March 26, 2026 • 21 mins
Labour's Reuben Davidson and National's Stuart Smith joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week.
The covered the biggest news of the week, including the revelation that Chris Hipkins had been advised on Covid vaccines for teens, the Governments fuel relief package, and the Parliamentary warning around importing liquid natural gas.
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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):
Six Friday, Same as usual, Ruben Davidson from Labor Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Good morning, coming to you from the studio across the table.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
And Stuart Smith from National Morning.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Stewart, Good morning, Morning Rhythm, Good morning Stewart.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
How are things up your waist?
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Stuart?
Speaker 5 (00:29):
But at drizzle at the moment hit some may last
night is pretty good.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
You should be here in christ j it's bucketing down,
all right, Ruben Davidson. Chris Hipkins, How the hell can
he stay on as Labor leader when it appears he
hasn't been all that open with us regarding his awareness
of the risks of the double COVID vaccine for teenagers.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Oh look, I think Chris absolutely can and will stay
on as Labor leader. I think he's doing a fantastic
job you would, leading us, And I think he will
do a fantastic job as the Prime Minister at a
time when New Zealanders' need strong lead and we're not
getting it.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Why should people trust him?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
People can absolutely trust Chris Hopkins.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
He said that, and the COVID inquiry came out and
said that cabinet ministers were not aware of the risks
of the double COVID vaccine for teenagers. The COVID Inquiry
said that Chris Hipkins did not challenge that when the
Inquiry reported it. But then today we're finding out that
he actually wrote a cabinet paper his name on it,
(01:27):
he wrote it which included these risks. How can we
trust him?
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Look, ministers followed the advice that was pot to them
by officials, and it's a valid question to ask why
that advice wasn't provided soon?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
No, no, no, we're finding well, hold on, we're finding
out now that Chris Hipkins knew that advice, he had
that advice.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Look, I think the valid question here is why, or
the question here is why, if that's the advice, why
it wasn't provided to ministers by officials sooner? But the
important thing is, well.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
The point is Reuben as Chris Sipkins wrote a cabinet
paper with that advice in it.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
So the question here is why the vaccine advice wasn't
provided ministers sooner? And the other thing.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
So you're not you're not disputing that it was provided
to ministers at some point.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I wasn't there, I can't tell you.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
So therefore you can't challenge what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Well, what I can. What I can tell you and
assure you and anyone listening, is that ministers followed the
advice put to them by officials and at that same
meeting the advice was to lift the mandates and that
decision was made.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Stuart Smith, what's your reaction to the revelation in the
New Zealand Herald today?
Speaker 5 (02:41):
Well, I hope he does stay on his letter and
be good for us. But the reality is we now
understand why he did not turn up to the the inquiry.
He didn't want to pursure himself. I suspect, but the
reality is he knew that that was not that there
was health risks for for younger people and then he
(03:06):
all so had a targeted campaign for two shots for
summer for young people to have it. I think it's appalling,
but people will make their own judgment on his integrity
or lack of But you know, as said, from our perspective,
it's up.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
We're quite like him to stay on.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Because Ruben, this is the thing. Chris Hapkins was among
the labor politicians current informer who refused to turn up
in person at the inquiry, and I said at time
that at the time that's very convenient because when you
turn up in person you are challenged. You can be
challenged on the answers you provide written statements, completely different story.
What I think the wider issue here is how did
(03:45):
the COVID inquiry come to the conclusion that ministers weren't
told this information? And you can only conclude, in the
absence of other details, that it came to that conclusion
based on the written statements by the current and former
labor politicians.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Sure, but ultimately if you look at the response that.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So you're so you're not contesting, you're saying it's quite
possible that Jacinda Adn, Grant Robertson Ashavira, potentially and certainly
Chris Hipkins told the inquiry that that information hadn't been received.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
No, what I'm saying to you, I'm not across the
detail of I wasn't a part of government at the time,
as you know, and I also haven't haven't combed through
the Commission of Inquiry and looked at all of the
detail there. But what I do know is that New
Zealand had, if not the best one of the best
responses to COVID in the world. I think we can
(04:41):
be very proud of the results out the other side
of facing a global pandemic. And the question a lot
of New Zealanders are asking me at the moment is
not about our response to COVID, but it's about the
lack of response from central government to the war in
Iran and the current fuel crisis.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
That's a brilliant thob of But it's not you're just
avoiding talking about it.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
It's focusing on the issue of the.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Day off Ruben Stuart. How would national ensure or how
could National give voter's confidence that this kind of thing
wouldn't happen if you remained in power.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
We don't have COVID. Obviously that's down to the integrity
of people concerned. And you know, quite frankly, I said,
people make their own judgment about Chris hopkins integrity or
that thereof. It's appalling, particularly because it's the most vulnerable people,
young people, which they had an advertising campaign encouraging and
(05:43):
targeting young people to get two shots for summer.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
It's appalling, right, I think, and we will.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
Be reaping the fallout from this for many years.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Okay, sorry, but I can't let this go. Part by
Stuart talks about the most vulnerable people, our young people.
