just well, I could just imagined you with your little cambridge,
your little stand you're talking about immeculately a tie looking
for the spot, a bit like justin Reddy he's doing
that with his own you know, Wellington alive as well.
(02:11):
You know, it's almost like, yeah, I can't be that guy.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I didn't know you knew what TikTok was.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Of course I know what. What's that guy's name from
the Green Party. I'll come to that later, Benjamin oil
Oho in stereo, Yeah, in stereo. Okay, let's start with terrorists.
I'm going to come to you first, Justin, because we've
had it. We did an hour on it this morning,
and I say to myself, we should be thankful that
we've only got ten percent. And yes it's going to
(02:37):
cost us, and yes, the insecurity on the international money
markets and all those things are going to be be
we should be nervous about. But it could have been
a lot worse. New Zealand imports to whoever exports from
New Zealand into the United States are going to be
stung with a ten percent tariff announced by Donald Trump.
What does this actually mean for business in New Zealand? Justin,
(02:58):
you would have had to poink about it overnight. What
is it actually? What's the bottom line?
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Oh, look, there's a lot of sensationalism at the moment,
and understandably, the markets are uncertain, But for us, it's
just a blip. We've come from days where you know,
there are much much larger tariffs into New Zealand. I'm
a globalist personally, so I think it's good that we
don't have tariffs and we generally have free trade around
the world, but not always, so I think it's a
(03:23):
blip for us. Look the markets, you know, the markets
are down, yeah, but they're down to the levels are
out about June July last year. You've got to remember
they've gone up twenty percent since then and there was
a bit of a Trump trade that came in through that.
So it's a blip.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
The world will set itself right.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
We're really well placed. Actually, ironically, I think it's probably
net positive for New Zealand because because we trade with
everybody and we have no tariffs here and so therefore
are exporterers and we have no subsidies, so they're incredibly efficient.
They have access to most of those markets. And already
we're in areas that have been subject to the largest
(03:56):
tariffs or import barriers or export for US in the past,
and that's around the area, it's around agricultures, around horticulture.
So for us, look it creates uncertainty, but I think
nit positive And.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
It's funny you thinking, what's the word Imparliament after it
all came out. I mean they would have been talking before.
It could have been fifteen, could have been twenty percent,
So what's the word?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Well, I mean before the press conference there was a
lot of uncertainty. I mean the Prime Minister was reluctant
to comment on it, so was the Trade Minister, and
so was Winston Peters. But when it came out there
was a sense they wouldn't say it outright, but a
sense of relief that it was only ten percent. In fact,
Winston Peters took it one step further, talking about the
fact that we actually now have a bit of a
competitive advantage against our other competitors. I eat other countries,
(04:41):
if we have a ten percent tariff, if our exporters
are safe, for examples, sending one thousand dollars worth of
beef beef to make it really simple to the US,
now they have to up their prices a little bit.
One thousand dollars now becomes one thy one hundred. The
American consumers pay maybe a dollar extra for a slice
of beef. If our competitors have got a twenty percent tariff.
That means the American consumers are paying twelve dollars for
(05:02):
a slice of beef compared to New Zealand's eleven dollars.
So we actually do have a competitive advantage. Yes, there
are things around the sides and the margins that make
the economics of it a little less cut and dry,
but New Zealand at ten percent is still on the
lower levels.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And I think that securities and things like the money
markets and you know, things like that. I mean, there's
going to be some volatility to talk about. Could create
come some sort of recession in the United States that
surely should be concerning the mum and dad's in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Oh absolutely. And I mean there's the old adage that
when America coughs, the world gets a cold. And this
is something that is absolutely going to make more than
a cough well, I mean, you know, we it remains
to be seen. I agree with justin that there is
a momentary blip in the market, but that it does rebound.
The market hates uncertainty, and so beforehand there was a
lot of will they, won't they? What's going to be happening.
(05:53):
But now that they know to a better degree what
actually is happening in the US, I think things will
start to moderate a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
You think that we should be nervous or do you
think we should just like justin, just get on with
our lives and treat it as a blace.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Oh well, I mean there are other countries in the
world to trede too as well. I mean, if the
US doesn't want our exports, they're going to be slap
what I considered to be an unfair tariff on US.
