Full Show Podcast: 28 February 2025

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Digging through the spin spins to find the real story.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Ory.

Speaker 1 (00:07):
It's Ryan Bridge on Heather du for see Ellen drive
with one New Zealand, let's get connected and news talks.

Speaker 3 (00:13):
He'd be good afternoon coming up. Farmac's boss quits on
a Friday afternoon Chair Paula Bennett tells us why now
Chris Bishop wants developers paying more for roads and pipes.
Gene Hackman legendary actor. How did he die? How did
his wife die? How did his dog die? And why
were they all found at the same time? Will Cross
live to Hollywood? Nikki Starrs and Matt Brown are on

(00:34):
these sports huddle tonight.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Bridge.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
You've got to hand it to the Brits today, don't
you What a performance they put on at the White
House For a president who loves flattery, loves pomp, and
loves a bit of ceremony, who doesn't, Frankly, what else
do you bring a billionaire president who's got everything but
a letter from the King And it was an invite
to England for another state visit. Trump was grinning ear

(00:59):
to ear three times. Starmer held this letter up from
the King and said, this is unprecedented. Trump was beside
himself with joy and because he opened the lead in
front of the world's media. Great move. Of course, he
had to say yes on the spot to the visit,
which is a diplomatic goal for the Brits. Their goal is,
of course, to keep Trump close. They're worried about Ukraine,

(01:21):
but the threat of tariffs is really freaking them out.
Trump's about to hit the EU with twenty five percent.
The Brits, luckily for them, have a trade deficit with
the US, thank goodness, but that doesn't mean they're off
the hook. Starmer's growth prospects would be dealt a massive
hammering if Trump went all America first on England. So

(01:41):
Starmer is appealing to Trump's ego. He's shelling out sixteen
billion dollars on defense ahead of the visit as well
tic tick tick. But amongst the brown nosing was one
true statement from Starma. He said, thank you, mister President,
for changing the conversation on Ukraine and allowing the potential

(02:02):
peace to take place in between these two warring countries.
And it is hard to argue with that. Trump's speeches
are the oratory equivalent of a bull in a china shop.
They're designed to shake the tree, to rattle the tree
and to see what falls out. And so far he
has up to defense spending in Europe and the UK.

(02:26):
He has tens of thousands of Canadian and Mexican troops
sent to his borders. He has slapped revenue raising tariffs
on allies. He has helped usher in a ceasefire in Gaza,
and he could soon help to end the war in
Ukraine after three long, bloody years. Like him or loathe him,

(02:47):
Trump's anti diplomacy gets results. Ryan Bridge, nine minutes after
four heir on news talks, they'd be This next story
is a doozy Wellington City Council ripped out car parks
for cycle ways near the botanical gardens. You'll know the
area in near Thornton. They are now going to look
at reinstating the car parks. Four hundred and fifty car

(03:10):
parks were removed and counselors say they fielded complaints from
residents unable to find parks to visit the gardens. Who
would have thought. Council also had no idea how many
people use the cycle way after they stopped collecting data.
Diane Calvert is the Wellington City councilor with us this afternoon.
Hi Diane, Hi Ryan. What a mess?

Speaker 4 (03:29):
Well, yes it is, but just because it's a mess
doesn't mean to say we shouldn't try and fix it.
And that's what we're that's what we're trying to do,
is say, look, the council got it wrong and we
really just need it's not a total four hundred and
fifty car parks posed for about a couple of hundred meters,
but nevertheless we should try and fix Well, you know,

(03:52):
an error in the decision making.

Speaker 3 (03:53):
Did you vote for this.

Speaker 4 (03:56):
Originally? No, because I had listened to a lot of
feedback that we received about what has actually occurred, and
so I couldn't sort of approve that at the time.
But I have been listening to residents and come back,
and I think now even more counselors on the committee
have said, yes, there is a problem here and we

(04:16):
need to look at what other options there are.

Speaker 3 (04:18):
So initially you said, keep the car parks and know
to the cycle.

Speaker 4 (04:21):
Ways, well know to that part of the cycle way,
which is what we wish to have a look at
if we've got another option, right, So I didn't. I
didn't approve it on that basis because I could see
what would happen, which is exactly what has happened.

Speaker 3 (04:37):
And who was telling you that it would that this
would happen, Because it's pretty It's pretty obvious, isn't it
that you need places to park?

Speaker 2 (04:44):
Oh?

Speaker 4 (04:45):
Absolutely, especially when they're right outside our botanic gardens, and
we want to make sure that everyone can have access
to them, not just the set and healthy. So look,
you know, we heard from local residents, we heard from businesses,
we heard from users of the park, we heard of
people traveling past to and from, so we heard from
a lot. We also heard from, you know, from a

(05:06):
number who said that we want, we want, you know,
a protected cycle way. But I think we have to
find balance.

Speaker 3 (05:12):
Well, but you guys have Wellington hasn't found the balance.
I've got my family lives in Wellington. I spent a
lot of time there over summer. It's you've cocked it up,
You've really cocked it up.

Speaker 4 (05:24):
Well, I think some have cocked it up. I'm one
of the ones who've been trying to unravel it and
actually get some progress going forward that actually suits most Wellingtonians.

Speaker 3 (05:34):
Who's the cycle mafia down there? Because they must be
pretty bloody good.

Speaker 5 (05:40):
Well I think.

Speaker 4 (05:40):
I think the issue we've had is we've had a
council that is originally very keen on them and they've
taken their mandate for getting elected, including the mayor, that
this is what the people want. But as you've seen
is the mayor has just come out with a negative
forty two percent rating net approval rating. That's how you
who agenda is not gelling with Wellingtonian's.

Speaker 3 (06:04):
STA It doesn't sound like it, Diane, bring back the
car parks. Good luck with that, Diane Calverts and Wellington
City councilor nine two nineties the number to text. Honestly,
So I was I telling your story was in Wellington
and I was trying to get to Lower Heart and
it was at nighttime. You couldn't because they'd closed the motorway,
which is fair enough. They were closing the motorway. This
is the NZTA, I'm assuming to do roadworks at night.

(06:26):
The only other option is to go through Thornton Key.
Now Thornton Key's where they're doing the cycle way. So
you literally could not leave Wellington that night. I mean,
what kind of city is that? I was sitting in
traffic for about forty five minutes and I decided that actually,
bugger this, I'm just gonna have to turn around. I mean,
I guess it's one way to keep you in, you know,

(06:47):
if that's the goal. Nineteen nineties, the number to text
thirteen after four news talks. Here Big Jason Pine. Here
was Sport.

Speaker 1 (06:53):
Next, It's the Heather du Bussy Allen Drive Full Show
podcast on my Heart Radio powered by Newstalks EBB.

Speaker 3 (07:02):
Sixteen after four news Talks EBB. Dan Mitchison's coming away
from the United States. Just after the news at four
point thirty, Gene Hackman, the legendary actor, has died and
he was found in his mud room just near the
entrance to his house. The door's open. Complete mystery. No
one knows what's going on here. He sadly and his
wife Betsy were found dead. She was in the bathroom,

(07:24):
he was near the entrance. Door is open. Apparently there
was a bottle of prescription medication that was strewn on
the ground. The dog was dead, but there was no
obvious sign of a gas leak. So America is puzzled tonight,
we'll get to that. Just after the news with Dan
Mitchison has gone Seventeen minutes after four Ryan Bridge, Jason

(07:46):
Pines here weekend sports host. Hey, Jason gid a Ryan. Now,
the NRL season underway on Sunday twenty twenty five. Is
this the Warriors here do with it?

Speaker 6 (07:55):
Well?