The financial support the government has announced this week we
will get of children living in poverty received nothing.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
We'll get to that man.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
The kere for young people.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
There steet the great deflector, Reuben Davidson with us and
Stuart Smith.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
An's laughing.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Stuart Smith on Politics Friday, the government relief package, Stuart,
given that where your electorate is, I'm very surprised the
government isn't providing some relief or support for diesel users.
Why is that?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Oh, very difficult to do that, I think the.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I'm thinking, I'm thinking food manufacturers, even even farmers, because
you know, increased increased costs for those guys mean increased
costs for everyone at the supermarket.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
What we learned from the COVID debarcle was that we
need targeted and timely and temporary measures, and that's what
we've done with the fifty dollars per week for those
working families.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
It's a very.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
Advantage group. The others, like beneficiaries and so on, all
get an automatic CPI increase on the first of April
in their benefits anyway, these people do not.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
What about the people who don't need fifty dollars a
week because people contacting me saying they're going to pocket
thirty bucks out of it.
Speaker 5 (07:25):
Well, as I said that, we've tried to make it
as targeted as possible. Of course, people might say that
they're contacting you, you know, only taking them at their word,
But I suspect it's going to be very much welcomed
by those people.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Reuben Davison is a bit of an overreaction three weeks in.
Do we really need it? Oh well, I'll turn your microphile.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I'll look at that, look at that. I'm back. I'm back.
You'll be hugely relieved. The thing that concerns me most
and I'm hoping Stuart can help us here. We asked
the Prime Minister this week to explain how the shifting
between the various levels works, because details really matter in
these situations, and he was seemingly unable to explain what
would trick the moves between the four levels. And this
(08:08):
is critical to understanding who will get support, how that
support will be targeted, and when it will be deployed.
But Stuart, can you explain that.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
To US patients, says a virtue.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
But that's an unacceptable answer.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I'm a Stuart, do you not know?
Speaker 5 (08:30):
I tek my job to announce policy, and as the
Prime Minister said, you'll learn more today about the levels
and when those things will be triggered.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, we'll hold on, we'll hold on. Well, the finest
min has already said there's not going to be any
shift in levels today, So we know, I mean, we
know that.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
That's right, we know that, but they're announcing more detail
around that.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
So what's your level of awareness of of the of
the the levels themselves and what and what prompts a shift?
Speaker 5 (08:59):
I like you, I'm waiting to hear with beat of breath, But.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
I'm not a National Party gamp.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
You are, well, that's right. I'm not a member of
the cabinet either.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Right, And you haven't tried to find out because I
would have thought people in your electric might have been asking.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
Well, and I find out. You will find out as well.
It's a cabinet decision and they will go out publicly
and will be released by a finance minister in due course.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
All right, Ruben, what would labor have done differently?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Well, for a start, we'd be able to articulate what
the plan was. We would have come up with a
detailed plan and it would have explained very clearly that
the veriest level.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
To be fair, there is a national fuel Plan which
was written in twenty twenty four, which I've had printed
on my desk since the last week. Of all the
things you start collecting, So there is a plan in place.
You can't say there isn't.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
No, But I'm talking about a specific, stepped response to
a fuel crisis which we are now facing. And the
fact that you've got a government MP saying i'll know
when you know, that's pretty concerning to me.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
So what would you do in terms of, for example,
rationing do you think we need to be rationing fuel?
