May 29, 2025 • 18 mins
Today on Politics Friday John MacDonald was joined by National’s Hamish Campbell and Labour’s Duncan Webb to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week.
The Government will soon be issuing fines to parents of repeatedly absent students – will this work? Is it a new idea?
Campbell almost manages to explain the RMA changes in one sentence, but what do they mean for New Zealanders?
And is there a place for more dairy cows in Canterbury, along with a passenger rail?
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Seven past ten, and it's very nice to have National
Samish Campbell in warning Hamish, John and Labour's Duncan. We
watered Duncan.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Great to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I haven't seen the last time I saw both of you.
We were dressed as penguins at the opening night of
the Court Theater.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
And it was a It was a great no And
I think it's a great addition to the city, the
Court Theater, and I think it's christ It is on.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
The upward, on fire, fantastic, you know. And I really
want to have a good look around when I can
go and bake my head in all the different knocks
and crannies. Now that's totally finished, but it's just an
unbelievable must be the best theater building in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Mustard is come on more stronger than was. Okay, all right, Hamish.
We haven't had you on the program since you were
in the news a few weeks back regarding your religious connections,
and I just want to give you a right of
reply other than being chased by a TV reporter.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yeah, look, look, It's something that I've always been open
about it, never have had tried hir And Look, I
think there has been cases right across a number of
organizations here in New Zealand where where there's been allegations
of things, and as I've always said, if there's any allegations,
they need to be that go to the police. Like
(01:31):
hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who have a belief,
it is always really shocking and concerning when anybody who
may be connected you to you through that belief, have
any allegations made. So really acknowledge any kind of suffering
from any organization that's happened here in New Zealand. It
is I think it's kind of quite a personal thing.
(01:52):
I think people share the right to be able to
express their religious beliefs in any way they see fit.
But once again, if there's any any concerns, I think
there's appropriate authorities in place.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Was it a surprise to the National Party or had
you told party?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
But well, once again I have not kept it. Look,
I don't kind of go around stolling virtues of anything.
I think kind of really at the end of the day,
just trying to live the best way possible with tolerance
and compassion for everybody.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Respect that things very much. Duncan weird. Let's get on
the topic we've been talking about of the First Hour show,
finding parents for not sending their kids to school. What's
your response to it.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Look, I absolutely agree that we should get kids attending
school the best way we can. Right if you've got
a dysfunctional family with parents who you know got social problems,
or medical problems or addiction problems, I don't see how
prosecuting them through the courts is going to address that.
I think you know that we started some good work.
(02:56):
This government has continued on that work with putting social
services and health services and education services into families, and
that's how you get them to school, not sending them
to court.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
It's not what though we've done. If you heard, but
we had Rex phoned us up. He's got a seventeen
year old daughter and since COVID he's not been able
to get her to go back to school. So what's
the solution there.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Look, it's not an easy solution, and COVID really rocked
a whole lot of our kind of social and cultural infrastructure.
And good on Rex for saying that and I wonder
who's helping him with that. I wonder if she's is
she getting counseling or psychological assistance. We know that youth
mental health is a big issue and the ad kids
that get really anxious after a year staring at a
(03:39):
screen pretty much. Yeah, it can be hard for some
of our young people to get back. But putting Rex
in front of the court saying that it's all your
fault isn't going to work hay much.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
How is finding parents going to go deal with situations
like that?
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Look, the thing is this is nothing new. I think
in twenty twenty Finding was talked about. We are kind
of suggesting that what is currently in place isn't working.
We've seen an increase in attendance, but we can have
the best educational system here in New Zealand, and if
we don't have our kids attending, they're not going to
get the benefits from that.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I think people people would agree with that. But the
example of Rex who just can't get us daughter to
go to school and someone else's got in touch. Look,
if my daughter in bed and tells missus Krog, I'm
going to man handle or enforce her out the door.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
So if someone is they're not going to be able
to be going to going to find them. There is
reasons why people want to be.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
What about Rex who just can't get us daughter to
go to school and hasn't been able to do so
since COVID, what's going to happen to him?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Well, the thing is we do need to make sure
that we have clear expectations that our children are going
to go to school. Look, there is going to be
challenging situations and I think that is is going to
be more. This is just one tool in the toolbox
to make sure that we can get kids to school
because at the end of the day, if we don't
teach our kids to basics, they're not going to be
able to foot it in the workforce. They're not we're
(05:02):
not going to be an internationally competitive country. And we
need to talk about the link of attendance and achievement.
