September 4, 2025 • 5 mins
Defence Minister Judith Collins has just returned from visiting Ukraine - and says she's seen first-hand the heartbreaking human cost of war to its people.
She says Russia's illegal invasion's brought misery and destruction to the Ukrainian people for three and a half long years.
Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked the trip further.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Here the Pocono whiskey. No, not that one, not that one.
And actually I still and I've tried it. I'm still
telling you now the scape Grace beats that thirteen away
from five verries.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
So cooldn't agree more?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Do you?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:10):
No? Absolutely? Is that why the Pocono is still sitting
there with about an inch left in the bottle?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Exactly?
Speaker 1 (00:15):
You drank i'm a bottle, but you left the inch.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Sorry, I don't think I drank most of the bottle,
to be perfectly honest, I think I've only had one
or two of the pocono ones. Yes, but certainly the
scape Grace.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
What have you got written on the top of your page?
Speaker 2 (00:27):
La freud?
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
That is the one you were looking for one?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
All right? So what's going on with the racism?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Well, you know, I mean it is an election campaign,
and I thought Takuo to Ferris, he's always running on
at the mouth making mistakes, so whenever he enters into
the fray, and he should never have been poking his
nose into the tumacking Macauda by election anyway, but nevertheless
(00:54):
he did, and that post I think was offensive. He
said his mind Indians Asians Blacks and Pakia campaigning stake
Maldi seat from Malory, and then he had emojis with
his head exploding and looking confused. While he's a confused
man about politics, I think he doesn't understand the basic
(01:15):
tenants of the business. Willie Jackson certainly said the post
by Ferris is out of line.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
It's totally unacceptable and really it's showing huge disrespect to
those people who will support Maori. You know, we don't
apologize and Labor for working with our different electorates, some
of them Paya ethnic Pacifica. We think it's great ma'
(01:42):
got strong Maori membership, but one of the things in
Labor is everyone's contributing and it's not just about Miles,
it's about it's about New Zealand. So it's really disappointing
from him. He should know better.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, I think certainly, Penny hen On I would think
would be odds on favorite. If you're looking at the
tab lay money on him. I'd so. It seems that
Ferris's political boss, Debbie Narriwa Paka, she agrees with Willie.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
It's a style of politicking that we don't like and
we're not good at doing so please forgive us when
our farno are human and they're really trying to say,
why are we fighting general role or general electric in
peace and all of this and so anyway, the media and.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
Of course guess who the first one was? New Zealand
Hero couldn't wait to jump up. They've been dying to
jump up and finds us slip up? Well, guess what
We're going to slip up numerous times in life. And
my autle heart for all the offense caused.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Grovel, grovel, Something funny is going on here. I mean,
this is the party Barry, this is the Marti Party
Hope accused the government of genocide, who regularly use I
mean the other day I saw a photograph of one
of them posing with a pistol, I mean for exactly,
and happy to say bizarre things about superior DNA and
their policies. How have they completely unapologetic for all of that?
(03:06):
So why are they suddenly apologizing for this?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
It's a by election and it's being held on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
But it does Do they think that they're going to
repel their voters with something like this? Or can I
give you? Can I get yes?
Speaker 6 (03:19):
I think they do feel possible is it possible that
Labor and the Marori Party have realized that in order
for the two of them to be a credible alternative
for government, that kind of racist crap has got to.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Are we actually seeing the start of the Maori Party
being a bit responsible?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
No, I don't think. I think after this, after the
by election's over, it'll be back to business as usual.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Oh I thought I thought this was I thought with them,
this was this was them leading up to responsibility in
twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
No, I wouldn't.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Okay, Hey, so Judith Collins has been in Ukraine.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Yeah, one of these top secret meetings. I've been on
a couple to Iraq and to Afghanistan after the Taliban
got out of there. So they are top secret. They're
quite fun to be on if you're a journalist. And
she did take one or two journalists with her. I
think because you have to be sworn to secrecy, you
can't allow anyone to know where you're going, what's happening.
(04:16):
And so that's what happened. She went to Kiev, which
is pretty you know, pretty dodgy place at the moment,
but Crusha Colin she went there as Defense minister. She
met her Ukrainian counterpart. She met the foreign affairs minister
in the country, and you know, good luck to her.
And I think the solidarity that New Zealand showing to Ukraine,
(04:39):
I think is very important. And just by the way,
there's relation to Ukraine. Now, I think there's a bottle
of gin that you owe me, because I was reading
today that neither Zelenski nor Putin appear ready for direct
talks about another meeting, and that comes from Trump himself.
(05:02):
He said, that doesn't appear to be really, they don't
appear to be ready for direct talks. Ask means that
means that Putin, that's bloody taken advantage of Trump.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, okay, Barry, you are correct.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Okay, And I have escape graces.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
And I do owe you a bottle of gin. I
was far too optimistic about Trump's ability to pull something
like this off. He has failed, has he not? Okay?