I mean, our tariff comparatively to the US is less
than two percent, you know, so it is unfair. Why
don't we just sell the more to China. If that's
what the US wants, then let's give it to them.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Do you think justin that we should get some planning
in place now and look to doing something in retaliation,
or do we think we should just put up and
shut up and get on with our lives.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
No.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Look, New Zealand's got one of the freest economies in
the entire world, and we're better place for it. And
that's vastly different from where we were in the nineteen
seventies under Well done and Jude Roger Douglas's reforms in
the eighties. Interesting that I actually wrote my master's thesis
on this around agricultural subsidies and how it impacked in
New Zealand how we moved.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Away from and you're the right person to be talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah a little bit, but.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
Look, we're really well placed for our farmers, for a horticulturalists,
for wine makers and grape growers. I think if anything,
they'll see this as an opportunity relative as Jason was saying,
to other countries. So we've now got a stronger comparative advantage.
And in terms of the markets. Look it's sister blip.
(07:18):
A few were sixty five and retiring today. Yeah a
pain in the ass because yeah, yeah, your soup has
gone down, but actually just hold off for six months.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
What do you say to my comment? And it is
my comment that a major wine grower and Blenham was
looking at a new John Deare tractor, a couple of
hundred thousand dollars and looking like spending all this money
and then suddenly saying I'm feeling a little bit insecure
whether I'm going to sell as much wine to America
as I did beforehand, should I not buy that tractor,
(07:49):
which means the John Deare agent and Blenham doesn't get
to sell and doesn't get to make any money. He
can't pay his staff or she can't pay their staff.
I mean, there's got to be a trickle on effect,
and there is. There's no doubt about that.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
So there'll be on some uncertainty, but people have a
memory span about three to six months. And then beyond that.
What's more important interest rates coming down. We actually been
through the worst of an economic trough. Hopefully this doesn't
mean double dip and we go back into it. I
don't think it will, because inflation's going the right way,
interest rates are coming down, We're already beginning to see
(08:22):
green shoots in the housing market.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I think we're.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Actually on the up and like I said, probably not
positive for New Zealand exported.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Jason, you think we've got anything to be concerned about
for the poor old John Dere dealership in Blenheim.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
No, I mean, as you both a pointed out the
blip situation, I mean we just need to keep an
eye on where the market is and wait for six months.
I mean, if you're a wine grower, you do have
a much better competitive advantage. You look at the Lakes
of Spain and Italy in the European Union, twenty percent
over there, plus New Zealand wine a premium product. You
actually might come out of this better than we went
into it.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Wow, I should have had you guys on for the
first hour. I just thought the insecurity and the ups
and downs, and we wouldn't. Sure.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Well, I didn't do my masters in agricultural economics. I
just did and normal economics. So I think Justin's your
man here.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I did mine on Bourbon and Coke sought they so took.
You're both a little bit better off for me right now.
Socially you probably went out there. Okay. Wellington's seen five
suspicious deaths in around two weeks daylight shooting and Featherston
a man found dead on a footpath and Miramara suspected
murder suicide of a foreign couple based in living in
(09:30):
New Zealand and Roseneath and a person found dead outside
a house in Northland. And Justin and I were just
about to start talking about it, but both of us
look at each other saying, you know, when a murder
used to be a big deal, and now we've brought
fifteen extra policemen into Wellington and I did an hour
on the show and everyone was, oh, it's a bit boring, Nick.
Justin tell me what you were about to leash with before.
(09:53):
We had to come back on a.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
Very similar sentiment to you.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Nick.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Look, and that's I think the one thing of the
last thirty years, and that's showing my age now New
Zealand sense of community and we seem to be losing
it in the range of different reas. And I think
and one is the falling away of local newspapers because
it's really hard. I understand the media landscapes is really hard,
but we don't see the same strength of local reporting
(10:16):
that we once did. It used to be that Carla
Cardiner or anybody else, way back when it was national
news if someone was killed in New Zealand. And I
remember reflecting last year in Auckland, seem there was at
least one a week, if not every few days. And
I hope again this is just a series of unfortunate
events in Wellington because we don't tend to see nearly
as many here in the capitol.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
But it's more too. Can I just ask as an
next mayor. I mean, you know the city better than
us two put together. But you know all in the suburbs.