I mean there's someone who got in touch with us
yesterday who had fuel solemn from their vehicle in christ Church.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Yeah, and I've heard stories about people coming to their
car in the morning and having found that fuel has
been siphoned as well. So this is what happens when
people panic because they're not given a clear plan or
the assurance that government and government MPs like Stuart have
this in hand.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
Stuart, your response to that, Oh, did the labor MPs
know about the risk of the COVID vaccine. I suspect not, Stuart.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
A bit of a lame response, Stuart, what's your response
to what Ruben's just said?
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Well, I just said my phone cut out there, so
I missed the last bit. But if he's talking about
MP's knowing what cabinet decisions are, that's kept par for
the course one day. Gruman may have the good fortune
to be in a government about ten years time, maybe
so he understand.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Here's the question, when does cabinet meet.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Stuette, I think you are not an analyst.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Yeah, and now I think you've been petty Reuben.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
But we're waiting days with respect weeks later.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Still wait, Stuart, what was it the prompt of the
government to do you turn on the fisheries changes law
changes which would have allowed commercial fishers to catch undersized
fish but not recreational fishers. What prompted that?
Speaker 5 (11:44):
A realization that that clause was in the bell about
undersized fish and the impact that that would have on
the fishery. And so we very much careful about the
recreational fisheries, and we certainly listened to what we were
hearing from our constituents and got on and got the
(12:05):
Prime Minister got an undertaking from the Fisheries Minister to
take that out during the select many process.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
And that's one for that was a fisheries minister who
just on Sunday was defending it to the hilt when
he met with protesters at an outside of meeting on
the weekend. So it was national force. The issue is
their right, Stuart, Yes, all right, good decision, Reuben.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I think the most concerning thing about Stuart's answer there's
more than one thing.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Well you think the most not not for an appraisal
of Stuart's answers.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Well, the most concerning thing here is that Stuart said,
as soon as we realized that was in the bill,
So what are we I mean, what are the what's
the level of reading that we're seeing from government?
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Okay, is it a good decision or not?
Speaker 3 (12:52):
It doesn't go far enough, but at least it at
least it protects part of our fisheries. I mean, what
you're seeing here is a panicked move after a really
strong grassroots campaign from recreational fishers saying what an earth
is going on here that they would be prosecuted for
catching undersized fish, but commercial fishes can go out there
and take as many as they like. Terrible terrible bill
(13:14):
ely pushed up to only days ago by Shane Jones.
Look and all of a sudden run in the National
Party and Government are saying they didn't realize that was
in the bill.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
I agree with you, but we discussed this on the
show last week and Stuart, people involved in fishing were
telling me that by leading commercial and I didn't buy it,
but the argument was that by leading commercial fishes catch
undersized fish would mean that they would reach their quotas
sooner and there would not be as much fishing of
the oceans. What's your impressional response today?
Speaker 5 (13:46):
I get that, but it wasn't palatable the way it
was written. And we've made a decision which I think
is reacting as got MP should and you know, as
I think one other MP has said, or famous politician
when the facts change, we changed too.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
All right. In relation to the big thing happening today
in christ Church, that goodness of the stadium's got a
roof because of the weather is absolutely appalling. Stuart, how
do you feel about the stadium? Living outside the greater
christ Church area? Are you going to be making taking
advantage of it. And do you think people in your
area should have made some sort of contribution.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Yeah, well my area goes right up including Marlborough as well,
which is right outside the region. But absolutely support the stadium.
I think it's fantastic up to those councils what they
do in terms of contribution. I think it's going to
be a game changer. The Coliseum of christ Church is
going to be a real landmark for everyone. Christ Church
(14:49):
is quite frankly are leading light economically in the country
and it's going to continue to be because of smart
decisions like a covered stadium.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
All right, Ruben, it was a labor government who got
on with building the thing. You guys must be you're
not pleased with yourselves.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Government made a major contribution to funding, but ultimately the
decision making set with local council as it should have,
of what to do and how to do it, whether
it should have a roof, how big it should be.
I think council ultimately made a pretty good choice. I'm
excited about what the stadium will bring to christ Church.
I'm disappointed that today there is not a single local
National Party MP who would come here and do this
(15:27):
regular interview slot with you because they all want to
be at a.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Ribbon dow anyway. Well, as you know, we were going
to be there ourselves, but there were some technical issues
that prevented that. So there we are. So you don't
need to aim.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
A national MP.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
I'd have to say it's.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Extremely good one.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
It's called Canterbury Mornings.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
The point of correction, a point of correction there. I
probably have the largest geographical area of Canterbury in my
electric You.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Do come into the studio anyway, Ruben, what's up here?
