February 13, 2026 • 18 mins
This week on Politics Friday John MacDonald was joined by National MP for Banks Peninsula Vanessa Weenick, and Labour List MP Tracey McLellan.
They covered the latest national and local issues, including NZ First's announcement to campaign on a Māori electorate referendum, whether all events at One NZ Stadium should have a levy, electric e-trail bikes that are speeding around the city, and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Right now though being Friday Politics, Friday Nationals, Vanessa Winning Morning,
Vanessa and I've got Tracy. We've got to see Tracy
McClellan from Labor's on the phart. I'm going Tracy, Hello,
how are you very well? Where about to you?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I'm still in Wellington.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Oh what's happening in Wellington?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Well, we're just working hard as normal making this a
one term government.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Very good. All right, let's talk about this news today.
The city councilor Yannie Johansson has a bit upset about
the plant and buy venues autotar. He did charge a
five dollars levy, but only for international concerts at the
New Stadium, not for other events. Tracy, what's your what's
your take on that?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Yeah? I hadn't. I hadn't heard about Council Rhney's Yanni's
discourse on But it does seem yeah, it seems about
Oh it doesn't it certainly when there's a you know,
a cost of living issues or all around the place.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Well no, no, no, no, no, no no. Did you not
know about the trace? He's saying that it should be
charged for every event, not just for international contests.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Well exactly, And you know it's just adding more fees,
isn't it. I'm not sure of the background.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
But he wants he wants more of it. He's not
Do you not quite understand it, Tracy? I mean what
he's saying is he's saying, if they're going to charge
a levy, they should charge it for every event, not
just international concerts.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Yes, that's what I mean. So I'm assuming a lot
of those events will be local events and local entertainers
and local participants. So you know, it's it's a bit tough,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Well, with respect tracing, do you do you do you
know about this or not? I just want to check
because you're not quite making sense.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Okay, I've just got the note here saying that Yanni
is suggesting that all the levee should be placed on everybody,
not just international acts.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah. Yeah, and do you agree with that?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
No? I don't.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Oh cooh, we got there. Why Well, it's.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
It's ultimately they passed on, won't they, So we don't.
You know, there's already people struggling out there and we don't.
I just I don't know where it's coming from and
what the problem is he's trying to solve. Why what
do you think about it?
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Well, the problem he's trying to solve is not that
it's not his problem as venues autotarh. You've made this
decision to charge a five dollar fee or a five
dollars levee for international concerts only. And I'm saying, I'm saying,
he's saying, if you want to do that, charge it
for everything. I mean, you said, do you think people
will be put off buying tickets by a five dollar levy?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
I think some people will.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Oh well, let's find out what Vanessa thinks.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
I think that it makes sense to have a levee
that goes across everything. Yeah, yeah, whatever the level of
that is, I think it should evenly be applied. It
seems a bit crazy to just have it on one thing.
This is helping to pay off, you know, pay for
the facilities, pay for what is needed at the time.
So I don't see why everybody would not be charged
for this and going to the stadium and whatever event there. Yes,
(03:25):
that's it's a really great opportunity for people for entertainment.
It's not about the cost of living though, is it.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
No, it's not. No, it's not about the cost of it. Also,
some people are of the view that if you're not
in christ Church, you should pay more because you haven't
contributed through your rates. What do you think of that, Vanessa?
Speaker 4 (03:45):
That would just be really crazy, really crazy to do.
I mean you've got to think about how you'd actually
technically do that, and it's just a bit too hard.
Whereas if it's applied to every ticket, that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
What's your position on that aspect, Tracy.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Well, I think you know, you quite correct in terms
of the administration. That seems a but bonkers, doesn't it.
You know, it's we should be celebrating it. So it's
it's going to be a fantastic facility and oh yeah,
huting international ads. Yeah, we just want to make it
as accessible as possible so that everybody can enjoy the
(04:21):
types of you know, pretty co activities that will be
going on there.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
All right, Speaking of levy, Vanessa, what's the difference between
the levy and a tax?