If kids aren't achieving at school, then of course they're
not wanting to get one, not wanting to go, So
we need to also make sure that when they're there,
we're teaching them well to get good outcomes.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
From school you start. It's a tool in the toolbox,
but it's a tool that's been used elsewhere and has failed.
So press on blindly, you're saying.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Or no, I'm not saying press on blindly. That's why
we need multiple tools. Sometimes it is just needing an
extra push for parents to get their kids to school.
Appreciate some parents are in very challenging situations. Totally get that,
But we need to put an emphasis on as a
community that our kids go to school regularly.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
So why did labors stop enforcing these rules?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Well, they don't work right, and so.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Why didn't get if you really believe that, why didn't
you get?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Really? Well, there's a lot of work to do, and
not using a rule doesn't take up any time, doesn't
take up any legilative time. But look, I do think
we've got to be really cautious about the expectations we
put around our children. They are and we've talked about
social media and social media bands and so on, but
they're under all this pressure to be something which ordinary
people it's ordinary not to feel up to it sometimes,
(06:09):
you know, and sometimes we expect you know that they
have self expectations of turning up and being amazing all
the time, and we need to just turn down the
temperature on this and say, look, it's okay not to
pass all your exams, it's okay not to feel like
you're amazing, Okay not to look like a model all
the time. And I think sometimes we've stopped or stopped
creating an expectation of what a normal life is.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
What is a normal life? Here we go?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
I think it has a point we need to be
kind of we need to also be willing to accept
failure for some people as well. We need to make
sure that we have the tools that actually they can
reach the potential that they're going to reach. And everybody
has different levels of potential. So the thing is we
are going to make sure that they are at school.
When we have school attendance below fifty percent and worse
(06:57):
and lower socio economic groups, we have a serious problem.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Do you think, though, when you're a government that's prescribing
one hour of this today and one hour of the
to day, that you really are showing that failure is acceptable.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Well, the thing is, I think, I think, I think
why should believe that? Well, when you look at the
last budget, what you've seen is the biggest boost and
a generation for learning support because we want to make
sure that we're catching some of these kids which have
a little bit need a little bit of extra help,
get them early to make sure they're on the right
right track. And so yes, I think you can see
(07:29):
what we're doing as a government is trying to set
up our children to actually be able to reach their
four potend.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
And before we just move on, dundon, what's the cell
job on failure? Because most parents would find that. Listen
to you and so hold on, you're advocating for not
striving for the best, and that's.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
You know, that's not quite the cash. When I get
into the lift with one of my colleagues who had
about standing children, and she would say, oh, my kids,
you know, she's just got a scholarship to Cambridge, and
I would say, none of my kids are on drugs
and none are in jail, and I'm really happy about that,
you know. And I just think we've got to accept
that that being a success is different in different forms,
(08:11):
and life isn't some linear path to stardom. For some people,
they reach a really happy place that's quite modest, and
most people do that, and yet all of our media
is filled of this is what it looks like to
be the kind of person you want to be so
you know, and I've given this talk to high schools
and you see the teachers roll their eyes and the
(08:31):
kids not because thank goodness that someone finally told me
I don't have to be done.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Why do the teachers roll their eyes.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Because because they they preach excellent? Yes they should, as
they should, But it's about recognizing and being happy in
the person you are.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I think, heyms, here you go in one sentence, can
you describe what is happening with these changes to the
Resource Management Act?
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Well in one sentence is quite quite hard? Yes, yeah,
but also that is out for public consultation at the moment,
so these changes aren't necessarily and pace. But it's about
making development easier. It's about cutting red tape, not cutting corners.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Right. That was brilliant, but it doesn't really give the
detail not asking you to do because man, it's confusing.