What's what's got up for you today? Mate? Because you
didn't get an invite the stadium opening.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
No, I'm heading to the stadium opening after this.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
The nose is how to joint?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
My nose isn't how to joint at all.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
All that chippy business my name recogniz should know.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
I'll tell you what if you're relying on me to
help your name recognition, Stuart, you've been in Parliament for
how many years? These are desperate times the Stuarts.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Oh listen to these two. Can you just pick this
up on the coury lounge. Don't bring it, don't don't
have your little spots with us one final.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
Thing Dan can join us at least all right.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
The Parliament's environment watchdog, this is the Environment Commissioner, has
spoken out against Stewart the government's plan to set up
a have a liquefied natural gas terminal which is going
to cost you a billion dollars. He says it could
raise energy prices and raise carbon emissions. You're listening to that.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
Well, hear what he says, and I always listened to
what Simon Upton says. But the reality is, because of
the will and Gas Exploration Band, we have a problem
we have to address. And the point about renewable energy
which has been also made particularly intimateent renewable energy. For
every mega of wind and solar, you need another source
(17:11):
of energy to back it up. So that that is reality.
It's not really added. If it's important, it's valued, but
we have to be aware that when the wind's not
blowing and the sun's not shining, we still need another
source of energy to provide that electricity for everyone in
New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Yeah, but what about its concerns about increasing carbon emissions?
Speaker 4 (17:33):
Is it worth that?
Speaker 5 (17:34):
The reality is it's far less and much about half
the emissions of the million tons of coal that we've
had to import because we don't have the gas to
support the New Zealand electricity sector.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Yeah, but in terms of the you know, looking to
the future, in terms of the potential risk and in
relation to climate change, is it worth it?
Speaker 5 (17:58):
Well, the reality is we need to keep the light on.
We've got decisions we have to be made, and they
have to be made responsibly and quickly, and they were
done and that is the best option that we had
available to us.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
All right. Well, the other thing facing the country right
at the moment is some pretty wild weather, which I
don't think you can argue is not due to effects
such as climate change. So you know, you talk about
dealing with one crisis, but you were at the same
time ignoring another one.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Well, as I said, looquified natural gas has half the
emissions of coal, and that's what we have. The choices
we have that are in front of us and available,
and we made the best one that we had the
ability to at that time.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
All right, Reuben, look, introducing a gas tax during a
cost of living crisis absolute madness. Investing in a facility
to bring LNG into New Zealand at a time when globally,
the price is absolutely peaking. Also absolute madness New Zealanders,
(19:00):
So do not want to be going back to the
nineteen eighties.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
What about the risk of increased carbon emission, which is
what the Environment Commissioner was talking about specifically.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Yeah, absolutely, and I think the Environment Commissioner is one
hundred percent right here. The Environment Commissioner wants to see,
as do the majority of New Zealanders want to see
a much better renewable energy future for New Zealand. And
this is a giant step backwards. And worst of all,
not only is it a giant step backwards, it's a
(19:31):
giant step backwards that every New Zealander pays through a
gas tax.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Do you reckon the stormy weather we're seeing is opening
people's eyes to climate change? Stuart?
Speaker 5 (19:45):
I think people are well aware of the issue of
climate change, and I think it's very difficult to entertain
that you'd have to go out of.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
Us in apparelled.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
What do you think? What do you think?
Speaker 5 (19:58):
I think the climate is definitely changing, and these weather
events are happening more frequently. Perhaps the as will change,
but you know where we are, we just have to
deal with what's happening. Now understand the sun shining up
in Northwold at the moment, so things are on the
improved there.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
The question here, though, Stuart, is what responsibility do we
take for climate change? The decisions that your government is
making at the moment to import LNG into New Zealand
will add further heat, will add further pressure to the
very causes of climate change. Do you not think we,
as human beings and as MPs and decision makers have
(20:40):
a responsibility to do everything we can to stop adding
to climate change impacts?
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Is Ruben you're trying out for a job with.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
The BB Are you trying not to answer the question?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I think is Stuart? What's your answer?