You know, this is where it really confuses me. And
you're not in your head because you obviously agree, you know,
be different if there was one in town and one
and there. But these are all in the suburbs. And
that's why I fluent suburbs.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
A series of unfortunate events, I mean, the Rose and
Eath couple, the murder suicide, it's perplexing, like I don't
know what's going on there. And again the one where
there was I think a home invasion, a miramar and
then a gentleman was killed outside on the street. And
again I don't have the details. But I am worried
about the New Zealand losing sense of community. It's one
of the things I've loved so much about. It's why
(11:18):
I'm here with my family.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
You know, keyways.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Can you know the very talented sports wise, professionally, they
could live anywhere in the world. We live here because
it's safe. We love it. It's access to everything and
if you've got ambition, can achieve whatever you want to.
But let's not lose that sense of us and who
we are because it's what holds us together.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Jason, what's your take on it?
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Yeah, I mean I'd hate to be a political party
advocating for the radical disestablishment of the police in Wellington
right now, for example, But it does. Yeah, I would
say that, you know, these murders have been covered by reporters,
this is making national news. But the thing is there
is a lot, unfortunately, a lot more murders these days,
(12:01):
so one murder, two murder, three murders doesn't actually make
as much of a splash as it did back in
the day when there were a lot fewer of them.
And that's just sort of the nature of the news.
I'm freed, But it is.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Is it because we're getting the news there? And then
this is something that a couple of people ram me about.
Is it because we would have heard about it through
some other forum rather than the media, you know, before
the you know, before the media got to it.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
I mean, potentially, I mean the vast majority of people
would have heard it through the press. But it doesn't
mean that it's not being covered and it doesn't mean
that people aren't necessarily talking about it. And I kind
of pushed back a little bit on what you're saying
is that people don't care anymore. I think the people do.
There is a worry out there. It just might not
be being discussed as much because it's not as much
of a shocking event anymore, unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
And that's unfortunate. Yeah, that is unfortunate. And to get
to your comment, Justine, I've just got the post in
front of me. Now this I grew up with this paper.
You grew up with this paper. We all grew up
with this paper. You know, Saints played last night in town.
You know, three thousand people odd to the game. It's
not even a story in there. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
And I've been reflecting on this because women doing a
lot of work with the Saints recently. And it's I mean,
quite frankly an embarrassment. I mean, has anyone noticed lately?
You go on to stuff and you'll see a review
of cafe review and it's a review of an Auckland cafe,
and then there's a section which is have a look.
There's an Auckland section on the post, but there's no
Wellington section. I'm absolutely baffled about what's going on there.
(13:28):
And I get out there trying to be a national
media outlet I understand the economics around it, but we
have lost, it.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Feels to me.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
Our local newspaper, likewise, they did do one story about
Cuban Doopet was on the front page, but it was
very light, no build up. That is the largest street
party or urban festival in the entire country. Virtually no coverage.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
They're actually saying South Pacific.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
In South Pacific, Yeah, yeah, I mean, wouldn't be surprised.
It is of the southern hemisphere, our carnival, like Rio Engineer.
I was there and it was so good, Like I
was surprised myself because I've been there a lot, but
it was so blooming good. Virtually no coverage, My gosh.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
I mean that's something that I wanted to keep this
to that, the suspicious death's story. Is there anything that
we can do justin that we're not doing to sort of,
I don't know, make us all feel a bit safer.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Yeah, I mean that's a strong engagement. Strong engagement with
the police has to be right at the heart of it.
So look, and Tamith is a really good friend. Actually
she's part of a two year program, so I mentored
her for a year when she's still at university. But
I think you've just got understand the police in New
Zealand are wonderful advocates for community and safety. I've spent
(14:46):
nights out there with them on the beat and they
are absolutely brilliant. So get alongside them. Yeah, fun them,
better make sure they're visible and that people feel safe.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
And would you think that the media can do more?
Speaker 3 (15:01):
I mean you're a meaning of the coverage. Well, I
mean it's complicated when it comes to the coverage of
alleged murders and various different things because you can't say
everything that you think that you know, you've got to
stick very closely within the bounds of laws around reporting
about these things. So sometimes people can look at a
story and say, well, there are no details, it's very
bare bones, and that's because legally it has to be.