Duncan web. The thing that I got out of an
interview I this morning was the chair of Beef and
Lamb New Zealand saying welcoming the proposed changes. And I'm
oppressed that she knew even what she was welcoming, but
she said, we currently have world class waterways or we
(09:32):
already have world class waterways in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
What's your response to this rubbish, isn't it? I mean
we've made progress. Let's be clear, we've made progress in
the last ten to fifteen years around waterways and keeping
stock away from them. But we know in Canterbury that
nitrates are entering our equifers. It's a real problem. The
challenge of this reform is that there is no bottom line.
This is what we were doing. We were saying, okay,
(09:55):
we're going to say that, in no circumstances can we
make the environment worse than this, And so because we
had this incremental kind of creep of tiny little changes,
everything worse off. And not having bottom lines is a
problem because it means if there's just one more dairy
farm and it's not a really significant impact, then we'll
(10:16):
do it, and then there's another one and another one.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
So let's pick up on that. So we've got they
can saying today that they've had people on the phone
wanted to convert their farms to dairy farms in Canterbury
and if all of the applications are successful, that would
mean ten thousand more dairy cows in the region. How
do you feel about that.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Look, this is not this is not a kind of
can't blanch do what you like. Still, we still have
rules and regulations around around our resource management or how
we manage our resources, so it's not kind of just
this free for all. So I want to make that
crystal clear. Also, there's people in Canterbury they're looking at
converting dairy farms into apple orchard. So the thing is
(10:57):
we want to have.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Only one example that's been talked about publicly.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Well, okay, but there's an example. And the thing is
we need to have this flexible land use to make
sure that we use our resources in the best way possible.
Would forget that our dairy farmers are some of the
most efficient in the world. I think kind of four
hundred kg of milk solids per care, so we are
very efficient at it. We do need to make sure
that we still have guardrails in place to protect the environments.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Totally agree.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
So how do you feel about the prospect of ten
thousand more dairy coils?
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Well, I don't think it's up to me.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
As a person.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
I think kind of, once again, we have very efficient,
very efficient dairy farmers here in New Zealand. There's been
a war of farmers that kind of have been all
lumped in together as bad operators them. A lot of
them have voluntarily fenced off waterways. They have added to
a lot of riberian planting to protect protect our waterways.
(11:54):
A lot of this has been voluntary done by the farmers.
I think we actually should thank our farmers for a
lot of the work that they have done to feed
our country. We need farmers three times the day breakfast, lunch,
and dinner, and they do a great job.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Duncan web Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Look, I totally reject any suggestion of war on farmers.
We do have a great farming sector. It is a
really important part. We have a great farming sector and
a diverse farming sector in terms of land use. So
the question is what is the carrying capacity of the land,
whether it be orchards, whether it be horticulture, or whether
(12:30):
it be dairy. What is the impact the lasting impact,
Because the underpinning value of the rima is sustainability. That
is to say, you can keep on doing what you're doing,
and if we have too much dairy then it will
begin become worse and worse and worse until you can't
continue to do what you're doing without destroying your environment,
and we've seen that's happening.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
So how do you feel about the prospect of ten
thousand more dairy counts?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Bloody cautious, you know, because what we do know is
that there is data which says there is nitrates coming
from effluent and fertilizer going into our aquifers and that's
bad for our health, and so we need to be
very cautious before we consent more far.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Well, we had James Meager in the other day, South
Island Minister, and one person asked what is some viewers
on rail investment in the South Island and then we
heard a Cairn is going to do a business case
or put money into a business case for rail services
between Roniston and christ Church and rung your order, what's
your view on it?
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Oh, look, I think this is something that's come up
multiple times. I think this is just kind of a
rehash of that exact point. And I appreciate thinking that
there's rail link between these kind of between these parts
of the city would be great, but then what I've
heard previously is it's a single track and so for
a commuter rail we probably actually need two way tracks.