Speaker 4 (04:29):
So a tax is something that's applied to pretty much
to everyone. A levy is something that is on particular
things that are used. Now when a company is levied
for the building of a facility. That is that's specifically
a levy that is not a chat tax. And when
it comes to talking about the LNG.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Facility, the liquifinancial guest facility and the and the and
the levy not a tax that the government is going
to charge.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
It's a levy on the companies that are using that
and because they.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Which will be passed on to customers like you and I.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
However, overall energy prices will be lower. The fact that
that the energy price is spiked was because of the
lack of access to gas, because of the low supply,
because of the previous government's oil and tax band. That's
just a fact that those spiking prices are then baked
in to further wholesale price forecast in the future. So
(05:25):
if we can level out that supply and make sure
that the risk is taken away, they don't have to
price that risk in and we have overall lower prices.
So it's not if it's the price is not passed on.
If overall you have a lower lower electricity bill, are
you convinced by that, Trusty McClellan, you should have fifty dollars?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Absolutely not It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter whether you
call it a tax, a levy, a fee. Goodness knows
what it's been called this week. The point is it's
it's attacks a levy that's going to be charged that
will be passed on to electricity users to pay for
locking us in to ALI, which is, you know, locking
(06:08):
us into a volatile international gas market when we should
be looking towards being more independent in their energy.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yeah, easy to say it should be what what what
is that?
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Well? I just don't think that this is going to
make household energy costs any lower. You can't make cheap
electricity with expensive fuel.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
How would how would labor? How would how would labor?
How would how would labor reduce power costs in all
power bills?
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Well, we have to, I mean, imagine if this money
was spent properly investing in renewables. And we understand the
concept of dry years and all that sort of stuff,
but that's why you've got to that's why you've got
to be able to store energy. And this, I mean,
this is an idea that was around twenty years ago
and never went anywhere because it's frawed and it's been
(06:56):
recycled now and you know, ham fistedly sold as some
sort of solution and it's just not.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, but I mean perfect labors labour's ideas like Onslow,
and that was even even even more far fetched, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Well, we've got more renewable energy generation on Tracy, wasn't.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Far fetched And on flow projects included much more than
the Lake Onslow, and this government scrapped all of the
work that was going into that. And there were several
alternatives that wasn't just Lake Onslow, but it was about
finding that ability to store energy.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
What were what were the other what were the other alternatives?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
There was a suite of suite of alternatives, and it
would take us too long to go into it.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
But give me, give me something, give me something, give
me some examples, Tracy.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Well, there was a hybrid of lots of different things
that would have.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Can you give me can you give me an example?
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Or not?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Can you can you give me an example or not?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Or not without not doing it justice?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Well, okay, well, I think I think we'll move on.
I think we'll move on from that, Tracy, because I
don't I don't think. I don't think you can provide
the information that you suggest you might have. You were responding, well, we've.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
Done more renewable energy generation building in the last couple
of years in the pipeline that has been that has
happened in the last fifteen years put together, So that's exciting.
And I think understanding how the energy system works is
quite complex. But the basic thing is that gas is
what determines that the on the day peak prices for
(08:34):
when it is at its highest and when gas is
really low. That's why we had a low supply. That
means demand is really high and you pay more. And
that's what happened when we had eight hundred dollars a
killer of what our generation by gas a couple of
winters ago when it was a dry season.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Vanessa, pretty pretty weird timing with your government's inquiry into
the Reserve banks handling of COVID, with the findings coming
up just weeks before the election, a smell of rate.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Well, the timing is about having fixed very many things
in the in the Reserve Bank over time, and they'd
be doing one thing at a time, had to get
through the change just left.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
This one that was going to potentially make labor look
pretty bad just happened to.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Me just before, haven't they And I mean they didn't
want to turn up to the COVID inquiry. They didn't
want to front up. And then and now we've got
to find out all of the lessons that we can
from history and make sure that we don't repeat them.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
You see, I set this yesterday and you've played into
my hands beautifully. If this report comes out and isn't
as critical of the Reserve Bank as you guys would
like it to be, you'll plan be to say, look,
at least we're prepared to learn from the past, unlike
the other lot who wouldn't even turn up at the
COVID inquiry. So a spot on, that's your plan, that's
(09:54):
your plan.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
That's not a plan. That's that's not a plan that look,
that is a or.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
You're thinking I'm gonna ring Wellington after this and say,
actually I've got a back up.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
I don't think that the timing is the relevant question.
I think the question is is it the right thing
to do to massively accelerate both borrowing and other and
reduce the interest rates right down to zero point two
five percent and also have irresponsible spending at the same right.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Okay, we'll wait for the inquiry.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yeah, exactly, otherwise the findings would be exactly irrelevant. And
so if if we can have good lessons that help
our future responses, that should be good for everyone.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
All right, Trust McClellan, Are you guys running scared of
this because the chances are you might not look pretty
good out of a day?