(15:24):
I again, I'm not a crime reporter. I don't know
the ins and outs of these stories, but you've got
to be very careful with the coverage of them because
the worst thing you can do, like, if I get
something wrong, it's politicians going to bring me and yell
at me. Big deal. But if you if you fall
foul of the court, and the law. When it comes
to these sorts of stories, you can be in a
heck of a lot of trouble.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
And they seem these stories, all of them, apart from
the shooting in Featherstone, are all sort of who done
at crime stories, aren't they? I mean, you know you
wouldn't read about it, would you? A guy found dead
outside a house, you know, a couple with apparently suppose.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
You do read about it. I mean, I don't know
where this is going from seeing the coverage.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
You don't know. But what I'm what I'm getting at
is you get that we're not getting the information because
they are who done it and the reporter can't write it.
We're getting the information about all the information we're allowed
to get, but it's all like we don't know that
the story of Mirrormar I live out there, you out there,
We didn't know what the hell was going on because
we weren't you know, reporters weren't legally allowed to write
(16:22):
about it. Sure was the two incidents connected. We didn't
really know until this morning, did we, you know? So
that's what I'm getting.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
I'm not having a cracket, No, I see what you mean.
And like I do agree in so far as the
fact there's if this was an Awkland story or a
Metro story where it was very well resourced in terms
of reporters, this would be an ongoing more details, people
knocking on doors and getting information and you can see
as a journalist and an edit to myself how this
could pan out. And I do, I do have some
(16:50):
sympathy for your view. It's not the coverage that we're getting.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
In Yeah, but I think we're getting a little bit
confused as I'm saying that the stories are aren't writable
because we don't, not even the police know what the
hell's gone on with the situation of Mirrima. We're getting
a little bit more, but it does feel like very
to be part of Wellington right now with all this
going on. That's that's where I wanted to leave it.
The Select Committee reporting to David Seymour's Treaty Principles bill
(17:16):
has just been released in the last few minutes while
Jason Wilves has been in the studio and the committee
recommends the bill doesn't progress further. Jason, can I just
ask you sorry, Justin will come to you in a second,
But what does that mean?
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Yeah? I mean, ultimately nothing right. And I've been reading.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
It's just a whole lot of waste of time, and
let's get on the line.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
The report was always going to be voted down in
the second reading. Winston Peters and Chris Luxon have been
very clear on that. And this whole thing has been
you know, David Seymour will say it's been an exercise
and free speech and people have had the opportunity to
submit on a contentious issue. And I think that, you know,
you look at three hundred thousand submissions on this bill,
I mean, it's absolutely massive. You can't argue that we
(17:58):
haven't had a good thrashing out of the idea. Interesting
in the report itself, just how to read it. It's large,
and it's it's we'll have you coverage on this as
the day goes on. But the final comment says, overall,
this bill has been an international embarrassment. We've attracted international
attention for this legislation, legislative attack on our indigenous people
(18:19):
as well as our inability to honor our agreements. So
that's coming from the report. This is a bipartisan group
of MPs, it's chaired by a national MP. There is
Act Party, MPs, TI Party, Marty MP's Labor MPs all
on the Justice Select Committee and the overall determination of
this report is that they think it should be thrown
(18:40):
out and it's an embarrassment, and I think that that's
probably going to be the lingering taste for a lot
of people.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
And for me, the lingering taste of what a cost
that was involved in a time when we're telling everybody
they've got to lose their jobs and tighten up, we
spend money like that for a result that we knew
was going to be exactly the same. Justin Lister, what
are your thoughts when you hear that.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
Yeah, Look, it's been a massive own goal by the government.
I imagine it's been a political nightmare for the Prime Minister.
He wouldn't have perhaps expected to have the level of
I guess uproar outrage and should have and that's perhaps
the relative naivety of not having a longer career in politics,
(19:20):
so that's become a person like mare for him. There's
no doubt it has been an international embarrassment. It's been
very divisive, it's been toxic. The government will want to
go away as quickly as possible, but that memory will
linger on for many Maldy in particular and supporters for
many a year.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
So, jase, that's it gone finished? Last we hear of it?