(13:49):
It doesn't come into the CBD, so we would need
further kind of public transport from Addington or Moore House
and the city. Look in theory, sounds great. We've been
here before, just worried about the cost of this business
case going forward. That's what I can want to do.
That's ther responsibility.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
That says it's pie in the sky and they should
be focused on getting rates down.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
What do you think, Well, I think they should be
focusing on getting rates down. It is an election year,
so hence they probably are trying to kind of drum
up a bit of a bit of interest. But this
this question has been asked, asked before.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
But I'm a huge advocate of public transport and fast.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
When we last on public transport, I.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Catch it sometimes I catch it to work in Wellington.
Goes along the road there, so you know, I can't
tear the exact day, but I would have a few
weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
They haven't bump bumped Aunty on the bus.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
No, No, yeah, probably haven't. I was probably on my bike.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
And hopefully I don't bump.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
No. No, but look, you know, is it heavy rail
along that corridor. I don't know. I think We've got
a bit asked wider question. How do we move people
effectively in an way that's attractive to them?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
All right? You know, we spoke with a woman yesterday
who was in a terrible situation. Been in a mental
property in christ Church at Parklands for two years, discovered
that it's contaminated by myth at a level that she
is not She and a family are not comfortable with,
and they've moved out. They're still paying rent. They've lost
about eighty percent of their positions because they're not not
prepared to put their family at risk. There was a
(15:22):
call and she's made the comment that there should be
mandatory testing for meth when rental properties change tenants. What's
your position on that, Homers?
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Yeah, Look, and I think the Minister is kind of
looking at kind of legislation around this.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Look.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I think kind of the bigger problem is the meth
problem in New Zealand. But I think for people that
are renting, we want to make sure they have peace
of mind of the properties that they're rent or if
people buying your property. I think we want people to
have a peace of mind that it's safe and healthy for.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
People to live.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
It's a myth problem that's got worse since you've been
in government.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
Oh, look, I think there's probably Look, we want to
be really clear. We don't think it's often on crime
approach has actually worked. I think has generated a whole
lot that gang grew astronomically. So we're wanting to make
sure that we can kind of get on top of
the problem. And I think that's where we've seen our
(16:16):
government do with a lot of initiatives.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Just two early facts, gangs are bigger now than they
were under us, and METTHEWS has doubled under this government.
So but you know, I'm not going to buy into that.
In terms of the rental property, I think it's a
really good question. Landlords have a duty to provide a
property that is safe. Now, I would like to know
whether the landlord should have known or suspected that myth
(16:40):
was possibly in this house. Clearly, if they had some
person who was clearly using myth, they should get in there,
test it and clean it. If it was just an
ordinary family and they probably had no idea whatsoever, I
don't think you can expect landlords to have a crystal.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Ball, all right, Can I run one other thing past you?
It's been revealed this morning that at Dunedin Secondary School
this is Logan Park High School, decided not to contact
the police after discovering a staff member misappropriated almost three
hundred and sixty five thousand dollars over five years. And
they say the treating the issue as an employment matter
(17:18):
because the priority of them for them has been to
recover the missing funds. Has the school done the right
thing or the wrong thing there?
Speaker 4 (17:25):
Hamish, Oh, Look, I think that without knowing the details
of the case, it's very hard to make as a
definitive judgment. Look, I would would have thought in the
case that the police should should be involved. But the
caveat to that is I don't know the individual details
of that case.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
What example does it set?
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Well, Once again, I've just on the surface of it.
I would suggest probably the police should be involved, don't
know the specifics.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Look, if you've got someone who's misappropriated three hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, you know this is when you should
be tough on crime. You know, you should send them
to the police and the police can investigate and prosecute
it for appropriate. If this person thinks they can buy
their way out of criminal prosecution by paying the money back.
That seems a really strong signal. And the worst thing
is they may well go to another school and do
(18:13):
it all over again.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Nice to see you both, don't We have a good
long weekend. Will draw your long weekend.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
You've got a milestone, see he said, two hundred and
fiftieth park Run, So really looking forward to that. We be
running it with my young daughter and also breast cancers over.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
I might have a milestones as well. I might do
my first park run. You're more than rum donkin.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Here we are, and I want and I won't.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Thank you both for more from Category Mornings with John McDonald.