Speaker 5 (20:59):
So and I've already answered it before. The reality is
we have increased you of cold because of the decision
may a guest expiration in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
All right, Thanks for your time, Stuart, Stuart Smith from National,
Rubert Davidson, Maple, thanks for your time. Politics Friday. Back
at the same time next week.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
For more from Caterbory 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):
Six Friday, Same as usual, Ruben Davidson from Labor Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Good morning, coming to you from the studio across the table.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
And Stuart Smith from National Morning.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Stewart, Good morning, Morning Rhythm, Good morning Stewart.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
How are things up your waist?
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Stuart?
Speaker 5 (00:29):
But at drizzle at the moment hit some may last
night is pretty good.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
You should be here in christ j it's bucketing down,
all right, Ruben Davidson. Chris Hipkins, How the hell can
he stay on as Labor leader when it appears he
hasn't been all that open with us regarding his awareness
of the risks of the double COVID vaccine for teenagers.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Oh look, I think Chris absolutely can and will stay
on as Labor leader. I think he's doing a fantastic
job you would, leading us, And I think he will
do a fantastic job as the Prime Minister at a
time when New Zealanders' need strong lead and we're not
getting it.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Why should people trust him?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
People can absolutely trust Chris Hopkins.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
He said that, and the COVID inquiry came out and
said that cabinet ministers were not aware of the risks
of the double COVID vaccine for teenagers. The COVID Inquiry
said that Chris Hipkins did not challenge that when the
Inquiry reported it. But then today we're finding out that
he actually wrote a cabinet paper his name on it,
(01:27):
he wrote it which included these risks. How can we
trust him?
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Look, ministers followed the advice that was pot to them
by officials, and it's a valid question to ask why
that advice wasn't provided soon?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
No, no, no, we're finding well, hold on, we're finding
out now that Chris Hipkins knew that advice, he had
that advice.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Look, I think the valid question here is why, or
the question here is why, if that's the advice, why
it wasn't provided to ministers by officials sooner? But the
important thing is, well.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
The point is Reuben as Chris Sipkins wrote a cabinet
paper with that advice in it.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
So the question here is why the vaccine advice wasn't
provided ministers sooner? And the other thing.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
So you're not you're not disputing that it was provided
to ministers at some point.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I wasn't there, I can't tell you.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
So therefore you can't challenge what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Well, what I can. What I can tell you and
assure you and anyone listening, is that ministers followed the
advice put to them by officials and at that same
meeting the advice was to lift the mandates and that
decision was made.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Stuart Smith, what's your reaction to the revelation in the
New Zealand Herald today?
Speaker 5 (02:41):
Well, I hope he does stay on his letter and
be good for us. But the reality is we now
understand why he did not turn up to the the inquiry.
He didn't want to pursure himself. I suspect, but the
reality is he knew that that was not that there
was health risks for for younger people and then he
(03:06):
all so had a targeted campaign for two shots for
summer for young people to have it. I think it's appalling,
but people will make their own judgment on his integrity
or lack of But you know, as said, from our perspective,
it's up.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
We're quite like him to stay on.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Because Ruben, this is the thing. Chris Hapkins was among
the labor politicians current informer who refused to turn up
in person at the inquiry, and I said at time
that at the time that's very convenient because when you
turn up in person you are challenged. You can be
challenged on the answers you provide written statements, completely different story.
What I think the wider issue here is how did
(03:45):
the COVID inquiry come to the conclusion that ministers weren't
told this information? And you can only conclude, in the
absence of other details, that it came to that conclusion
based on the written statements by the current and former
labor politicians.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Sure, but ultimately if you look at the response that.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So you're so you're not contesting, you're saying it's quite
possible that Jacinda Adn, Grant Robertson Ashavira, potentially and certainly
Chris Hipkins told the inquiry that that information hadn't been received.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
No, what I'm saying to you, I'm not across the
detail of I wasn't a part of government at the time,
as you know, and I also haven't haven't combed through
the Commission of Inquiry and looked at all of the
detail there. But what I do know is that New
Zealand had, if not the best one of the best
responses to COVID in the world. I think we can
(04:41):
be very proud of the results out the other side
of facing a global pandemic. And the question a lot
of New Zealanders are asking me at the moment is
not about our response to COVID, but it's about the
lack of response from central government to the war in
Iran and the current fuel crisis.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
That's a brilliant thob of But it's not you're just
avoiding talking about it.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
It's focusing on the issue of the.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Day off Ruben Stuart. How would national ensure or how
could National give voter's confidence that this kind of thing
wouldn't happen if you remained in power.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
We don't have COVID. Obviously that's down to the integrity
of people concerned. And you know, quite frankly, I said,
people make their own judgment about Chris hopkins integrity or
that thereof. It's appalling, particularly because it's the most vulnerable people,
young people, which they had an advertising campaign encouraging and
(05:43):
targeting young people to get two shots for summer.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
It's appalling, right, I think, and we will.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
Be reaping the fallout from this for many years.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Okay, sorry, but I can't let this go. Part by
Stuart talks about the most vulnerable people, our young people.