Speaker 3 (19:41):
No, no, no, no, it's still it still has to
habits reading in the house, the second reading, so and
we don't know when that is yet. They've just got
the reports. So what happens next is David Seymour, who's
the architect of the bill, couldn't well he could. I
don't think he's going to do it. I think that
he's been asked to do so by the people that
are against the bill. But at this stage, you know,
there'll be the usual twelve readings in the House or
(20:03):
the twelve speeches in the house. It is going to
be content. It's going to be very interesting to see
the Nats on this one, because the first reading the
kind of stood up and mumbled a couple of platitudes
and sat down. Now they have to vault against it.
Are they're going to be very fourth right in their
opposition or are they going to just say I speaking
the party line and sit down. We don't know, but
(20:24):
t party Marty, what are they going to do?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Well?
Speaker 3 (20:26):
I mean, obviously they're obviously.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Going to be they've been turned up to their hearing first.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Well, I don't think that's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Okay, let's move on to let's move slightly, move on.
We'll stay in politics because that's why you're here. Green
MP Benjamin Doyle is under fire for social media posts,
including one where he captured a post a They captioned
a post sorry, I've got to get it right. They
captured a post bussy galore. Winston Peters and the Prime
(20:53):
Minister boasted the post where inappropriate, but the Green say
it was a private account and shouldn't be dragged into
the public domain. Justin what are your thoughts when you've
seen all this unfold and what what? What do you
what do you think should be done here?
Speaker 4 (21:07):
The Greens need to apologize Benjamin Doyle again, I haven't
seen it, but if he hasn't already, he should apologize profusely.
You're a public official, he's not elected, he's a list MP. However,
you are subject to public scrutiny. It's an appropriate so apologize.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Right the point that Audrey Young Maide, who has always
somebody to turn to in these sorts of situations.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Love that article by the way, she's the best.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
She's so good. Is that Benjamin Doyle wants you're an MP,
everything is fair game. So their Instagram account, even though
it was private, even but though it was their Instagram
account before they became a politician, you're still a politician.
And so think about it like this. If it was
an act MP, they would be fair game. I mean,
I was talking to some very senior members of the
(21:54):
National Party about this very issue, and they said, during
the campaign period, there was one of their candidates who
was in an unwinnable seat that had some social media
posts from ten years ago come up and this candidate's
wife was doors stopped in their place of work. You know,
they were relentlessly challenged on these posts.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
I mean, we've we've seen it with high profile politicians
with a swastika when they were fourteen or thirteen at
a fancy dress, losing positions and stuff. So I mean
this is no different.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
It's untenable and on it's it's frankly well not shocking,
but it's you know that the Greens are saying that
there's nothing to see here. And I know that there
has been a debate as of late about the use
of the phrase that one.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Did you had you heard of that phrase before?
Speaker 3 (22:41):
I had?
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Oh? What does it mean?
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Jason?
Speaker 3 (22:45):
I'm not that brave. I don't want another BS complain.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Did you did you know I've heard of it. I
don't really know what it means. I'll explained in the end.
I had I recognized the liberal, most liberal at any
of us in this group, including Ethan. I think I'm
you know, I'm street wise and street smart and all that.
I had never heard of it before.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
But I mean the point is that we we can't
even describe what the word is. I mean, I'm hesitant
to even say it. We had a member of Parliament
that is using this caption on their Instagram post and
that says all it needs.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Shouldn't it? Should it be a fireable? They they they.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Sorry, it's I It's a tough one. I think the
question remains. I mean, to me, the issue is with
the Green Party and their duty of care. They should
have seen this coming as a political mindfield. There is
no way that this post, when it was revealed in
this caption would have not been a political story, and
they should have seen how damaging it could have been
(23:40):
for Benjamin Doyle and how damaging it is and how
damaging it is for the party. They should have made
a decision not to include Benjamin Doyle on their list,
certainly not as a member of Parliament, because they have
a duty of care to the party and also to
Benjamin themselves.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Should they should they have got no. I mean, it's
not a viable offense. But if they do it again,
then your reliability and then they should.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Go Okay, well we'll bussy off of that one. I'm
still confused again.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
We'll do it in the break.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
We'll ever break. We'll ever break. Is twenty minutes to twelve,
And it's Friday, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (24:20):
And it's it's yeah, it's still break. It doesn't matter.
The bsa dog, dog count.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
The town relate to busy. He can keep his job.