Listen live to news talks It'd be christ Church from
nine am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Seven past ten, and it's very nice to have National
Samish Campbell in warning Hamish, John and Labour's Duncan. We
watered Duncan.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Great to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I haven't seen the last time I saw both of you.
We were dressed as penguins at the opening night of
the Court Theater.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
And it was a It was a great no And
I think it's a great addition to the city, the
Court Theater, and I think it's christ It is on.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
The upward, on fire, fantastic, you know. And I really
want to have a good look around when I can
go and bake my head in all the different knocks
and crannies. Now that's totally finished, but it's just an
unbelievable must be the best theater building in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Mustard is come on more stronger than was. Okay, all right, Hamish.
We haven't had you on the program since you were
in the news a few weeks back regarding your religious connections,
and I just want to give you a right of
reply other than being chased by a TV reporter.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yeah, look, look, It's something that I've always been open
about it, never have had tried hir And Look, I
think there has been cases right across a number of
organizations here in New Zealand where where there's been allegations
of things, and as I've always said, if there's any allegations,
they need to be that go to the police. Like
(01:31):
hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who have a belief,
it is always really shocking and concerning when anybody who
may be connected you to you through that belief, have
any allegations made. So really acknowledge any kind of suffering
from any organization that's happened here in New Zealand. It
is I think it's kind of quite a personal thing.
(01:52):
I think people share the right to be able to
express their religious beliefs in any way they see fit.
But once again, if there's any any concerns, I think
there's appropriate authorities in place.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Was it a surprise to the National Party or had
you told party?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
But well, once again I have not kept it. Look,
I don't kind of go around stolling virtues of anything.
I think kind of really at the end of the day,
just trying to live the best way possible with tolerance
and compassion for everybody.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Respect that things very much. Duncan weird. Let's get on
the topic we've been talking about of the First Hour show,
finding parents for not sending their kids to school. What's
your response to it.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Look, I absolutely agree that we should get kids attending
school the best way we can. Right if you've got
a dysfunctional family with parents who you know got social problems,
or medical problems or addiction problems, I don't see how
prosecuting them through the courts is going to address that.
I think you know that we started some good work.
(02:56):
This government has continued on that work with putting social
services and health services and education services into families, and
that's how you get them to school, not sending them
to court.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
It's not what though we've done. If you heard, but
we had Rex phoned us up. He's got a seventeen
year old daughter and since COVID he's not been able
to get her to go back to school. So what's
the solution there.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Look, it's not an easy solution, and COVID really rocked
a whole lot of our kind of social and cultural infrastructure.
And good on Rex for saying that and I wonder
who's helping him with that. I wonder if she's is
she getting counseling or psychological assistance. We know that youth
mental health is a big issue and the ad kids
that get really anxious after a year staring at a
(03:39):
screen pretty much. Yeah, it can be hard for some
of our young people to get back. But putting Rex
in front of the court saying that it's all your
fault isn't going to work hay much.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
How is finding parents going to go deal with situations
like that?
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Look, the thing is this is nothing new. I think
in twenty twenty Finding was talked about. We are kind
of suggesting that what is currently in place isn't working.
We've seen an increase in attendance, but we can have
the best educational system here in New Zealand, and if
we don't have our kids attending, they're not going to
get the benefits from that.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I think people people would agree with that. But the
example of Rex who just can't get us daughter to
go to school and someone else's got in touch. Look,
if my daughter in bed and tells missus Krog, I'm
going to man handle or enforce her out the door.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
So if someone is they're not going to be able
to be going to going to find them. There is
reasons why people want to be.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
What about Rex who just can't get us daughter to
go to school and hasn't been able to do so
since COVID, what's going to happen to him?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Well, the thing is we do need to make sure
that we have clear expectations that our children are going
to go to school. Look, there is going to be
challenging situations and I think that is is going to
be more. This is just one tool in the toolbox
to make sure that we can get kids to school
because at the end of the day, if we don't
teach our kids to basics, they're not going to be
able to foot it in the workforce. They're not we're
(05:02):
not going to be an internationally competitive country. And we
need to talk about the link of attendance and achievement.