Thank you, Barry. Barry Sober, Senior political correspondent.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Here the Pocono whiskey. No, not that one, not that one.
And actually I still and I've tried it. I'm still
telling you now the scape Grace beats that thirteen away
from five verries.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
So cooldn't agree more?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Do you?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:10):
No? Absolutely? Is that why the Pocono is still sitting
there with about an inch left in the bottle?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Exactly?
Speaker 1 (00:15):
You drank i'm a bottle, but you left the inch.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Sorry, I don't think I drank most of the bottle,
to be perfectly honest, I think I've only had one
or two of the pocono ones. Yes, but certainly the
scape Grace.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
What have you got written on the top of your page?
Speaker 2 (00:27):
La freud?
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
That is the one you were looking for one?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
All right? So what's going on with the racism?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Well, you know, I mean it is an election campaign,
and I thought Takuo to Ferris, he's always running on
at the mouth making mistakes, so whenever he enters into
the fray, and he should never have been poking his
nose into the tumacking Macauda by election anyway, but nevertheless
(00:54):
he did, and that post I think was offensive. He
said his mind Indians Asians Blacks and Pakia campaigning stake
Maldi seat from Malory, and then he had emojis with
his head exploding and looking confused. While he's a confused
man about politics, I think he doesn't understand the basic
(01:15):
tenants of the business. Willie Jackson certainly said the post
by Ferris is out of line.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
It's totally unacceptable and really it's showing huge disrespect to
those people who will support Maori. You know, we don't
apologize and Labor for working with our different electorates, some
of them Paya ethnic Pacifica. We think it's great ma'
(01:42):
got strong Maori membership, but one of the things in
Labor is everyone's contributing and it's not just about Miles,
it's about it's about New Zealand. So it's really disappointing
from him. He should know better.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, I think certainly, Penny hen On I would think
would be odds on favorite. If you're looking at the
tab lay money on him. I'd so. It seems that
Ferris's political boss, Debbie Narriwa Paka, she agrees with Willie.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
It's a style of politicking that we don't like and
we're not good at doing so please forgive us when
our farno are human and they're really trying to say,
why are we fighting general role or general electric in
peace and all of this and so anyway, the media and.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
Of course guess who the first one was? New Zealand
Hero couldn't wait to jump up. They've been dying to
jump up and finds us slip up? Well, guess what
We're going to slip up numerous times in life. And
my autle heart for all the offense caused.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Grovel, grovel, Something funny is going on here. I mean,
this is the party Barry, this is the Marti Party
Hope accused the government of genocide, who regularly use I
mean the other day I saw a photograph of one
of them posing with a pistol, I mean for exactly,
and happy to say bizarre things about superior DNA and
their policies. How have they completely unapologetic for all of that?
(03:06):
So why are they suddenly apologizing for this?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
It's a by election and it's being held on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
But it does Do they think that they're going to
repel their voters with something like this? Or can I
give you? Can I get yes?
Speaker 6 (03:19):
I think they do feel possible is it possible that
Labor and the Marori Party have realized that in order
for the two of them to be a credible alternative
for government, that kind of racist crap has got to.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Are we actually seeing the start of the Maori Party
being a bit responsible?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
No, I don't think. I think after this, after the
by election's over, it'll be back to business as usual.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Oh I thought I thought this was I thought with them,
this was this was them leading up to responsibility in
twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
No, I wouldn't.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Okay, Hey, so Judith Collins has been in Ukraine.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Yeah, one of these top secret meetings. I've been on
a couple to Iraq and to Afghanistan after the Taliban
got out of there. So they are top secret. They're
quite fun to be on if you're a journalist. And
she did take one or two journalists with her. I
think because you have to be sworn to secrecy, you
can't allow anyone to know where you're going, what's happening.
(04:16):
And so that's what happened. She went to Kiev, which
is pretty you know, pretty dodgy place at the moment,
but Crusha Colin she went there as Defense minister. She
met her Ukrainian counterpart. She met the foreign affairs minister
in the country, and you know, good luck to her.
And I think the solidarity that New Zealand showing to Ukraine,
(04:39):
I think is very important. And just by the way,
there's relation to Ukraine. Now, I think there's a bottle
of gin that you owe me, because I was reading
today that neither Zelenski nor Putin appear ready for direct
talks about another meeting, and that comes from Trump himself.
(05:02):
He said, that doesn't appear to be really, they don't
appear to be ready for direct talks. Ask means that
means that Putin, that's bloody taken advantage of Trump.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, okay, Barry, you are correct.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Okay, And I have escape graces.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
And I do owe you a bottle of gin. I
was far too optimistic about Trump's ability to pull something
like this off. He has failed, has he not? Okay?
Thank you, Barry. Barry Sober, Senior political correspondent.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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