The financial support the government has announced this week we
will get of children living in poverty received nothing.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
We'll get to that man.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
The kere for young people.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
There steet the great deflector, Reuben Davidson with us and
Stuart Smith.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
An's laughing.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Stuart Smith on Politics Friday, the government relief package, Stuart,
given that where your electorate is, I'm very surprised the
government isn't providing some relief or support for diesel users.
Why is that?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Oh, very difficult to do that, I think the.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I'm thinking, I'm thinking food manufacturers, even even farmers, because
you know, increased increased costs for those guys mean increased
costs for everyone at the supermarket.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
What we learned from the COVID debarcle was that we
need targeted and timely and temporary measures, and that's what
we've done with the fifty dollars per week for those
working families.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
It's a very.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
Advantage group. The others, like beneficiaries and so on, all
get an automatic CPI increase on the first of April
in their benefits anyway, these people do not.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
What about the people who don't need fifty dollars a
week because people contacting me saying they're going to pocket
thirty bucks out of it.
Speaker 5 (07:25):
Well, as I said that, we've tried to make it
as targeted as possible. Of course, people might say that
they're contacting you, you know, only taking them at their word,
But I suspect it's going to be very much welcomed
by those people.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Reuben Davison is a bit of an overreaction three weeks in.
Do we really need it? Oh well, I'll turn your microphile.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I'll look at that, look at that. I'm back. I'm back.
You'll be hugely relieved. The thing that concerns me most
and I'm hoping Stuart can help us here. We asked
the Prime Minister this week to explain how the shifting
between the various levels works, because details really matter in
these situations, and he was seemingly unable to explain what
would trick the moves between the four levels. And this
(08:08):
is critical to understanding who will get support, how that
support will be targeted, and when it will be deployed.
But Stuart, can you explain that.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
To US patients, says a virtue.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
But that's an unacceptable answer.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I'm a Stuart, do you not know?
Speaker 5 (08:30):
I tek my job to announce policy, and as the
Prime Minister said, you'll learn more today about the levels
and when those things will be triggered.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, we'll hold on, we'll hold on. Well, the finest
min has already said there's not going to be any
shift in levels today, So we know, I mean, we
know that.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
That's right, we know that, but they're announcing more detail
around that.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
So what's your level of awareness of of the of
the the levels themselves and what and what prompts a shift?
Speaker 5 (08:59):
I like you, I'm waiting to hear with beat of breath, But.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
I'm not a National Party gamp.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
You are, well, that's right. I'm not a member of
the cabinet either.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Right, And you haven't tried to find out because I
would have thought people in your electric might have been asking.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
Well, and I find out. You will find out as well.
It's a cabinet decision and they will go out publicly
and will be released by a finance minister in due course.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
All right, Ruben, what would labor have done differently?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Well, for a start, we'd be able to articulate what
the plan was. We would have come up with a
detailed plan and it would have explained very clearly that
the veriest level.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
To be fair, there is a national fuel Plan which
was written in twenty twenty four, which I've had printed
on my desk since the last week. Of all the
things you start collecting, So there is a plan in place.
You can't say there isn't.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
No, But I'm talking about a specific, stepped response to
a fuel crisis which we are now facing. And the
fact that you've got a government MP saying i'll know
when you know, that's pretty concerning to me.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
So what would you do in terms of, for example,
rationing do you think we need to be rationing fuel?
I mean there's someone who got in touch with us
yesterday who had fuel solemn from their vehicle in christ Church.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Yeah, and I've heard stories about people coming to their
car in the morning and having found that fuel has
been siphoned as well. So this is what happens when
people panic because they're not given a clear plan or
the assurance that government and government MPs like Stuart have
this in hand.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
Stuart, your response to that, Oh, did the labor MPs
know about the risk of the COVID vaccine. I suspect not, Stuart.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
A bit of a lame response, Stuart, what's your response
to what Ruben's just said?