If kids aren't achieving at school, then of course they're
not wanting to get one, not wanting to go, So
we need to also make sure that when they're there,
we're teaching them well to get good outcomes.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
From school you start. It's a tool in the toolbox,
but it's a tool that's been used elsewhere and has failed.
So press on blindly, you're saying.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Or no, I'm not saying press on blindly. That's why
we need multiple tools. Sometimes it is just needing an
extra push for parents to get their kids to school.
Appreciate some parents are in very challenging situations. Totally get that,
But we need to put an emphasis on as a
community that our kids go to school regularly.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
So why did labors stop enforcing these rules?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Well, they don't work right, and so.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Why didn't get if you really believe that, why didn't
you get?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Really? Well, there's a lot of work to do, and
not using a rule doesn't take up any time, doesn't
take up any legilative time. But look, I do think
we've got to be really cautious about the expectations we
put around our children. They are and we've talked about
social media and social media bands and so on, but
they're under all this pressure to be something which ordinary
people it's ordinary not to feel up to it sometimes,
(06:09):
you know, and sometimes we expect you know that they
have self expectations of turning up and being amazing all
the time, and we need to just turn down the
temperature on this and say, look, it's okay not to
pass all your exams, it's okay not to feel like
you're amazing, Okay not to look like a model all
the time. And I think sometimes we've stopped or stopped
creating an expectation of what a normal life is.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
What is a normal life? Here we go?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
I think it has a point we need to be
kind of we need to also be willing to accept
failure for some people as well. We need to make
sure that we have the tools that actually they can
reach the potential that they're going to reach. And everybody
has different levels of potential. So the thing is we
are going to make sure that they are at school.
When we have school attendance below fifty percent and worse
(06:57):
and lower socio economic groups, we have a serious problem.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Do you think, though, when you're a government that's prescribing
one hour of this today and one hour of the
to day, that you really are showing that failure is acceptable.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Well, the thing is, I think, I think, I think
why should believe that? Well, when you look at the
last budget, what you've seen is the biggest boost and
a generation for learning support because we want to make
sure that we're catching some of these kids which have
a little bit need a little bit of extra help,
get them early to make sure they're on the right
right track. And so yes, I think you can see
(07:29):
what we're doing as a government is trying to set
up our children to actually be able to reach their
four potend.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
And before we just move on, dundon, what's the cell
job on failure? Because most parents would find that. Listen
to you and so hold on, you're advocating for not
striving for the best, and that's.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
You know, that's not quite the cash. When I get
into the lift with one of my colleagues who had
about standing children, and she would say, oh, my kids,
you know, she's just got a scholarship to Cambridge, and
I would say, none of my kids are on drugs
and none are in jail, and I'm really happy about that,
you know. And I just think we've got to accept
that that being a success is different in different forms,
(08:11):
and life isn't some linear path to stardom. For some people,
they reach a really happy place that's quite modest, and
most people do that, and yet all of our media
is filled of this is what it looks like to
be the kind of person you want to be so
you know, and I've given this talk to high schools
and you see the teachers roll their eyes and the
(08:31):
kids not because thank goodness that someone finally told me
I don't have to be done.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Why do the teachers roll their eyes.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Because because they they preach excellent? Yes they should, as
they should, But it's about recognizing and being happy in
the person you are.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I think, heyms, here you go in one sentence, can
you describe what is happening with these changes to the
Resource Management Act?
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Well in one sentence is quite quite hard? Yes, yeah,
but also that is out for public consultation at the moment,
so these changes aren't necessarily and pace. But it's about
making development easier. It's about cutting red tape, not cutting corners.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Right. That was brilliant, but it doesn't really give the
detail not asking you to do because man, it's confusing.