Speaker 7 (07:56):
This is probably the twenty fifth time that question has
been asked at the start of an NRL season involving
the Warriors. Look, I think at this stage of the year,
I think you can be optimistic. Everybody's on the same
number of points for a couple more days and then
you know the season is underway and who knows. Look,
you look at the Warriors team and you think, well,
is it as strong as last year? You took at

(08:17):
the players who aren't there anymore, Sean Johnson, Toho, Harris,
add In Vanua, Blake Jazz Tavanga, Marcelo Montoya and others,
and you think, well, actually that's a big chunk taken out.
But James Fisher, Harris coming the other way quite like
the look of Erin Clark, and just a few positional
tweaks that Andrew Webster has made. This is me trying
to build them up ahead of Weekend One. Ryan, as

(08:37):
you can probably tell, I think their favorites to beat
the Raiders, I mean Jefers. I'd love to be in
Vegas of some of the footage of scene from over
there is quite sensational. But look, long season, is it
our year? I'm sure we'll talk about this ad nauseum
on our Friday afternoon slots.

Speaker 3 (08:54):
Right across twenty twenty five. How many thousands and thousands
of Warriors Jersey's been one over there? Been worn over there,
and I don't know if they keep presumably lots of
the mark Kiwi's, but yeah, my brother's over there having
a great time with his mates. Sounds like it sounds
like it's going to be a big weekend.

Speaker 7 (09:10):
Absolutely, and I think a few have come from all
over the place. I saw on TV last night one
of the toolage, I saw a few had come over
from the UK. They you know, they've lived at one
point in New Zealand, become Warriors fans, now live in
the UK, They've gone UK to Vegas.

Speaker 3 (09:25):
How any upsets you think coming for Super Rugby Round three?

Speaker 7 (09:29):
I've just had a look and I'm thinking maybe on
the on the odds, the Blues are favorites, are favorite
to beat the Hurricanes, but the Blues are oh and
two They've lost both of their games so far the season.
The Hurricanes are at home at Sky Stadium. They haven't
been setting the world on fire either, but I well,
I mean, I'm Hurricanes fans, so I kind of have
to say this. I back my team to beat the Blues.

(09:49):
If the Blues are oh and three after three games,
you know that's getting into you know, not absolutely concerning territory,
but for the defending champions, they'd want to be doing
a bit better than that. And I actually don't mind
more one a Pacifica tonight against the Highlanders. Highlanders beat
the Blues last weekend down in Dunedin, Albany. This afternoon
or later on this evening, five past seven, I don't

(10:09):
mind more Ona Pacifica. I think they might pick up
their first one this weekend.

Speaker 3 (10:12):
All right, interesting? What about the Chiefs and the Brumbyes tomorrow? Chiefs?

Speaker 6 (10:16):
Oh yeah, Chiefs one Chiefs all day?

Speaker 3 (10:17):
Yeah, all right, Hey, thanks to that, Jason, good to
see it. We'll see that. Jason Pine, the weekend sports
host mid day to three pm tomorrow and Sunday News Talk, said,
b it is nineteen after four.

Speaker 1 (10:28):
Checking the point of the story, it's Ryan Bridge John
either duplice Allen drive with one New Zealand let's get connected.

Speaker 3 (10:36):
News Talk Seb twenty two minutes after four lots of
people texting in about cycle ways. Ryan, they have gone
completely bonkers in Wellington with the cycle ways. They couldn't
agree with you more. The sad thing is because I'm
not one of those people who is just dead against cycleways.
Come hello, high Water. I think they are fantastic things
that actually do work, but only when they're put in

(10:57):
the right place. There's one that goes and if you
live in Auckland alongside the Western Motorway, brilliant cycle way,
great purpose. Has a start, you know, has a beginning,
has a middle, and has an end you know, has
a destination. A lot of the ones they build these days,
particularly in built up areas in residential areas, aren't going anywhere.

(11:20):
They just see random and they cost millions and millions
of dollars and get rid of car parks, so they're stupid. Anyway,
We've been talking about this because in Wellington they got
rid of the car parks and now they're thinking about
bringing them back. Surprise Surprise. Twenty three minutes after four
Now News Talk semb Brambridge. More clarity needed for first
home buyers. This is the call from Labour this afternoon.
So Chris Bishop has come out. He's going to be

(11:41):
on the show after five o'clock this evening. He has
come out and basically going to slap developers with increased
costs to pay for pipes and to pay for roads
in their new developments, because he reckons at the moment
rate payers are sharing a footing the bill and it's
costing too much and putting too much cost on councils.
So his solution, get the developers to pay more. Okay, great,

(12:04):
but then who did the developers pass the cost on too? Well,
ultimately that's going to be a new homeowner, isn't it.
And so Labor is wanting some assurances from the government
that it's not going to hurt new homeowners, you know,
first home bias, because that's basically the segment of the
market that would be potentially be buying, particularly if it's
a key we built type area. So anyway, we'll ask

(12:25):
Chris Bishop about that later on twenty two minutes after four.
Now let's go to the US. Donald Trump was asked
about orcus I told you about this meeting with Starmer
and the White House, he was asked about Orcus and
he basically replied, what's that? What were the Australians and
the Prince?

Speaker 2 (12:43):
Were you discussing discussing Orcus with the Prime Minister? Sub
What does it mean Orcus? The Australia US defense like, so,
well did we discussing?

Speaker 8 (12:52):
Man?

Speaker 9 (12:52):
We've had another great relationship and you have too with Australia.

Speaker 3 (12:57):
I suppose you can't know everything, can you?

Speaker 2 (12:59):
That?

Speaker 3 (12:59):
I mean, Orcus is it's pretty important. He also talks
apparently I haven't heard this clip yet, but talks about
how great Sir Kiir Starmer's wife is.

Speaker 2 (13:08):
And I'm very impressed with him. And I'm very impressed
with his wife. I must say, she's a beautiful greg woman.

Speaker 10 (13:15):
And I said, I said, you're very lucky.

Speaker 2 (13:20):
He's very lucky, and.

Speaker 3 (13:22):
He's a lucky man. Barry Slope is going to talk
more about that meeting between Starma and Trump. I have
to say, I'm impressed so far, so impressed with Sir
Kire Starmer. You know, when I saw him come out
of the Paris talks where he met with his European counterparts,
and he was reading from the piece of paper and
his hands were sort of shaking. I thought, Oh, I

(13:45):
don't know about this guy. But apparently because he's a lawyer, right,
so apparently he just likes to have things written down
and prepared. That's how he's done. Was a prosecutor, form prosecutor,
That's how he's operated. So I think he's actually doing okay.
She after this meeting at the White House, I think
it could have gone a whole lot worse. You're on
News Talks he b it is twenty seven after four.

Speaker 2 (14:07):
Brian Bridge coming up.

Speaker 3 (14:09):
Coming out next to and talk to Barry Soaper. We're
also gonna go to the US Dan Mitchison standing by.
We'll ask him all about Gene Hackman and what on
earth happened to this legendary actor and his poor wife.
Betsy News talks it Bah, if you know, Army, put
some min.

Speaker 11 (14:29):
We break it in.

Speaker 3 (14:30):
If you know what, Haarmy a mile after a mile,
after a mile after mile.

Speaker 9 (14:36):
Turn off and I like that radio shoulder a shoulder
and nobody.

Speaker 12 (14:42):
No nowhere we're going.

Speaker 13 (14:45):
We ain't going over buttons.

Speaker 2 (14:48):
On it back to Chevy Withy and Jeveron, just you
and me.

Speaker 3 (14:54):
And a truck bad while like a CALIFRONI jan we
could break it in. If you know what I mean,
put the.

Speaker 12 (15:03):
Back heavyity and just do me up.

Speaker 9 (15:11):
I could call a phony k.

Speaker 12 (15:13):
We could break it in. If you know what I mean,
Push some B. We did break it in.

Speaker 1 (15:22):
If you know what time, push some.

Speaker 12 (15:28):
We do break it in. If you know what hap
me push some miles on it.

Speaker 1 (15:34):
After making the news, the newsmakers talk to Ryan First,
It's Ryan bridge on, Hither duplicy and drive with one
New Zealand Let's get connected.

Speaker 2 (15:45):
News talks it b.

Speaker 14 (15:46):
Re so Fina good to buggain.