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Well? I think, I mean, I think the timing is
a bit similal, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, Well establish that, yeah, but are you are you guys?
Are you guys nervous of it?
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Though?
Speaker 3 (11:00):
No? No, And remembering this is monetary policy, so it's
a bit bizarre that they're looking into monetary policy, which
is something that they don't have any control over anyhow,
it's the Reserve Bank. So look, I'm all for learning lessons.
I think that that's a perfectly appropriate thing to do.
But you know, a monetary policy inquiry when you don't
(11:20):
have any control over the government doesn't have any control
over in electioneer scenes a bit odd.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
All right? Do you think there would have been one?
Do you think there would be merit and labor fronting
at the COVID Royal Commission of Inquiry?
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Well, of course there was two parts to that and
Labor fully participated in the original very bored part, and
then this government tacked on a second part and Labor
kind of we felt like we had already participated. So
I think it's I think it's inaccurate to say that
Labor didn't front the COVID inquiry because that was fully
participated in.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
All Right, electric motorbikes. There's concerned being expressed about them
this week on this side of the Tasman and Australia.
There's already people that upset about what's going on. Yes,
it what's your perception. Do you think there's a there's
a problem problem. These things have fallen between regulatory cracks
and something needs to be looked at.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Potentially, they can go very fast, and I have seen
reports of some pretty kind of inconsiderate behavior as well,
and that increases risk of accidents and and injuring other
people as well. So yeah, I think anywhere anywhere that
people are being inconsiderate and going fast at the same time.
(12:36):
It's natural that people.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Will be which is easy to say. But when do
you think that some sort of regulation change is needed
or some sort of intervention.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
For example, I'm not sure about the requirements for that.
So but I think it's worth looking into because I'm
not I haven't seen the statistics for these motorbikes, but
we saw with the e scooters, for example, there was
quite a large uptick across Auckland where they did a
study on that and the injuries that went into Auckland Hospital.
(13:06):
So yeah, be interesting to see those statistics.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
It trast McLellan. Someone called me yesterday involved in lobbying
for some sort of intervention because someone was leaving a
business premises in christ Church not that long ago and
was hit on the footpath by someone riding one of
these things. What do you think needs to happen?
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Yeah, honestly, it gets a bit scary sometimes when you
have to There's just a whole lot of stimuli out there,
isn't it sometimes on the road with things going at
different speeds and things going a lot faster than what
you might expect. So I look, I agree with Sidney,
so I think it's time to look at what could
be done. I don't know what the answer is, but
(13:49):
certainly it's something we should be paying attention to, because
there's no point waiting until you know more tragedy strikes
or more accidents happen, so hopefully you know someone's really
turning their mind to it.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Have you seen these electric motorbike yourself?
Speaker 1 (14:03):
No?
Speaker 3 (14:04):
No I haven't, but you know, no doubt they will.
It's like any kind of trend or craze, isn't it.
You know? And you see that spike and you know
accidents or near misses.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Have Look, just do a search online that they're everywhere
in particularly Australia that there's a real concern. You see
the one First has announced that it's going to campaign
on getting rid of the Mari electorate seats. What's your
reaction to that, Tracy? Do you think there must keep
a must go or what?
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Look, I just think it's Winston being Winston.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
He well yeah, but what do you think? What do
you think out there? What do you think? I think?
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Look, I just think hundreds of thousands of people or
loads of people. I don't know what the number is,
but loads of people opt to be on the Marvi role.
That's their democratic choice, that's what they choose to be.
That's what determines how many Maori seats there will be.
And if people didn't want there to be Mary seats,
they wouldn't go on that role, So you know, I
think it's a bit of a distraction and you know,
(15:08):
a little bit ironic. Wasn't it Winston that first ran
in a Maori seat in nineteen seventy five or something,
that's how long he's been around. But it's certainly not
something that I'm concerned about or turning my mind to.
I think it's an important part of our democratic process and.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
That's so you think they should stay, yes, Vanessa.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Yeah, well, obviously New Zealand First can make whatever statements
they want. The National Park. We haven't talked about it yet.
It'll be interesting to see.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Brook van Velden was on the news last night saying
we'd before it and his Zealand First is for it.