Duncan web. The thing that I got out of an
interview I this morning was the chair of Beef and
Lamb New Zealand saying welcoming the proposed changes. And I'm
oppressed that she knew even what she was welcoming, but
she said, we currently have world class waterways or we
(09:32):
already have world class waterways in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
What's your response to this rubbish, isn't it? I mean
we've made progress. Let's be clear, we've made progress in
the last ten to fifteen years around waterways and keeping
stock away from them. But we know in Canterbury that
nitrates are entering our equifers. It's a real problem. The
challenge of this reform is that there is no bottom line.
This is what we were doing. We were saying, okay,
(09:55):
we're going to say that, in no circumstances can we
make the environment worse than this, And so because we
had this incremental kind of creep of tiny little changes,
everything worse off. And not having bottom lines is a
problem because it means if there's just one more dairy
farm and it's not a really significant impact, then we'll
(10:16):
do it, and then there's another one and another one.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
So let's pick up on that. So we've got they
can saying today that they've had people on the phone
wanted to convert their farms to dairy farms in Canterbury
and if all of the applications are successful, that would
mean ten thousand more dairy cows in the region. How
do you feel about that.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Look, this is not this is not a kind of
can't blanch do what you like. Still, we still have
rules and regulations around around our resource management or how
we manage our resources, so it's not kind of just
this free for all. So I want to make that
crystal clear. Also, there's people in Canterbury they're looking at
converting dairy farms into apple orchard. So the thing is
(10:57):
we want to have.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Only one example that's been talked about publicly.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Well, okay, but there's an example. And the thing is
we need to have this flexible land use to make
sure that we use our resources in the best way possible.
Would forget that our dairy farmers are some of the
most efficient in the world. I think kind of four
hundred kg of milk solids per care, so we are
very efficient at it. We do need to make sure
that we still have guardrails in place to protect the environments.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Totally agree.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
So how do you feel about the prospect of ten
thousand more dairy coils?
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Well, I don't think it's up to me.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
As a person.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
I think kind of, once again, we have very efficient,
very efficient dairy farmers here in New Zealand. There's been
a war of farmers that kind of have been all
lumped in together as bad operators them. A lot of
them have voluntarily fenced off waterways. They have added to
a lot of riberian planting to protect protect our waterways.
(11:54):
A lot of this has been voluntary done by the farmers.
I think we actually should thank our farmers for a
lot of the work that they have done to feed
our country. We need farmers three times the day breakfast, lunch,
and dinner, and they do a great job.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Duncan web Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Look, I totally reject any suggestion of war on farmers.
We do have a great farming sector. It is a
really important part. We have a great farming sector and
a diverse farming sector in terms of land use. So
the question is what is the carrying capacity of the land,
whether it be orchards, whether it be horticulture, or whether
(12:30):
it be dairy. What is the impact the lasting impact,
Because the underpinning value of the rima is sustainability. That
is to say, you can keep on doing what you're doing,
and if we have too much dairy then it will
begin become worse and worse and worse until you can't
continue to do what you're doing without destroying your environment,
and we've seen that's happening.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
So how do you feel about the prospect of ten
thousand more dairy counts?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Bloody cautious, you know, because what we do know is
that there is data which says there is nitrates coming
from effluent and fertilizer going into our aquifers and that's
bad for our health, and so we need to be
very cautious before we consent more far.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Well, we had James Meager in the other day, South
Island Minister, and one person asked what is some viewers
on rail investment in the South Island and then we
heard a Cairn is going to do a business case
or put money into a business case for rail services
between Roniston and christ Church and rung your order, what's
your view on it?
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Oh, look, I think this is something that's come up
multiple times. I think this is just kind of a
rehash of that exact point. And I appreciate thinking that
there's rail link between these kind of between these parts
of the city would be great, but then what I've
heard previously is it's a single track and so for
a commuter rail we probably actually need two way tracks.
(13:49):
It doesn't come into the CBD, so we would need
further kind of public transport from Addington or Moore House
and the city. Look in theory, sounds great. We've been
here before, just worried about the cost of this business
case going forward. That's what I can want to do.