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Well, I just said my phone cut out there, so
I missed the last bit. But if he's talking about
MP's knowing what cabinet decisions are, that's kept par for
the course one day. Gruman may have the good fortune
to be in a government about ten years time, maybe
so he understand.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Here's the question, when does cabinet meet.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Stuette, I think you are not an analyst.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Yeah, and now I think you've been petty Reuben.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
But we're waiting days with respect weeks later.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Still wait, Stuart, what was it the prompt of the
government to do you turn on the fisheries changes law
changes which would have allowed commercial fishers to catch undersized
fish but not recreational fishers. What prompted that?
Speaker 5 (11:44):
A realization that that clause was in the bell about
undersized fish and the impact that that would have on
the fishery. And so we very much careful about the
recreational fisheries, and we certainly listened to what we were
hearing from our constituents and got on and got the
(12:05):
Prime Minister got an undertaking from the Fisheries Minister to
take that out during the select many process.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
And that's one for that was a fisheries minister who
just on Sunday was defending it to the hilt when
he met with protesters at an outside of meeting on
the weekend. So it was national force. The issue is
their right, Stuart, Yes, all right, good decision, Reuben.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I think the most concerning thing about Stuart's answer there's
more than one thing.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Well you think the most not not for an appraisal
of Stuart's answers.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Well, the most concerning thing here is that Stuart said,
as soon as we realized that was in the bill,
So what are we I mean, what are the what's
the level of reading that we're seeing from government?
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Okay, is it a good decision or not?
Speaker 3 (12:52):
It doesn't go far enough, but at least it at
least it protects part of our fisheries. I mean, what
you're seeing here is a panicked move after a really
strong grassroots campaign from recreational fishers saying what an earth
is going on here that they would be prosecuted for
catching undersized fish, but commercial fishes can go out there
and take as many as they like. Terrible terrible bill
(13:14):
ely pushed up to only days ago by Shane Jones.
Look and all of a sudden run in the National
Party and Government are saying they didn't realize that was
in the bill.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
I agree with you, but we discussed this on the
show last week and Stuart, people involved in fishing were
telling me that by leading commercial and I didn't buy it,
but the argument was that by leading commercial fishes catch
undersized fish would mean that they would reach their quotas
sooner and there would not be as much fishing of
the oceans. What's your impressional response today?
Speaker 5 (13:46):
I get that, but it wasn't palatable the way it
was written. And we've made a decision which I think
is reacting as got MP should and you know, as
I think one other MP has said, or famous politician
when the facts change, we changed too.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
All right. In relation to the big thing happening today
in christ Church, that goodness of the stadium's got a
roof because of the weather is absolutely appalling. Stuart, how
do you feel about the stadium? Living outside the greater
christ Church area? Are you going to be making taking
advantage of it. And do you think people in your
area should have made some sort of contribution.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Yeah, well my area goes right up including Marlborough as well,
which is right outside the region. But absolutely support the stadium.
I think it's fantastic up to those councils what they
do in terms of contribution. I think it's going to
be a game changer. The Coliseum of christ Church is
going to be a real landmark for everyone. Christ Church
(14:49):
is quite frankly are leading light economically in the country
and it's going to continue to be because of smart
decisions like a covered stadium.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
All right, Ruben, it was a labor government who got
on with building the thing. You guys must be you're
not pleased with yourselves.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Government made a major contribution to funding, but ultimately the
decision making set with local council as it should have,
of what to do and how to do it, whether
it should have a roof, how big it should be.
I think council ultimately made a pretty good choice. I'm
excited about what the stadium will bring to christ Church.
I'm disappointed that today there is not a single local
National Party MP who would come here and do this
(15:27):
regular interview slot with you because they all want to
be at a.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Ribbon dow anyway. Well, as you know, we were going
to be there ourselves, but there were some technical issues
that prevented that. So there we are. So you don't
need to aim.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
A national MP.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
I'd have to say it's.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Extremely good one.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
It's called Canterbury Mornings.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
The point of correction, a point of correction there. I
probably have the largest geographical area of Canterbury in my
electric You.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Do come into the studio anyway, Ruben, what's up here?