I think Brook van Velden said maybe not. Nationalist needs
to get on.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Board with it.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
I think it's about time that we reconsidered and thought
about how our parliament's made up in general, because if
you think, well, if you think about it, we determine
the number of seats based on the size of the
South Island divided by sixteen, and you end up with
that number just keeps growing and growing and growing, and
so the ability for anyone to actually represent those areas
(16:12):
becomes quite difficult. For the South Island, some of those
seats become very geographically large, so it becomes really hard
to get around. You think of Maureene Pew over on
the West Coast tun and West Coast Tasman trying to
get all the way up and down and so is crazy.
So having a geographical area like that, how are they
(16:33):
actually representing their people? Because I know that the MP
for Te Titong has not been to any of the
marai on in Banks Peninsula since he's been elected. So
I've been.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
He's got a very busy video career.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
I don't know what he's doing. So yeah, So actually,
how is that? How is representation across the House in
terms of electorate seats versus the list seats working? And
I think it is worth time, worth us looking at
that generally, and while we're doing that, talk about how
we make sure that we've got good representation for mari.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
But is that what you're saying, is that a review
of m MP as well?
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Well, we've done that many times. I'm talking about hoping
that the Electoral Commission, who'd actually look at these things,
might look at the number of seats that we've got
in Parliament and see whether or not it's right and
the right mix in terms of electorate seats versus list seats.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Right, Okay, Tracey, do you think there's there's an issue
there that needs to be looked at?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
And I think we should always be really mindful of
the way that we organize our democracy so that people
do feel well represented. But you know, at the current
point in time, there's huge problems and there's so much
more to be talking about than you know, whatever the
late democracy touched into the hall.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
But we're not just talking about it, but we're talking
about the fact that you've got these huge electorates.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
For example, Oh absolutely yeah. And Vanessien's right, there's some
of those electorates are incredibly high to get around and
it does make you wonder, you know, how how can
mpeace keep in touch with people on the ground when
it's getting harder and harder to you know, to geographically
represent an area.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
All right, I will save troubles back to Christi Itch,
you're back in town for the weekend.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yes, I'll be back this afternoon and there's loads on
on the weekend, so looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Brilliant Thanks Tracy Labor's Tracy mclevan and Nationals Vanessa when
it can join your weekend too, Thanks so much, John
Brilliant Politics Friday. Back at the same time next week.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
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 ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Right now though being Friday Politics, Friday Nationals, Vanessa Winning Morning,
Vanessa and I've got Tracy. We've got to see Tracy
McClellan from Labor's on the phart. I'm going Tracy, Hello,
how are you very well? Where about to you?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I'm still in Wellington.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Oh what's happening in Wellington?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Well, we're just working hard as normal making this a
one term government.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Very good. All right, let's talk about this news today.
The city councilor Yannie Johansson has a bit upset about
the plant and buy venues autotar. He did charge a
five dollars levy, but only for international concerts at the
New Stadium, not for other events. Tracy, what's your what's
your take on that?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Yeah? I hadn't. I hadn't heard about Council Rhney's Yanni's
discourse on But it does seem yeah, it seems about
Oh it doesn't it certainly when there's a you know,
a cost of living issues or all around the place.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Well no, no, no, no, no, no no. Did you not
know about the trace? He's saying that it should be
charged for every event, not just for international contests.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Well exactly, And you know it's just adding more fees,
isn't it. I'm not sure of the background.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
But he wants he wants more of it. He's not
Do you not quite understand it, Tracy? I mean what
he's saying is he's saying, if they're going to charge
a levy, they should charge it for every event, not
just international concerts.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Yes, that's what I mean. So I'm assuming a lot
of those events will be local events and local entertainers
and local participants. So you know, it's it's a bit tough,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Well, with respect tracing, do you do you do you
know about this or not? I just want to check
because you're not quite making sense.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Okay, I've just got the note here saying that Yanni
is suggesting that all the levee should be placed on everybody,
not just international acts.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah. Yeah, and do you agree with that?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
No? I don't.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Oh cooh, we got there. Why Well, it's.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
It's ultimately they passed on, won't they, So we don't.
You know, there's already people struggling out there and we don't.
I just I don't know where it's coming from and
what the problem is he's trying to solve. Why what
do you think about it?