Speaker 3 (15:52):
Me Good afternoon, twenty five way five year News Talks dB.
This is your Friday afternoon at TV and ZI has
reported an operating profit for the half year of eleven
point eight million dollars. Now twenty five percent of their
revenue comes from their digital business. They want that to
get to half of all revenues, so basically most of
it still comes from the old school tally. How many

(16:13):
people watch tally versus digital each night? Do you think? Well,
it's around two million per night are watching TV and
Z on terrestrial television. They reckon and an average of
one point six million per week are watching digital, which
if you divide that by seven, is two hundred twenty
thousand a night, So basically so much. You know, terrestrial

(16:36):
TV still rules the roots for TV and Z, but
they want to turn that around. Good news, as they're
back to an operating profit, which in this environment is
a pretty good is no mean? Feat Jody? Who is that?
Jody o'donald? Sorry? Who is the chief executive? Is on
the shaft six tonight just gone twenty four to five.

Speaker 1 (16:54):
It's the World Wires on news dog z'b Drive Starma.

Speaker 3 (16:58):
The Charmer goes to wash Rington to woo Trump. Here's
the moment. He hands over an envelope to the President
with an invitation from the King to visit the UK.

Speaker 2 (17:09):
This is really special. This has never happened before.

Speaker 11 (17:12):
This is unprecedented and I think that just symbolizes the
strength of the relationship between us. So this is a
very special.

Speaker 3 (17:22):
Letter, very very special. Indeed, another memorable moment from Sirkias
meeting with the President. But Don didn't seem to know
what Orcus was discussing.

Speaker 2 (17:31):
Discussing Orcus with the Prime Minister Son, but what does
that mean?

Speaker 3 (17:36):
To be fair, it was it was a British accent.
He might not have caught the accent. This has sent
both sides of the political island Australia into damage control mode.

Speaker 8 (17:45):
There's a lot of acronyms in this business, and.

Speaker 15 (17:49):
You know, we all get thrown at them from time
to time.

Speaker 3 (17:54):
And not everyone you know, gets the acronyms and all
the rest of it.

Speaker 15 (17:57):
But there's no doubt in my mind that the president
strongly supports the alliance between our three countries.

Speaker 3 (18:02):
Who's not bending over for Trump? Finally this afternoon, Hey,
Magic Merry, who's the fairest of them all?

Speaker 2 (18:08):
Why? Shrek?

Speaker 3 (18:09):
Of course? DreamWorks has released the first teaser for the
next Shrek movie, Trek five, will be out at Christmas
next year, sixteen years after Wow, has it been that
long after the release of the fourth film, Cameron Diaz,
Eddie Murphy, they're all back, as in Daya is joining
the cast as well. For those who knows who Zendaya is,
Mike Myers is back to So that is fantastic news.

Speaker 1 (18:33):
International correspondence with ends and eye insurance, peace of mind
for New Zealand business.

Speaker 3 (18:40):
All Right, Dan Ititston's a US correspondent. Hi Dan, Hey,
good afternoon. Yeah, good to have you here. Let's start
with Gene Hackman and his pianist wife Betsy. They were
found dead at home, also did with one of their dogs.
Do we have any idea what happened here?

Speaker 16 (18:57):
This is just such a fascinating the case. At first,
investigators were saying there was nothing suspicious, and to answer
your question, no, we don't know what happened At this point.
Autopsies are being conducted on both the bodies. We know
at this point the cause of death doesn't appear to
be carbon monoxide, which the family of Gene Hackman originally thought,

(19:21):
but his body was found in the mudroom. Her body
was found in the bathroom with a prescription bottle of
pills scattered around the countertop and a heater that had
been moved by there. As you mentioned the dog, one
of the dogs was found dead as well. There doesn't
seem to be any sign of a break in or
problems like this. So this really is a head scratcher
and we may not know for weeks what caused these

(19:44):
three deaths.

Speaker 3 (19:45):
A lot of people at the start, because there were
two humans and a dog, thinking on maybe this is
a gas leak, but that's been ruled out.

Speaker 16 (19:52):
Yes, gas company, you tested the gas lines in around
the home, but you know, within hours after the bodies
had been discovered, according to the search war and they
didn't find any signs of problems. The fire department didn't
find any signs of carbon monoxide leaks or poisonings right there.
And a detective just a short time ago came out
and said, there's just no obvious signs of any kind
of gas leak there. But that being said, people that

(20:15):
are exposed to gas leaks or carbon monoxide might not
show signs of poisoning. So I think that's why we're
going to have to wait until we find out what
the autopsy reveals.

Speaker 3 (20:23):
And the door was open, that's correct, isn't it the
front door it arrived it was.

Speaker 16 (20:29):
That was the only thing they found a little strange there,
because they did have one of the gardeners for the
area had called nine one one two report that he
had seen a body inside the house and didn't appear
to be moving, And at first they thought, well, maybe
they had only been dead for a day or so,
But then we learned earlier this afternoon that the bodies
appear to have been mummified, which indicates that they've been

(20:50):
dead for a number of days at least.

Speaker 3 (20:52):
Okay, let's talk all about the Jeffrey Epstein files that
the Trump administration has released. The first document dumps taken.
What do we know, Well, this.

Speaker 16 (21:02):
Is interesting because they had been This has been a
big bruja ha.

Speaker 2 (21:04):
All day long.

Speaker 16 (21:05):
We kept waiting and waiting and waiting, and then they
finally had dumped this just a short time ago, and
there's no big revelations instead, where we've got celebrities and
politicians who were already known to have who have hung
around with Epstein, a notorious pedophile.

Speaker 3 (21:20):
Right now.

Speaker 16 (21:21):
The New York Post had said this before this was
even dumped, that we probably knew a lot of these names,
and they included Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson and Alec
Baldwin and the mother of Robert F. Kennedy Junior, Courtney Love,
who's a rocker and former governor of New York as well.
And these are really just names. The President's name, by

(21:42):
the way, because everybody was wondering is his name going
to be on the contact list, was not on the list.
And this is not a client list, but just includes
names of people on his contact list. So we're gonna
have to wait and see if anything comes to light
and the second dump, and we're not sure when that's
going to happen.

Speaker 3 (22:00):
Okay, just finally, we've spoken a lot of this afternoon
already about President Trump and the UK Prime Minister Sakis Dama.
What is the American priestmaking of the meeting?

Speaker 16 (22:10):
Well, I think, like you said, I mean, there's nobody
that says no to President Trump. Really, I think people
are and I and I have no disrespect to the
British PM, but I think people are actually looking beyond
him too tomorrow when President Trump is going to meet
with Ukraine's president to sign this minerals deal. But as
for today, I think there were a lot of questions.
One reporter had asked whether he and the PM and

(22:32):
the President had discussed the desire to annex Canada as
the fifty first state, and and the PM said, I
think you're trying to find a divide between us. It
doesn't exist. And Trump just kind of blew that reporter
way and let's let's let's move on.

Speaker 2 (22:45):
Really.

Speaker 16 (22:45):
But while the interaction I think was very friendly, very chummy,
although there was one point where the President was corrected
by the British Prime Minister.

Speaker 2 (22:53):
But it seemed to go pretty well.

Speaker 3 (22:55):
I would say, interesting stuff, Dan, Thanks so much for that,
Dan Mitchson. Now US correspondent time is just one eighteen
minutes away from five. Here's the audio by the way
of the nine one one called Americans are so crazy,
Like you just have a crime committed, or you have
an investigation launched by the police, and within you know,
twenty minutes, you've got all of their files, all of
their photos, all of their audio. Here is the nine

(23:15):
to one one call reporting the death of Gene Hackman
and his wife Betsy. Are they awake?

Speaker 5 (23:19):
I have no idea.

Speaker 3 (23:21):
Are they breathing?

Speaker 2 (23:22):
I have no idea. I'm not inside the house. It's closed.
It's a long as I can't go in.

Speaker 1 (23:26):
But I see them let police laying down on from
the window or alerts. No no, no, no, no.

Speaker 5 (23:34):
No, it's not.

Speaker 2 (23:36):
Are they moving not all no, dude, They're not moving.
Just seen somebody up here really quick.

Speaker 3 (23:42):
That was the caretaker of the home. Gene Hackman was
ninety five years old. Seventeen to five. Barry Soper is
here next.

Speaker 1 (23:51):
Politics with Centric credit. Check your customers and get payment certainty.