I can keep my job. Yeah, they could keep they.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
Keeping of the day.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
Oh gosh, I'm gonna lose my job if they don't
get mentioned to they many times Friday face off. Boh,
you know, I could make a living out of selling
the TikTok accounts, the TikTok things of what gets said
in between breaks of Friday face If that.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Was recorded, we'd be. We didn't see anything untoward. We
just described what the post meant, which we can't say
on air.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Okay we could, We could have probably said it on
you couldn't we I've learned something.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
You can't see his face right now, but justin as
pale as a ghost after after learning the definition.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
It just stopped me in the street tonight. If you
want to know the definition, I'll give it to you.
I can still keep my job. No graphic examples, so please,
no graphic examples. Just enlist the ex Mira of Wellington
and face page o fa Facebook page owner. I still
can't quite.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Did you buy Wellington Live?
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Is that no start up?
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Don't start a live live that's been the subject of
some dispute.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Yeah, yeah, I should show you some texts. Remind me
the next day break to show you some texts. Anyway,
I'm I'm not surprised. And Jason Walls, whose news talk
said bees political editor and general good.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Guy, stop it.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Let's let's talk. What are we going to talk about?
Nixt feries. We haven't talked about the faeries. I used
to have a producer used to tell me these things
when he's be gone to sleep. It's Friday out, it's
Friday afternoon. He's on bees He's already. You know, rail
Minister Winston Peters have bills. His plans for the enter
isem fairy replacements, but the Faeries aren't affirmed and no
contracts have been signed. Jason Woof, Now, we had a
(26:09):
bit of a bit about this, and we're still arguing
whether who said what and what said what. But our
listeners will know that I said, don't expect too much
out of this announcement. You said, oh no, it'll be okay. Well,
we're not going to debate. That was this announcement on
the mail, you know, on the the heading, the nail
on the head. Was it enough information or was it
(26:29):
another waffle?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Listen, it was it was somewhere between a waffle and
the perfect announcement.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
You know.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
We didn't find out a how much money it was
going to cost, which shipbuilders will be building the ships,
anything to do with the breaking fee or anything like that.
What we did learn was some logistical details such as
the size of the ferries, the level of port infrastructure,
and where that is going to be happening. So it
kind of met in the middle. There was a un listen,
we talked about this before. I still don't know the
(26:57):
difference between rail capable and rail enabled, but it's one
of those two. It's Winston Peter's he loves his rail
so it's probably the better of the two of those.
But it's not bad in the sense that it was
absolutely nothing in it. I do have some sympathy for
the idea that these things take time their commercial negotiations
and giving the game away by saying who are these
(27:19):
who are these companies competing for the tender would actually
diminish the their corporate standings when it comes to bidding
for that contract. I do understand that, However, we have
been waiting a long time for some information and I
would have liked to see a little bit more justin liston.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
You would have had a lot of involvement in this
when you were mayor or Warrington, with what was wanted?
What was Every mayor has a lot to do with it.
What did you make out of the announcement?
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Look again, it's another massive own goal for the government.
So at the moment it's too now we're at halftime
the selection in eighteen months or so and they've got
to play some catch up. So they're going to have
to show that the economy's growing interest threats come down.
They've been the architect of that because DREADI principle was
built an own goal and this is another one. They
didn't have to do this. If you think back to
(28:03):
John Key, what made him so popular in his at
the time was he was really moderate and quite pragmatic
and sensible. I imagine his approach would have been at
the time, blame labor. Okay, there's been a cost blowout.
We will fund it up to this point. You'll receive
no more funds and every step of the way, yep,
we're sucking this up.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Was labor cocked it up. They didn't.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
They said we're going to get a better deal and
they've got a much worse deal and worst case so
we actually don't know what deal we're going to end
up with and we're not going to have theories for
many years. Again, it's internationally embarrassing. The infrastructure is not
at the level it needs to be in neither other ferries.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
And to be fair, Christip Cans did come out and
say that they got it wrong as well, so in.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
Terms of the cost blow but let's not forget that's
all port side, and that's all an investment in the
future proofing of Wellington and Picton infrastructure. And let's also
not forget this is perhaps the most important piece of
infrastructure that exists in New Zealand between the two islands,
and it's a continuation of State Highway One. And we
fed him massive we do. It's a massive, massive own goal.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
The Friday fact and not.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Okay, it's that time of the week where we have
our guest Justin Lester and Jason Walls. They'll tell us
they're hot takes of the week and they're not takes
something that went really well and something that they are
very upset about. Jason, will'd you start.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
With my hots? I would say the Mahi and the
diligence of my other political reporters in the gallery. We
had Sophie Trigger breaking the yarn front page of The
Herald earlier this week about the time frame extension for
the government's five hundred new police officers and how hard
it's actually going to meet. That fantastic story, really good
(29:49):
work from her, and then a couple of days before
Azariah Howl with the scoop on Tamatha Paul's comments about
the police. Very it's very hot to work with. Sorry,
it's not very hot to work with. It's very great
to work I was trying to incorporate the hot or not.