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Well, the problem he's trying to solve is not that
it's not his problem as venues autotarh. You've made this
decision to charge a five dollar fee or a five
dollars levee for international concerts only. And I'm saying, I'm saying,
he's saying, if you want to do that, charge it
for everything. I mean, you said, do you think people
will be put off buying tickets by a five dollar levy?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
I think some people will.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Oh well, let's find out what Vanessa thinks.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
I think that it makes sense to have a levee
that goes across everything. Yeah, yeah, whatever the level of
that is, I think it should evenly be applied. It
seems a bit crazy to just have it on one thing.
This is helping to pay off, you know, pay for
the facilities, pay for what is needed at the time.
So I don't see why everybody would not be charged
for this and going to the stadium and whatever event there. Yes,
(03:25):
that's it's a really great opportunity for people for entertainment.
It's not about the cost of living though, is it.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
No, it's not. No, it's not about the cost of it. Also,
some people are of the view that if you're not
in christ Church, you should pay more because you haven't
contributed through your rates. What do you think of that, Vanessa?
Speaker 4 (03:45):
That would just be really crazy, really crazy to do.
I mean you've got to think about how you'd actually
technically do that, and it's just a bit too hard.
Whereas if it's applied to every ticket, that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
What's your position on that aspect, Tracy.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Well, I think you know, you quite correct in terms
of the administration. That seems a but bonkers, doesn't it.
You know, it's we should be celebrating it. So it's
it's going to be a fantastic facility and oh yeah,
huting international ads. Yeah, we just want to make it
as accessible as possible so that everybody can enjoy the
(04:21):
types of you know, pretty co activities that will be
going on there.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
All right, Speaking of levy, Vanessa, what's the difference between
the levy and a tax?
Speaker 4 (04:29):
So a tax is something that's applied to pretty much
to everyone. A levy is something that is on particular
things that are used. Now when a company is levied
for the building of a facility. That is that's specifically
a levy that is not a chat tax. And when
it comes to talking about the LNG.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Facility, the liquifinancial guest facility and the and the and
the levy not a tax that the government is going
to charge.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
It's a levy on the companies that are using that
and because they.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Which will be passed on to customers like you and I.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
However, overall energy prices will be lower. The fact that
that the energy price is spiked was because of the
lack of access to gas, because of the low supply,
because of the previous government's oil and tax band. That's
just a fact that those spiking prices are then baked
in to further wholesale price forecast in the future. So
(05:25):
if we can level out that supply and make sure
that the risk is taken away, they don't have to
price that risk in and we have overall lower prices.
So it's not if it's the price is not passed on.
If overall you have a lower lower electricity bill, are
you convinced by that, Trusty McClellan, you should have fifty dollars?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Absolutely not It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter whether you
call it a tax, a levy, a fee. Goodness knows
what it's been called this week. The point is it's
it's attacks a levy that's going to be charged that
will be passed on to electricity users to pay for
locking us in to ALI, which is, you know, locking
(06:08):
us into a volatile international gas market when we should
be looking towards being more independent in their energy.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yeah, easy to say it should be what what what
is that?
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Well? I just don't think that this is going to
make household energy costs any lower. You can't make cheap
electricity with expensive fuel.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
How would how would labor? How would how would labor?
How would how would labor reduce power costs in all
power bills?
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Well, we have to, I mean, imagine if this money
was spent properly investing in renewables. And we understand the
concept of dry years and all that sort of stuff,
but that's why you've got to that's why you've got
to be able to store energy. And this, I mean,
this is an idea that was around twenty years ago
and never went anywhere because it's frawed and it's been
(06:56):
recycled now and you know, ham fistedly sold as some
sort of solution and it's just not.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, but I mean perfect labors labour's ideas like Onslow,
and that was even even even more far fetched, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Well, we've got more renewable energy generation on Tracy, wasn't.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Far fetched And on flow projects included much more than
the Lake Onslow, and this government scrapped all of the
work that was going into that. And there were several
alternatives that wasn't just Lake Onslow, but it was about
finding that ability to store energy.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
What were what were the other what were the other alternatives?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
There was a suite of suite of alternatives, and it
would take us too long to go into it.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
But give me, give me something, give me something, give
me some examples, Tracy.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Well, there was a hybrid of lots of different things
that would have.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Can you give me can you give me an example?
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Or not?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Can you can you give me an example or not?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Or not without not doing it justice?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Well, okay, well, I think I think we'll move on.