Speaker 3 (23:55):
It is quarter to five news talk z B, which
means you've got fifteen actual an hour and fifteen minutes
if you've got some fairies you'd like to sell to
the government. Just very Soper is here, senior political correspondent,
Hey Barry.

Speaker 6 (24:04):
No, you've got an hour and fifteen. Actually it closes
at six o'clock, so you've got more time.

Speaker 17 (24:10):
If you want to submit to build an inter island ferry,
then you know you've got an hour and a courter
now to convince Treasury, who will then put up a
case to the government. Interestingly, the board Faery Holdings Board.
I don't know whether you noticed it. A couple of
weeks ago the membership was announced. Heather Simpson is on it,

(24:31):
Helen Clark's former chief of staff. Yes, that's right, So
there'll be in making decisions in late March about the
best proposal it comes forward now. Winston Peters of course,
as a Minister of Rail and that was at his
behest when Nichola Willis had something ready to go last December,

(24:53):
it was canned. The ferry contract. You remember that the
Labor government had negotiated was Kent' and now they're looking
at reparation. This is my high Undi Mipu is looking
now for some sort of payout clause. Winston just happens
to be in Korea and he's going to be meeting

(25:14):
with this particular company now, dare I say it, he's
like another deal maker that is in the international news
at the moment. But the thing about Winston's deal, if
he can strike one with the contract that was canceled, we'll.

Speaker 3 (25:29):
Never know how much we saved exactly.

Speaker 6 (25:31):
We don't know how much was outlaid in the first place.

Speaker 3 (25:34):
Jegy Pokery.

Speaker 17 (25:35):
Whatever happens Ryan, my view is that Winston will claim
it's a great success, We've saved hundreds of millions of dollars.
But of course the public will never really know, and
they're not likely to get an argument from Nikola Willis
because that's the deal that coalition partners have. Don't argue
too publicly with each other.

Speaker 3 (25:56):
That's right, and don't ask, don't tell, basically exactly Chinese.
This is fascinating from the Foreign Minister in the Chinese
Foreign Minister in Australia who's come out and basically said, yes,
we were there in your waters. Nothing to apologize for
and we're becoming more thank you? Is the Chinese ambassador
actually forgive me?

Speaker 17 (26:14):
Yeah, because Winston don't forget. He's met with the Chinese
Foreign minister in Beijing and clearly that was discussed, no doubt,
and he said, you know, not only that the Cork
Island's issue was discussed as well. We won't know publicly,
of course, exactly what was said, but i'd imagine that
Winston would say how disappointed New Zealand was, particularly with

(26:38):
this exercise by three Chinese warships off the coast of
Australia in the Tasman Sea, not that far away from
New Zealand. But the Chinese, the ambassador says, they've got
nothing to apologize for. They were operating in international waters.
They conducted live firing, but he said, we don't have

(27:00):
to buy international law give warnings of that. Nevertheless, above
airlines had to divert flights because they were concerned about it.
But the Chinese are not going to apologize. Indeed, what
they say is there'll be more exercises in the Tasman
by China, so they're not going back on that, no doubt.

(27:21):
We'll see more activity in the Taiwanese Straits at some stage.

Speaker 3 (27:25):
I'm sure we will. Now the action was all at
the White House and we both watched this press conference, Berry,
and I'm sure you had a similar reaction to me
with Kiers Starmer just really laying it on thick.

Speaker 6 (27:36):
It's amazing, isn't it.

Speaker 17 (27:37):
That look I never really knew kissed kiss starma, I
must say. And you know I thought he's a labor
prime minister, a bit boring, but look, he's really come in.

Speaker 2 (27:48):
To his eye.

Speaker 3 (27:49):
He has.

Speaker 17 (27:49):
He was sitting so close to Donald Trump. He is
touching him on the shoulder on the old occasion, on
the arm, you know, in a friendly sort of a way.
But it was during the meeting, interestingly, that Starmer appealed
to Trump's to Trump to reach a historic peace deal
with the Ukraine, and he said that there can't be

(28:11):
peace that rewards the aggressor. Now that was quite, you know, provocative,
I've thought for the British Prime minister to say. But
he flattered and flatted Donald Trump so much that he
could have said anything to the man sitting alongside him.
Of course, in the Oval office, Starmer was most invivial
and he reached into a suit pocket at one stage

(28:34):
and pulled out a letter and presented the President with it.

Speaker 6 (28:38):
From King Charles. Trump read it before asking the British
Prime Minister to read a bit from it. Perhaps you'd
like to say what that very important paragraph.

Speaker 11 (28:48):
Yeah, so this is a letter from his much Dave,
the King. It's an invitation for a second stage visit.

Speaker 2 (28:55):
This is really special. This has never happened before.

Speaker 11 (28:58):
This is unprecedented, and I think that just symbolizes the
strength of the relationship between us. So this is a
very special letter. I think the last state visit was
a tremendous success. His match, the King wants to make
this even better than that.

Speaker 2 (29:13):
So this is this is truly my story.

Speaker 6 (29:16):
A talk about laying on with the trial.

Speaker 17 (29:20):
I laughed that you played that Graham about Orcus and
Trump not knowing what it meant. But the other thing
was he was asked whether he thought that Zelenski, who
will be meeting the Ukrainian president later today, asked him
whether he thought he was a dictator, and he replied,
did I say that, I can't believe I said.

Speaker 3 (29:40):
That He's a memory I said earlier, I said Trump
is the oratory equivalent of a bullet. He just says anything,
and as he's just demonstrated, doesn't know what he's seen.

Speaker 6 (29:56):
I can't remember, so we can't hold him accountable.

Speaker 3 (29:59):
Execut Barry Soper, Senior political correspondent here at News talks'd
be heaving Dury Friday afternoon. Berry, it's coming up to
nine minutes away from five here on Zaid B Coming
up after five, We're going to talk to Paula Bennett
about FARMAC because the chief executive has quit. Now Paula
Bennet's taken over as chair. Why has she quit? Why

(30:19):
is she going? Why is she staying for two months
then going on guardingly for two months before leaving. We'll
ask Paula Bennett.

Speaker 1 (30:27):
Putting the tough questions to the newspeakers, the mic asking
breakfast the power business.

Speaker 18 (30:31):
Heading to another winter applies increases in cold implortation. Energy
Minister Simon Wattson's with us. How worried about winter are you?

Speaker 13 (30:37):
I am worried, Mike. Situation's pretty acute. I think most
people know it's pretty dry out there at the moment,
Like levels are lower than what they were at this
time last year. We still haven't got guest supplied that
means that it's going to be a tight winter.

Speaker 18 (30:49):
Did you say what you see because you needed to
say it or just full some headlines? In other words,
are they scurrelous and are now going to have to
tidy their ACKed up? Or were they decent players?

Speaker 13 (30:58):
Anyway, Look, Mike, the circumstances changed. We need some action
and we need to see everyone playing their part. We
need more generation, but we also need a competitive market.

Speaker 18 (31:07):
Back Monday from six am, the Mike Hosking Breakfast with
the Rain drove of the last News.

Speaker 3 (31:12):
Talk ZB just gone five away from five here on
News Talk ZB. Great to have your company on this
Friday afternoon. As somebody who's texted and pointing out, this
is from Christian. This is about the death of Gene
Hackman over in Santa Fe in New Mexico and the
United States. Hey, Ryian. The emergency call that you played
earlier from the gardener who found the bodies at the

(31:32):
house said the house was locked, so he was wondering.
The caller was asking can you see them or hear
them breathing, or check for a pulse, and he said
the door's locker can't get in. But earlier the correspondent.
You rightly point out Christian said that the door was open,
so we don't worry. We're doing more on this because
it's a fascinating story. You kind of want to figure

(31:53):
out exactly what went wrong when you've got a ninety
five year old green hackman, you've got his wife, Betsy
the pianist, and you've got the dog all dead in
the same house, but in different locations within the same house.
Very very strange circumstances. We'll do more on that at
quarter past five. Ryan Bridge just gone four minutes too. Now,
have you ever lost your keyfob for your car? I

(32:14):
lost mine the other week, actually my partner's car, which
is an old BMW like an old one, but it's
got a key fob, and it cost us nine hundred dollars.
There was an article in the news today. If you've
got a VDUB, you can pay around six hundred dollars
for a new one, six hundred and eighty dollars for
a Toyota Corolla one, and apparently for a fat punto

(32:36):
you'll pay about four hundred dollars. Question is, why are
they so goddamn expensive? Because you just want to I
mean and what's wrong with a key? You know what
is wrong with a good old fashioned key, A lot cheaper. Anyway,
I'll tell you why. Apparently there is a good reason.
I'll tell you why. It's got a little bit to
do with microchips. That's coming up after five. You're on

(32:56):
News Talks V.