That's ther responsibility.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
That says it's pie in the sky and they should
be focused on getting rates down.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
What do you think, Well, I think they should be
focusing on getting rates down. It is an election year,
so hence they probably are trying to kind of drum
up a bit of a bit of interest. But this
this question has been asked, asked before.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
But I'm a huge advocate of public transport and fast.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
When we last on public transport, I.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Catch it sometimes I catch it to work in Wellington.
Goes along the road there, so you know, I can't
tear the exact day, but I would have a few
weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
They haven't bump bumped Aunty on the bus.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
No, No, yeah, probably haven't. I was probably on my bike.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
And hopefully I don't bump.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
No. No, but look, you know, is it heavy rail
along that corridor. I don't know. I think We've got
a bit asked wider question. How do we move people
effectively in an way that's attractive to them?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
All right? You know, we spoke with a woman yesterday
who was in a terrible situation. Been in a mental
property in christ Church at Parklands for two years, discovered
that it's contaminated by myth at a level that she
is not She and a family are not comfortable with,
and they've moved out. They're still paying rent. They've lost
about eighty percent of their positions because they're not not
prepared to put their family at risk. There was a
(15:22):
call and she's made the comment that there should be
mandatory testing for meth when rental properties change tenants. What's
your position on that, Homers?
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Yeah, Look, and I think the Minister is kind of
looking at kind of legislation around this.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Look.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I think kind of the bigger problem is the meth
problem in New Zealand. But I think for people that
are renting, we want to make sure they have peace
of mind of the properties that they're rent or if
people buying your property. I think we want people to
have a peace of mind that it's safe and healthy for.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
People to live.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
It's a myth problem that's got worse since you've been
in government.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
Oh, look, I think there's probably Look, we want to
be really clear. We don't think it's often on crime
approach has actually worked. I think has generated a whole
lot that gang grew astronomically. So we're wanting to make
sure that we can kind of get on top of
the problem. And I think that's where we've seen our
(16:16):
government do with a lot of initiatives.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Just two early facts, gangs are bigger now than they
were under us, and METTHEWS has doubled under this government.
So but you know, I'm not going to buy into that.
In terms of the rental property, I think it's a
really good question. Landlords have a duty to provide a
property that is safe. Now, I would like to know
whether the landlord should have known or suspected that myth
(16:40):
was possibly in this house. Clearly, if they had some
person who was clearly using myth, they should get in there,
test it and clean it. If it was just an
ordinary family and they probably had no idea whatsoever, I
don't think you can expect landlords to have a crystal.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Ball, all right, Can I run one other thing past you?
It's been revealed this morning that at Dunedin Secondary School
this is Logan Park High School, decided not to contact
the police after discovering a staff member misappropriated almost three
hundred and sixty five thousand dollars over five years. And
they say the treating the issue as an employment matter
(17:18):
because the priority of them for them has been to
recover the missing funds. Has the school done the right
thing or the wrong thing there?
Speaker 4 (17:25):
Hamish, Oh, Look, I think that without knowing the details
of the case, it's very hard to make as a
definitive judgment. Look, I would would have thought in the
case that the police should should be involved. But the
caveat to that is I don't know the individual details
of that case.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
What example does it set?
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Well, Once again, I've just on the surface of it.
I would suggest probably the police should be involved, don't
know the specifics.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Look, if you've got someone who's misappropriated three hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, you know this is when you should
be tough on crime. You know, you should send them
to the police and the police can investigate and prosecute
it for appropriate. If this person thinks they can buy
their way out of criminal prosecution by paying the money back.
That seems a really strong signal. And the worst thing
is they may well go to another school and do
(18:13):
it all over again.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Nice to see you both, don't We have a good
long weekend. Will draw your long weekend.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
You've got a milestone, see he said, two hundred and
fiftieth park Run, So really looking forward to that. We be
running it with my young daughter and also breast cancers over.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
I might have a milestones as well. I might do
my first park run. You're more than rum donkin.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Here we are, and I want and I won't.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Thank you both for more from Category Mornings with John McDonald.
Listen live to news talks It'd be christ Church from
nine am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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