It's very great to work with people that are just
so on their game and fantastic It can make me
as an editor look great. So that's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Can I just say both of them are colleagues ex
colleagues of ours. Oh yeah, coming through the training of
news talks there Be and Wellington.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
They're both former Wellington reporters, So fantastic job.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
My way over there.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
He's trying to claim them. My not is. I was
supposed to play golf with Max Toll, who did the
news before last Saturday, but I was too sick to
get out on the course. So hopefully we're playing on Sunday,
where I'm going to score fifty five over part probably
you know what, playing.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
I would love to be a fly on the wall.
That would be a great conversation, you're Max told I
would love just to.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
Be just not trash o you the whole time.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
I'd just like to be your Keddy. That'd be some
great conversation, some very intelligent conversation, just the list to
come on, hit me with your hots and not.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
Well, I'm a much more basic person to my heart.
So you ever driven past esther Nord at the base
of the dem Attuckers and there's a sign there it
says bacon and eggs ten dollar breakfast, and I always
want to.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
I wonder what the food's like.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Pop Dan Best Ribs and Wellington best Ribs. I reckon
and the Wellington region. Their entire food is incredible.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
It's a cording it.
Speaker 4 (31:09):
It's called Aston Norwood at the base of the EMU Tuckers.
So just out pass upper Heart, stop in, grab yourself
from lunch or dinner. Try the ribs bottomless ribs even
although bottomless bodomless ribs, as many as you want. How
much bottom it was very reasonable. I think twenty five
thirty bucks bottomless ribs.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
Oh, I'm gonna I'm gonna go there for.
Speaker 4 (31:29):
It was so good, the best ribs, but I won't
use it. Ribs very very good. So highly recommend if
you like ribs right there you go on. You're not hot,
well my not hot as Actually this is a silver lining.
So the Phoenix haven't had the best of seasons after
being wonderful performers last year, so that's not so hot. However,
(31:50):
the silver lining is all of their academy teams just
smashing it at the moment, so actually the process is working.
So let's see these youngsters as they get into the team,
get more established and they'll start winning and maybe sell
a few of them too. So it's great to see
the academy teams or winning.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
I'm going to put you on the spot because you're
an ex mayor Wellington and you're reduced to making these
big decisions. Would you have cheap be back next year?
Speaker 4 (32:12):
Yes, I would, because he's nobody else to replace him.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
It's going to be better.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
He had success in his first year. They lost what
seven eight players? They lost it goal Alex Paul some
here's the best paying the league.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
They lost. It's so much trouble. It's all about.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
One game. Should you kick him out and trust the process.
If he's no good next year, it might be time
for a move.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
There's someone's just text and agreeing with you their ten dollars.
Bacon and eggs are very good. Also the bottomless robs.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
Honestly the best ribs you'll ever have.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
I'll put it on our Facebook page. What was it called? Again?
We'll give another aston Nor would never heard of it,
but I'm going there. Yeah, I've got a new name
for I'll text him and give them my new name
for their ribs. It'll be very good. Uh, Justin, Lester
and Jason will thank you both for coming and taking
time out of your very busy schedules, both of you
to join us this morning. Thoroughly enjoyed having you here.
Have a great weekend and enjoy your cricket with Max.
(33:07):
Told I'd love to be golf golf. What did I say?
Speaker 3 (33:10):
You said, cricket.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Golf fast mix. Well, God, I told you I shouldn't
had that. Join in the nineteen sixty.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Six dissecting the week sublime and ridiculous Friday face off
with Quinovic Property Management, a better rental experience for all.
Call eight hundred Quinovic 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.
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