Speaker 1 (33:24):
Questions, Answers, facts, analysis, the Drive show you trust for
the full picture. Brian Bridge on Heather Duplicy Allen Drive
with One New Zealand Let's get connected. News Talks at.

Speaker 3 (33:37):
Be good E being seven after five on your Friday
afternoon and battled FARMAC chief executive Sarah Fitt is gone.
She's resigned. She's been there for about seven years. In
that time, huge controversy of course, the uproar just most
recently the switching of the menopause patches. She's been accused
of making patients feel they were being treated with contempt,
and she also exchanged emails with staff where they insulted

(33:59):
the critics in the media. You'll remember that Paula Bennett
is the FARMAC chair Paula, Hello, Hi Ryan, thanks for
being with me. Did Sarah resign of her own accord
or did you force her out?

Speaker 16 (34:10):
No?

Speaker 5 (34:11):
She signed she resigned of her own accord. You know,
she reflected over summer and seven years in the CE
role and twelve years at FARMAC. I think she just
sort of came made the decision that it was time
to move on.

Speaker 3 (34:22):
She held on through a lot of flack though, didn't she.
I mean, there was a lot of pressure on her
to resign for a long time. What's is something suddenly happened.

Speaker 5 (34:32):
Or No, I don't think so. I think she's incredibly
proud of the work that FARMAC has done, particularly in
the last sort of eight months since they got the
uplift and budget, I mean, fifty seven more medicines, you know,
going to literally tens of thousands of New Zealanders, and
you know she's led that work. So I think, you know,
from her perspective, she's going out feeling like she's done,

(34:55):
you know, some pretty remarkable work in a short period
of time and over the years. And that the timing's
kind of right.

Speaker 3 (35:00):
She's going on leave for tub so from for April
and May she'll be on leave and then finishing in May.
Why is that?

Speaker 5 (35:10):
Yeah, it's part of you know, leave during a notice
period is within contractual negotiations, so that's absolutely fine. We
thought a month so that we get the acting and
you know, make sure we're all tidy there, and then
you know it is, it's changed, right, so let's get
on with it. And in that context, I think that
her being on garden garden leaves and entirely appropriate.

Speaker 3 (35:31):
Oh so it's gardening leave. Is she and gardening leave immediately?

Speaker 5 (35:35):
Then as of late from the thirty eighth of March,
so she'll be in the office for March and then
April May is she's on garden leave.

Speaker 3 (35:42):
Oh that's weird, isn't it. Normally you do gardening leave
straight away.

Speaker 5 (35:47):
No, I just needed to I really need a month,
and she really wanted to do another month and finish
off a couple of projects and make sure that that's
all tidy and then but she'd given the three months notice,
so we just sort of felt that, yes, she might
have gone leave.

Speaker 3 (36:02):
Okay, does this mean a major cultural shift is happening
or is about to happen? Yes to what it does?

Speaker 5 (36:11):
You know things, well, things have to change, right, there's
just you know, no two ways about it. And it's
not all farm ex faults. But you know, the got
themselves into a situation where there weren't great relationships with
the whole lot of the external stakeholders. There weren't being
as transparent and open. We're effectively, you know, working on
a model that was put in a nineteen ninety one
and so we need to be refreshing, resetting, and that

(36:34):
is going to look quite different. I think you see
a very different organization by the end of this year.

Speaker 3 (36:40):
Do you need more money still, I mean, I suppose
you could always have more money, but the way that
you've shaped that you're going to shape the organization, Will
that mean that you get more drugs with the same money.

Speaker 5 (36:51):
Not really, not really, It just means hopefully some will
be faster, our processes will be more efficient, will be
engaging with people earlier in a more transparent way. But
of course we need more money for more medicines. You know,
we're still far too far behind countries. You know, the
similar ELK can still get access to medicines that we can't,
and that's because we know. We spend every dollar of

(37:13):
that budget and do everything we can and save as
much as we can. But we've got a lot more
to do if we want to be world leading.

Speaker 3 (37:20):
Certainly, do Paula, thanks your time. Paula being a chair
of Farmac and battled Farmac chief executive Sarah Fitt resigned today,
Bears is text into the program. Come on, you know
that she was pushed. It's as obvious as the nose
on your face. I say good ridance to her and
certainly wouldn't be giving her the gardening leaves as Bears
just gone eleven minutes after five. Ryan Bridge government has

(37:41):
announced a rafter changes. It should make it easier for
local councils to finance infrastructure around new housing developments. Currently
rate payers are left picking up the tab for sewage lines,
local streets and water. Changes will in theory ensure that
developers are paying their affairs share. Christ Bishop's the infrastructure minister.
He's announced it today, minister, welcome, good afternoon. So at

(38:03):
the moment, what is the shortfall at the moment between
what the developers are paying to the councils and what
the councils are having to make up.

Speaker 19 (38:12):
It will vary from development to development. Just give you
an example I talked about in the speech today at
at Drury. The Auckland Council's short three hundred and thirty
million dollars because there's a development going on out there,
and the way the rules work is complicated. But the
way the rules work is they could only charge development
contributions on a very small amount of the development, and
they're short about three thirty million, So all of that's

(38:33):
being paid for by every other ratepayer, when in reality
it should be falling on the developers and also the
beneficiaries of the new housing. And that's that's why we're
changing the system today to move to a more flexible
levy based system.

Speaker 3 (38:47):
What about places like the one that you're describing with
is already a shortfall. There's a place out west we've
found around a few developers today at wis whether it's
so bad they haven't planned obviously, haven't planned for all this,
and they having to use wagons in some areas to
remove waste. I mean, what do you do about those situations?

Speaker 19 (39:06):
That's precisely the problem we're trying to solve. Right so
that the funding system for infrastructure for housing is broken,
you've got under recovery of the growth charges. We're not
planning ahead far enough when it comes to wastewater and
storm water, for example, and that's because the system underlying it,
and the Local Government Act is broken. So what we're
doing is changing it to a much more flexible system.

(39:27):
We're giving councils the ability to recover for all of
the growth charges that come from new housing and make
sure that when a development turns up that the council
can say, okay, well you can build there, but the
charge is for your wastewater? Is this the charge for
your storm water?

Speaker 3 (39:42):
Is this?

Speaker 19 (39:43):
The charge for the community infrastructure, your parks and the beautification,
is this the charge for the local streets?

Speaker 3 (39:48):
Is this?

Speaker 19 (39:49):
Everyone knows where they stand. The council knows how much
they'll get, The developer knows how much it will cost.
They can make their decisions around where and what they
build based on that, and so there's a much more
predictable transparenc everybody.

Speaker 3 (40:01):
But we know the developer is not going to pay
this and sales. They'll pass it on to the home buyers,
potentially first home buyers. Do you know how much it
might push house prices up by well?

Speaker 19 (40:09):
And actually what we're trying to do is lower house
prices over time because the problem at the moment is
we've got a shortage of land right because we zone
land in a very restrictive way, and then we don't
sort out the infrastructure funding that I'm talking about so
that the land can actually be developed. So what's happened
over in Auckland in particular over the last.

Speaker 3 (40:26):
I can see, yeah, land, I can see the long
term benefit that you're talking about, but in the short
term you will have I mean, if you're a developer
and you were going to build something that the council
was going to pay three hundred million dollars for and
now they're not, that's going to cost you, right, it
will go.