I think we'll move on from that, Tracy, because I
don't I don't think. I don't think you can provide
the information that you suggest you might have. You were responding, well, we've.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
Done more renewable energy generation building in the last couple
of years in the pipeline that has been that has
happened in the last fifteen years put together, So that's exciting.
And I think understanding how the energy system works is
quite complex. But the basic thing is that gas is
what determines that the on the day peak prices for
(08:34):
when it is at its highest and when gas is
really low. That's why we had a low supply. That
means demand is really high and you pay more. And
that's what happened when we had eight hundred dollars a
killer of what our generation by gas a couple of
winters ago when it was a dry season.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Vanessa, pretty pretty weird timing with your government's inquiry into
the Reserve banks handling of COVID, with the findings coming
up just weeks before the election, a smell of rate.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Well, the timing is about having fixed very many things
in the in the Reserve Bank over time, and they'd
be doing one thing at a time, had to get
through the change just left.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
This one that was going to potentially make labor look
pretty bad just happened to.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Me just before, haven't they And I mean they didn't
want to turn up to the COVID inquiry. They didn't
want to front up. And then and now we've got
to find out all of the lessons that we can
from history and make sure that we don't repeat them.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
You see, I set this yesterday and you've played into
my hands beautifully. If this report comes out and isn't
as critical of the Reserve Bank as you guys would
like it to be, you'll plan be to say, look,
at least we're prepared to learn from the past, unlike
the other lot who wouldn't even turn up at the
COVID inquiry. So a spot on, that's your plan, that's
(09:54):
your plan.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
That's not a plan. That's that's not a plan that look,
that is a or.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
You're thinking I'm gonna ring Wellington after this and say,
actually I've got a back up.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
I don't think that the timing is the relevant question.
I think the question is is it the right thing
to do to massively accelerate both borrowing and other and
reduce the interest rates right down to zero point two
five percent and also have irresponsible spending at the same right.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Okay, we'll wait for the inquiry.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yeah, exactly, otherwise the findings would be exactly irrelevant. And
so if if we can have good lessons that help
our future responses, that should be good for everyone.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
All right, Trust McClellan, Are you guys running scared of
this because the chances are you might not look pretty
good out of a day?
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Well? I think, I mean, I think the timing is
a bit similal, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, Well establish that, yeah, but are you are you guys?
Are you guys nervous of it?
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Though?
Speaker 3 (11:00):
No? No, And remembering this is monetary policy, so it's
a bit bizarre that they're looking into monetary policy, which
is something that they don't have any control over anyhow,
it's the Reserve Bank. So look, I'm all for learning lessons.
I think that that's a perfectly appropriate thing to do.
But you know, a monetary policy inquiry when you don't
(11:20):
have any control over the government doesn't have any control
over in electioneer scenes a bit odd.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
All right? Do you think there would have been one?
Do you think there would be merit and labor fronting
at the COVID Royal Commission of Inquiry?
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Well, of course there was two parts to that and
Labor fully participated in the original very bored part, and
then this government tacked on a second part and Labor
kind of we felt like we had already participated. So
I think it's I think it's inaccurate to say that
Labor didn't front the COVID inquiry because that was fully
participated in.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
All Right, electric motorbikes. There's concerned being expressed about them
this week on this side of the Tasman and Australia.
There's already people that upset about what's going on. Yes,
it what's your perception. Do you think there's a there's
a problem problem. These things have fallen between regulatory cracks
and something needs to be looked at.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Potentially, they can go very fast, and I have seen
reports of some pretty kind of inconsiderate behavior as well,
and that increases risk of accidents and and injuring other
people as well. So yeah, I think anywhere anywhere that
people are being inconsiderate and going fast at the same time.
(12:36):
It's natural that people.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Will be which is easy to say. But when do
you think that some sort of regulation change is needed
or some sort of intervention.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
For example, I'm not sure about the requirements for that.
So but I think it's worth looking into because I'm
not I haven't seen the statistics for these motorbikes, but
we saw with the e scooters, for example, there was
quite a large uptick across Auckland where they did a
study on that and the injuries that went into Auckland Hospital.
(13:06):
So yeah, be interesting to see those statistics.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
It trast McLellan. Someone called me yesterday involved in lobbying
for some sort of intervention because someone was leaving a
business premises in christ Church not that long ago and
was hit on the footpath by someone riding one of
these things. What do you think needs to happen?