What's what's got up for you today? Mate? Because you
didn't get an invite the stadium opening.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
No, I'm heading to the stadium opening after this.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
The nose is how to joint?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
My nose isn't how to joint at all.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
All that chippy business my name recogniz should know.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
I'll tell you what if you're relying on me to
help your name recognition, Stuart, you've been in Parliament for
how many years? These are desperate times the Stuarts.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Oh listen to these two. Can you just pick this
up on the coury lounge. Don't bring it, don't don't
have your little spots with us one final.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
Thing Dan can join us at least all right.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
The Parliament's environment watchdog, this is the Environment Commissioner, has
spoken out against Stewart the government's plan to set up
a have a liquefied natural gas terminal which is going
to cost you a billion dollars. He says it could
raise energy prices and raise carbon emissions. You're listening to that.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
Well, hear what he says, and I always listened to
what Simon Upton says. But the reality is, because of
the will and Gas Exploration Band, we have a problem
we have to address. And the point about renewable energy
which has been also made particularly intimateent renewable energy. For
every mega of wind and solar, you need another source
(17:11):
of energy to back it up. So that that is reality.
It's not really added. If it's important, it's valued, but
we have to be aware that when the wind's not
blowing and the sun's not shining, we still need another
source of energy to provide that electricity for everyone in
New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Yeah, but what about its concerns about increasing carbon emissions?
Speaker 4 (17:33):
Is it worth that?
Speaker 5 (17:34):
The reality is it's far less and much about half
the emissions of the million tons of coal that we've
had to import because we don't have the gas to
support the New Zealand electricity sector.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Yeah, but in terms of the you know, looking to
the future, in terms of the potential risk and in
relation to climate change, is it worth it?
Speaker 5 (17:58):
Well, the reality is we need to keep the light on.
We've got decisions we have to be made, and they
have to be made responsibly and quickly, and they were
done and that is the best option that we had
available to us.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
All right. Well, the other thing facing the country right
at the moment is some pretty wild weather, which I
don't think you can argue is not due to effects
such as climate change. So you know, you talk about
dealing with one crisis, but you were at the same
time ignoring another one.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Well, as I said, looquified natural gas has half the
emissions of coal, and that's what we have. The choices
we have that are in front of us and available,
and we made the best one that we had the
ability to at that time.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
All right, Reuben, look, introducing a gas tax during a
cost of living crisis absolute madness. Investing in a facility
to bring LNG into New Zealand at a time when globally,
the price is absolutely peaking. Also absolute madness New Zealanders,
(19:00):
So do not want to be going back to the
nineteen eighties.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
What about the risk of increased carbon emission, which is
what the Environment Commissioner was talking about specifically.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Yeah, absolutely, and I think the Environment Commissioner is one
hundred percent right here. The Environment Commissioner wants to see,
as do the majority of New Zealanders want to see
a much better renewable energy future for New Zealand. And
this is a giant step backwards. And worst of all,
not only is it a giant step backwards, it's a
(19:31):
giant step backwards that every New Zealander pays through a
gas tax.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Do you reckon the stormy weather we're seeing is opening
people's eyes to climate change? Stuart?
Speaker 5 (19:45):
I think people are well aware of the issue of
climate change, and I think it's very difficult to entertain
that you'd have to go out of.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
Us in apparelled.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
What do you think? What do you think?
Speaker 5 (19:58):
I think the climate is definitely changing, and these weather
events are happening more frequently. Perhaps the as will change,
but you know where we are, we just have to
deal with what's happening. Now understand the sun shining up
in Northwold at the moment, so things are on the
improved there.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
The question here, though, Stuart, is what responsibility do we
take for climate change? The decisions that your government is
making at the moment to import LNG into New Zealand
will add further heat, will add further pressure to the
very causes of climate change. Do you not think we,
as human beings and as MPs and decision makers have
(20:40):
a responsibility to do everything we can to stop adding
to climate change impacts?
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Is Ruben you're trying out for a job with.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
The BB Are you trying not to answer the question?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I think is Stuart? What's your answer?
Speaker 5 (20:59):
So and I've already answered it before. The reality is
we have increased you of cold because of the decision
may a guest expiration in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
All right, Thanks for your time, Stuart, Stuart Smith from National,
Rubert Davidson, Maple, thanks for your time. Politics Friday. Back
at the same time next week.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
For more from Caterbory 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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