Speaker 19 (40:41):
Backwards into the land price, so it be reflected in
prices that people are willing to pay for land. And
so our aim is to actually drive down the cost
of land. And the price of land. Land is so
expensive because of the shortage of it. But we don't
have a shortage of land. We have a shortage of
land that can actually be developed.

Speaker 3 (40:56):
That's the problem.

Speaker 19 (40:57):
So we're fixing that with the announcement of Chris Bishop.

Speaker 3 (41:00):
Thanks your time, the Infrastructure Minister. Chris Bishop. Time is
fourteen minutes after five here on news Talk said be
some people I mentioned earlier about the fobs for your
car and how much it costs. Someone has paid sixteen
hundred dollars for a vdub fob to get back into
their car, just to replace the little you know what
used to be a key. Sixteen hundred dollars. And there's

(41:22):
another guy here from christ Church. He says he knows
how to get them for twenty to thirty bucks. So
I'll tell you about that. Next five seventeen news Talk
said b just had Chris Bishop on the program talking
about the fact they want to charge developers more and
rate Pay is less for building new roads and pipes
and stuff that you put under new subdivisions. And no
one is buying this line that the developers won't pass

(41:44):
on the cost to land owners. Ryan, I'm a developer
and I will definitely pass on the charges to the buyer,
says Chargo. Another here says developers and Ratepay has already
put a lot and there's no way that the developers
will be eating that cost. It will be passed on.
Santa Fe police this is in the United States say
the death of Oscar winning actor Gene Hackman and his

(42:04):
wife is suspicious enough to warrant investigation. The actor was
found dead alongside his wife, Betsy and the dog yesterday
the Sheriff's office saying you'd been dead for some time,
although they're not sure if foul play was involved. It's
a little unclear at this point. Sean Mandel is the
entertainment reporter with the New York Post. He's based in
Los Angeles. Sean, good evening, Good evening, Good to have

(42:26):
you on the program. What is the latest with this story?

Speaker 20 (42:30):
What we do know at this point is that there
has been a press release sent out by the sheriff
in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, as well as a
released AFFI David that gave startling details about the police
and their discovery of the body of Gene Hackman and
his wife, Betsy Arakawa. Police arrived on Wednesday afternoon after

(42:55):
a maintenance for kers showed up at the property and
was unable to get a whole of either Gene Hackman
or his wife. He then contacted the local neighborhood security.
The couple lived in a very posh, high end, multimillion
dollar estate area in a gated community that had local security.

(43:17):
They then the local security then went and observed through
a window the bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife
called nine one one, and at that point police arrived
on the scene, and as you said, there is enough
evidence based on what they mentioned in their Affidavid, that
they believe that this is suspicious because of the nature

(43:39):
of the bodies both being found at the same time,
as well as some disturbing details about Hackman's wife and
the state of decomposition that she was in, which goes
to it leads to a question about how long they
were in fact there. Toxicology results are pending. They did

(44:00):
do toxicology tests on both Hackman and miss Arakawa, including
testing for carbon monoxide, which the family. Members of the
family have come out and said that they believe that
could have been a contributing factor or in fact the
cause of both of their debts and the death of

(44:20):
one of their dogs, but it's going to take several
weeks for those test results to come back.

Speaker 3 (44:25):
You mentioned the decomposition on her body. Was it different
to the decomposition on his body? Is that why police
are a little concerned.

Speaker 20 (44:33):
Well, it's actually unclear in the way that police have
worded it in their documentation so far. They said that
Hackman's body was found and showed signs of death, that
were similar and consistent with his wife's body. Now that
could be that's a little vague. It could just mean

(44:56):
that they were passed out on the floor. That could
mean the details of the level of decomposition that were
found to be present on his wife's body, which included
mummification is the official word of her hands and feet
and a bloated and her face apparently was quite bloated.

(45:17):
But the law enforcement noted that a space heater seemed
to have been was on the floor near her body
that may have been knocked off of the counter, as
well as a pill container that was opened with prescription
pills scattered on a countertop. So there's a lot that
is left unclear here and certainly makes sense why police

(45:42):
would now need to conduct this investigation. But it really
will come down. Even the sheriff has said today that
they believe it will come down to these toxicologies.

Speaker 3 (45:53):
Yeah, interesting stuff, Sean, Thanks for that. Sean Mandel, who's
the la entertainment reporter with the New York Times. Brian
Forgive the New York Post twenty two minutes after five
on News Talk SVB. Just really weird that they turn
up the police turn up the first thing they say
to media is it's not there's no foul play here,
and then they turn around later and say, actually, they're
potentially foul play or something a bit suspicious going on.

(46:15):
So very very a weird case. Indeed, I'm just blown
away by the number of texts we have had in
the last half an hour from people how much they
are spending on key fobs for their cars. And they're
not fancy cars necessarily, But there is one here from
a guy who says from Steve. He says, Hi, Ryan,
for our VDUB golf. We just went down to the

(46:36):
local Chinese mall had a fob made for one hundred
and twenty dollars and it works beautifully, So you had
a new bespoke one made. Apparently the reason they're so expensive.
And I don't know whether this is just guff from
the car companies. This is from the Motor Industry Association.
They include RFID, bluetooth and near field communication, which you

(46:56):
can understand because they've got to work. That makes them
very expense, and some of them have a then you
know the vehicle identification number written to individual vehicles by
the manufacturer, so that you can only open your car
and no one else can open your car when you're
not there. Twenty three minutes after five, News Talk said,
b I'll give you an update on Caleb Clark next.

Speaker 2 (47:17):
Moving the big stories of the day forward.

Speaker 1 (47:20):
It's Ryan Bridge on Hither duper c Allen drive with
one New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (47:25):
Let's get connected. News Talks ed B.

Speaker 3 (47:28):
Twenty six after five. Caleb Clark is a big deal
in rugby. He started in nine of the AB's test
last season. His dad was an All Black. He's one
of the most well known faces in the country right,
which is what makes this story about him running away
from the cops just so crazy. The Herald got the
court documents today, so we've found out all of the details.

(47:50):
He was driving on the Western Motorway in Auckland. Police
cocked him speeding. They signaled for him to stop, They
used the lights, they put the sirens on and instead
of stopping, he speeds up and takes off. At one
point the cops reckon. He was doing one hundred and
ten kilometers an hour in a fifty k zone and
he was being tracked by police Eagle helicopter. One of

(48:13):
the most famous people in New Zealand being tracked by
the police chopper. He then stops and surrenders. I'm assuming
he's come to his senses. He says later that he
just panicked when the cops started chasing him. They had
the lights going et ce, he just panicked and he
took off. He's put his hand up in court and
he has said that he is guilty. He's pled guilty

(48:33):
on Monday. So the next step is his sentencing. The
question is does he get a discharge without conviction. Couple
of things to note. He's young, he's had no run
ins with the law before, he has a good job.
He's remorseful. He eventually came to his senses. He is

(48:56):
very lucky no one got hurt. Otherwise this would be
a completely different situation. And he's cooperated with police. And
more importantly, just because you're an all black, it doesn't
mean you're perfect. Nobody is perfect, and nor should they
have to be. They're rugby players, for goodness sakes. They're

(49:16):
not priests, they're not politicians, they're not a higher moral authority.
They're just young guys who throw a ball around a
paddock and run fast. So I don't think he should
be held to a standard any higher or lower than
anyone else, And from what we know about who Caleb
is outside of these few shameful minutes running from the cops,

(49:40):
I don't think a life or career ending consequence is
the answer for Caleb Clark breast Rich twenty eight minutes
after five. We're going to Las Vegas after the news
at five point thirty because obviously the league's going on there,
and we're also going to go to our sports huddle
for the Friday evening. Nicky Styrus is with us, you know,

(50:02):
Nikki Styris. Matt Brown is joining us on the sports
tuittle for Friday night, So looking forward to that. They'll
obviously have something to say about CAYLEB. Clark, no doubt.
News Talks hid.

Speaker 1 (50:11):
By recamping the day's big news and making tomorrow's headlines.

(50:32):
It's Ryan Bridge on Hither Duper see Ellen Drive with
one New Zealand, let's get connected. News Talks dB.

Speaker 2 (50:41):
You Yeather, Cold Dies.