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Yeah, honestly, it gets a bit scary sometimes when you
have to There's just a whole lot of stimuli out there,
isn't it sometimes on the road with things going at
different speeds and things going a lot faster than what
you might expect. So I look, I agree with Sidney,
so I think it's time to look at what could
be done. I don't know what the answer is, but
(13:49):
certainly it's something we should be paying attention to, because
there's no point waiting until you know more tragedy strikes
or more accidents happen, so hopefully you know someone's really
turning their mind to it.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Have you seen these electric motorbike yourself?
Speaker 1 (14:03):
No?
Speaker 3 (14:04):
No I haven't, but you know, no doubt they will.
It's like any kind of trend or craze, isn't it.
You know? And you see that spike and you know
accidents or near misses.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Have Look, just do a search online that they're everywhere
in particularly Australia that there's a real concern. You see
the one First has announced that it's going to campaign
on getting rid of the Mari electorate seats. What's your
reaction to that, Tracy? Do you think there must keep
a must go or what?
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Look, I just think it's Winston being Winston.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
He well yeah, but what do you think? What do
you think out there? What do you think? I think?
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Look, I just think hundreds of thousands of people or
loads of people. I don't know what the number is,
but loads of people opt to be on the Marvi role.
That's their democratic choice, that's what they choose to be.
That's what determines how many Maori seats there will be.
And if people didn't want there to be Mary seats,
they wouldn't go on that role, So you know, I
think it's a bit of a distraction and you know,
(15:08):
a little bit ironic. Wasn't it Winston that first ran
in a Maori seat in nineteen seventy five or something,
that's how long he's been around. But it's certainly not
something that I'm concerned about or turning my mind to.
I think it's an important part of our democratic process and.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
That's so you think they should stay, yes, Vanessa.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Yeah, well, obviously New Zealand First can make whatever statements
they want. The National Park. We haven't talked about it yet.
It'll be interesting to see.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Brook van Velden was on the news last night saying
we'd before it and his Zealand First is for it.
I think Brook van Velden said maybe not. Nationalist needs
to get on.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Board with it.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
I think it's about time that we reconsidered and thought
about how our parliament's made up in general, because if
you think, well, if you think about it, we determine
the number of seats based on the size of the
South Island divided by sixteen, and you end up with
that number just keeps growing and growing and growing, and
so the ability for anyone to actually represent those areas
(16:12):
becomes quite difficult. For the South Island, some of those
seats become very geographically large, so it becomes really hard
to get around. You think of Maureene Pew over on
the West Coast tun and West Coast Tasman trying to
get all the way up and down and so is crazy.
So having a geographical area like that, how are they
(16:33):
actually representing their people? Because I know that the MP
for Te Titong has not been to any of the
marai on in Banks Peninsula since he's been elected. So
I've been.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
He's got a very busy video career.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
I don't know what he's doing. So yeah, So actually,
how is that? How is representation across the House in
terms of electorate seats versus the list seats working? And
I think it is worth time, worth us looking at
that generally, and while we're doing that, talk about how
we make sure that we've got good representation for mari.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
But is that what you're saying, is that a review
of m MP as well?
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Well, we've done that many times. I'm talking about hoping
that the Electoral Commission, who'd actually look at these things,
might look at the number of seats that we've got
in Parliament and see whether or not it's right and
the right mix in terms of electorate seats versus list seats.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Right, Okay, Tracey, do you think there's there's an issue
there that needs to be looked at?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
And I think we should always be really mindful of
the way that we organize our democracy so that people
do feel well represented. But you know, at the current
point in time, there's huge problems and there's so much
more to be talking about than you know, whatever the
late democracy touched into the hall.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
But we're not just talking about it, but we're talking
about the fact that you've got these huge electorates.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
For example, Oh absolutely yeah. And Vanessien's right, there's some
of those electorates are incredibly high to get around and
it does make you wonder, you know, how how can
mpeace keep in touch with people on the ground when
it's getting harder and harder to you know, to geographically
represent an area.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
All right, I will save troubles back to Christi Itch,
you're back in town for the weekend.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yes, I'll be back this afternoon and there's loads on
on the weekend, so looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Brilliant Thanks Tracy Labor's Tracy mclevan and Nationals Vanessa when
it can join your weekend too, Thanks so much, John
Brilliant Politics Friday. Back at the same time next week.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
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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