Speaker 3 (50:50):
The weather, Welcome to your Friday evening is twenty four
minutes away from sixth grade to heavy company. So Caleb
Clark pleaded guilty this week to charge just relating to
him fleeing police on his motorbike. We've just been discussing
that here on the show, and BOYD people have opinions. Unsurprising.
It's an important issue, Rob says Ryan regarding Caleb. Discharge

(51:11):
without conviction simply undermines the entire judicial system. It's the
deterrent dimension that counts. This one is from Lance, who
says he's a police officer. Ryan, fleeing drivers are one
of the most dangerous things that we deal with. If
I had done this as an officer, I wouldn't get
a discharge without conviction. Even if I did get one,
I would be kicked out of the police and lose

(51:32):
my career. Why should he be any different? Hmm. We'll
ask our panel our sports huddle on the show tonight.
Necki Starrs and Matt Brown are here after this. It's
twenty three.

Speaker 2 (51:43):
Two six, Ryan Bridge.

Speaker 3 (51:46):
First, though, the NRL is back this weekend, with the
opening round kicking off in the glistening lights of Las Vegas.
The Warriors are one of four teams playing in Sin
City this weekend. It's the NRL is looking to expand
the game into America. Brad Walter is a very fucking man.
He's there. He's a rugby league journalist for NRL Digital Bread.
First of all, where are you? What's it like where

(52:06):
you are?

Speaker 15 (52:07):
Yeah, so I'm at the fan fest in Fremont's Street
in Vegas. It's like a big mall and it's absolutely heaving.
There's thousands and thousands of people all in NRL or
Super League jerseys for as far as the eye can see,
in every direction. And it's yes, they're just jam packed
in this in this mall. It's it's incredible. There's just

(52:30):
the atmosphere here in Las Vegas this week and the
build up to the to the game has been that's
a that's a massive step up on last year. I
think just that's the English fans bring so much, you know,
the singing and the chants and things like that. You
just see English stands around. But the one thing I've
noticed everywhere is the number of Warriors jerseys. It's incredible.

(52:54):
I would say the Warriors will be the most supported
team at Allegian Stadium on the weekend.

Speaker 3 (53:00):
Are they Kiwis or are they Americans or Brits or.

Speaker 15 (53:04):
What well they could be I don't know, to be honest,
I mean, yeah, look, there's a there's a lot of
kiwis here, whether they whether they live in the States
or whether they they've flown over for the game. I'm
not sure, but I think thirty eight percent of tickets
have been sold in the United States, so I don't

(53:26):
know everyone. He's got a head url Jersey on, so
those people living in the States obviously followed the NRL
as well. But I think there's I do feel like
that there's a lot of maybe a lot of people
who saw it last year and maybe they've been told
about it by friends or they are aware of rugby League,
like I'm talking about Americans, and you know, maybe they

(53:49):
and they've decided to come as well, because there's definitely,
you know, there's definitely a lot of local interests, and
you sort of feel like now too that now that
the game was here last year, or that the event
was here last year, and that the NRL's come back
this time, people are much more aware of what's happening

(54:09):
the event itself, and also of what of the difference
between rugby league and rugby union, which certainly wasn't the
case last year.

Speaker 3 (54:17):
Is Dana White there yet? What's he What's he actually
going to do? Do you know?

Speaker 15 (54:22):
I don't know he's been invited. I don't look, I
don't know if he's here, and I don't know what
he's going to do if he is here. But I
know that he has been invited to blow the Raiders horn,
the Viking horn before the game against the Warriors. I
don't know whether that's that's come off or not. I'm
not I'm not really sure who's going to blow the

(54:45):
horn for the Raiders, or whether whether Danah White or
Donald Trump or any of those people you know, who
will be here. But I think one thing I will
say that is that, yeah, there's definitely more interest and
more you know, I think maybe more high profile American
athletes in particular that are keen to come. You know,

(55:06):
there's a lot of Pacific people with Pacific Island heritage
in the States and especially on the West Coast, and
a lot of athletes in the NFL in particular who
have like a connection with the game, you know, whether
it be rugby league or rugby union.

Speaker 3 (55:23):
Hey bread, just quickly before you go. The Raiders Warriors
game is going to be broadcast on Fox. They have
a distribution from one hundred and twenty five million homes.
Do you know how many people they are expecting to
watch it.

Speaker 15 (55:36):
No, I don't know, but hopefully, you know, hopefully that's hopefully.

Speaker 3 (55:42):
A lot of people, but hopefully all of them.

Speaker 15 (55:44):
Hopefully all of them. One thing I think, like everybody agrees,
is that any American who sees rugby league likes it,
They're just going to be exposed or so hopefully they
tune in because if they do, they can relate to it.
You know, the six tackles is like downs in NFL
American football, and I think they really like the contact

(56:06):
and the game. For me of the weekend, well, you know,
the Warriors Raiders is going to be a tracking game.
But for me, I think Americans are going to be
absolutely blown away when they see the physicality and skill
and athleticism of the Australian and England women's players. I
think that's going to be a shocked because last year
they were all raving about no pats, no helmets when
the men played, well, the women played exactly. They played

(56:29):
just as hard as.

Speaker 8 (56:29):
The men do.

Speaker 3 (56:30):
Yeah, quite true. Brad, Hey, good luck this weekend. Hang
in there, Drink lots of water. Brad Walter, rugby league
journalist Interel Digital in Las Vegas. Time is eighteen away
from five. It's Friday evening and it's time for the
Sports Huddle.

Speaker 1 (56:43):
The Friday Sports Huddle with New Zealand Southebeast, International realty,
local and global exposure like no other.

Speaker 3 (56:52):
Partner.

Speaker 9 (56:53):
The last five seconds of the preliminary final.

Speaker 2 (56:58):
History has been my.

Speaker 6 (57:01):
Years here and Warriors. I'll endo the Grand Final.

Speaker 3 (57:05):
Johnson's still going dog.

Speaker 12 (57:11):
The Star Warriors with the Grand Final.

Speaker 21 (57:16):
Johnson, Yeah, the Wariors. So one go away from the
NRL Grand Final.

Speaker 3 (57:28):
Welcome to your sports huddle for Friday night. Matt Brown
is with us A Ciana Football Confederation and giggling in
the background as Nicky Star as sports journalists and Warriors groupie.
Good evening, guys, Nicky, are you holding out? You're always
holding out, hope, aren't you?

Speaker 1 (57:46):
This is our year.

Speaker 22 (57:47):
I'm starting to sound like Mike Cosking.

Speaker 6 (57:50):
Yeah.

Speaker 22 (57:51):
Look, oh hey, we as die hard Warriors fans are
always holding out. But you know, like any year, you
win some, you lose some, and you lose some good players.
You won some good players. So Craky, I don't have
a crystal ball at the stage.

Speaker 9 (58:03):
How what do you want to Nicki NICKI took my
line the Mike Costkin mine. I think I was going
to say the same thing. But look, I think I
think they're probably going to be better than last year.
Let's face it, last year was not a good year,
and I think that with Adam vanua Blake going that
that's a bit of a bayer upfront, to be honest,
But look who they've replaced him with in Fisher Harris.

(58:26):
He's an outstanding, outstanding prop and I think he's still
got his best years ahead of and Peraps. I met
the Warriors, so he'll be he'll be big for them.
I think the Fords will go well. So yeah, I'm
going to be optimistic. Luke Metcalf of course has the
Shawan Johnson shoes to fill.

Speaker 6 (58:39):
That'll be tough, but look, let's be.

Speaker 9 (58:40):
Optimistic and not quite I'm not going to say that
this is the year, but I think they're going to
get better than last year.

Speaker 3 (58:45):
How much do you wish you were actually there in Vegas, Nikki.

Speaker 22 (58:49):
Well, I'll tell you we story then. So about I'm
going to say about seven or eight years ago, I
went Scott and I went on the Vegas flight for
with some of those Warriors players. It was grab a
Seat's fifth birthday, so we did that fan flight and
oh my gosh, it was just five days of so
much fun to Vegas. And I actually messaged one of

(59:12):
the guys that runs it and said, where was our invite?

Speaker 2 (59:16):
We wanted to go.

Speaker 22 (59:16):
It just looked like so much fun. So yes, I'm
just a little bit jealous that I'm not there, but hey,
what a fantastic spectacle. So, you know, pats off to
them for doing it.

Speaker 3 (59:25):
Yeah, my brother's over there at the moment, and I
text them two days ago, haven't heard back. We'll be
back in just a second. We've got the Sports Huddle
for your Friday night. Matt Brown and Nicki Styrus here
on News talksb.

Speaker 1 (59:39):
The Friday Sports Huddle with New Zealand Southeby's International Realty
Elevate the Marketing of.

Speaker 3 (59:44):
Your Home twelve to six On the Sports Huddle, Matt
Brown and Nicki Styrus, Welcome back, guys. Matt Caleb Clark,
He's played guilty. He's a young guy. He made us
what sounds like a very stupid mistake and says that
he freaked out when he was being chased by the police.
The holicopter was up there, the lights are on, the
sirens and going all of that sort of stuff. But
he takes off, and he takes off really quickly. What

(01:00:08):
do you think should happen to him, Matt.

Speaker 9 (01:00:10):
Well, I've got a pretty clear view and it I
think he should be treated just like you or I
would be will you as a celebrity, me as a
media and comms manager. My job involves me. I mean
one of the excuses he's got to travel internationally. In
some countries you know, don't let you in if you've
got a criminal conviction. But I would think that if
I did that, and I did the book thrown at me,

(01:00:31):
I would impact my jobs.

Speaker 3 (01:00:32):
I'm just not going to do it.

Speaker 9 (01:00:33):
So I think personal responsibility plays a big part, and
I don't believe an athlete should be treated different to
anyone else who's working, you know, working for a living,
and whether you're working or playing support for a living,
I think you should be treated the same. So yeah,
I do think he should be committed.

Speaker 3 (01:00:47):
Okay, interesting because I mean regardless of that, nothing to
do with who he is or what his job is,
but just just somebody that age who's had that record
who's you know, otherwise been good society, who has a job, etc. Nikki,
What's what's your thoughts on that?

Speaker 22 (01:01:05):
I'd like to see the stats on other young people
whether they receive the same treatment. You know, how many
kids are discharged without conviction, So you're sort of comparing
apples with apples, I think. And of course the other
thing too is you know, is it a career ending conviction?
Doesn't mean that it's going to really impact his career
so much that you know they would take that into consideration.

(01:01:25):
The other thing I would say is, speaking of law,
if you look at precedent, which is often what judges do.
You know, I can give you an entire first fifteen
of players that have been discharged without conviction in prior years,
ranging from drink driving to you know, quite serious assault
George Moala to Vita Lee, Julian Savi and Larzi Filippo
pretty whipper in the list actually goes on. So I

(01:01:48):
would be very surprised if this particular judge, on the
seemings of judge not a jury go you know, we
are I'm going to go against you know, president here
and actually convict you.

Speaker 6 (01:02:00):
Yeah, what about having what about though?

Speaker 9 (01:02:02):
The impact of you know, in the reality is if
you can get it, if people keep getting away with it,
it doesn't encourage people to change their ways. And if
or anybody you know, so and so some of these players,
you know, if things do happen and they do get convicted,
them might just make some people think twice.

Speaker 22 (01:02:17):
I couldn't agree more, couldn't agree more. But what if
it actually happens, I'll be quite surprised.

Speaker 3 (01:02:22):
Yeah, yeah, interesting, All right, let's move on talk about
something different. Let's let's go with gen worries. What about
Sky TV. I saw in Shane Curry's colin this week
he was talking to the boss of Sky TV, the chair,
I should say, saying essentially, we're not going to buy
those Rugby rights at any cost. And this interview took
place before Design. The rumors of Design coming in with

(01:02:44):
their own bid propped up and cropped up in the media.
But I guess, I mean, they don't just have an
empty check, do they? Sky? They will have, But if
they don't get the rights, then I guess what happens
to them?

Speaker 9 (01:02:55):
Matt Well, I think Sky would be in trouble because
I think I think still and I'm not updated on
the latest stats. But I do think the rugby rights
are the sort of the holy grail.

Speaker 16 (01:03:04):
There always have been, the.

Speaker 9 (01:03:04):
All Blacks have always been, you know, on Sky since
professional rugby, and they've got what four hundred and sixty
odd thousand subscribers. How many would they lose if they
lost the rugby rights. I think there would be a
considerable number, and it would have a massive impact on
Sky and what they can do, So it would be massive,
and I think that may be the most one of
the most likely options because of the rugby union's desperate

(01:03:25):
desire for more cash and more money to fund everything
they are doing. Is maybe, you know, with Dazzen coming in,
maybe does own. I think there's been a suggestion maybe
they could potentially buy Sky. I don't know, they're that big.
It's not beyond the realms of possibility, so that could be.
But yeah, competition, Look, the reality is for the rugby union,
competition is good. Let's face it, they're driving the price

(01:03:47):
up for them. They need the cash and it's it's
going to be interest fascinating to see how this one
plays out.

Speaker 3 (01:03:51):
Yeah, what about you Sky?

Speaker 22 (01:03:54):
Yeah, I think Sky definitely needs the rugby I guess
for the question is does the rugby union need Sky.
I mean, let's not forget too though, that the NZR
have a five percent share in Sky. There's a conflict immediately,
so you know, do they need to do they need
to protect that share. I mean, I think it sort
of equates too. And I did a little bit of
homework on this. I think they get about eighteen million

(01:04:18):
dollars from that percentage share. So if Sky, you know,
the bottom falls out of Sky, they lose that as well. However,
also New Zealand rugby has a lot of its own issues,
don't they. You know, they've got, you know, issues with
the grassroots. They've got funding for their team women's teams,
and so they've got a lot of expenditure and so
then I guess they have to look at their base

(01:04:39):
costs and go, well, if we don't, if we hold
onto Sky, we have to somehow save this money somewhere else.
So I think it's a very interesting prospect and i'd
like to I'm looking forward to sing it playout.

Speaker 3 (01:04:49):
Actually, yeah, same, thank you guys, we have to leave it.
They've also got an any sized hole in their budget too,
that's right. That Brown Oceana Football Federation Media manager. Thank
you so much for being with us. Matt great to
have you on, and Nicki Styrus, sports journalist for your
Friday night sports huddle. It is seven minutes away from six.
After six, we're going to talk to TV and ZED,

(01:05:11):
speaking of television, TV and z's boss about the results
that we're out today. Quite a good one from them.

Speaker 1 (01:05:16):
It's the Heather dupas Allen Drive Full Show podcast on
My Art Radio powered by News Talk ZEDB.

Speaker 3 (01:05:24):
News Talk ZB. It is four minutes away from six.
Coming up after six o'clock, we're going to talk TV
and Z. We're going to sort out what their numbers
were from today and we're going to find out a
little bit more about where their revenue is coming from.
And have you ever wondered how many people are watching
the news when you sit down at whatever time you
watch the TV on an evening, How many people are

(01:05:44):
watching on terrestrial television, how many are watching on digital?
We'll ask about that as well. Peter Lewis is here
after six thirty. Here's our Asia Business correspondent. You know,
we've been talking a lot this week about Chinese warships
and a lot of talk has been chat has been
had about the Taiwan Straight. Well, Taiwan has actually caught
a Chinese own ship that wasn't a navy ship, but

(01:06:05):
caught a Chinese own ship cutting a sub sea cable
in the Taiwan Strait, which is basically the same place
that we drive our boat sailed our boats through with
the Aussies and September last year. So we'll talk to
Peter lets about that after six point thirty. Lots more
to come here on News Talk Cbod's.

Speaker 1 (01:06:54):
Up, what's down one with a major cause and how
will it affect the economy? The big business questions on
the Business Hour with Ryan Bridge and mass Insurance and investments,
Grow your Wealth, Protect your Future.

Speaker 3 (01:07:09):
News talks at be Good even coming up Barry Soaper
erhaps the Political Week. China has been caught ripping up
an undersea cable in the Taiwan Straight And we are
live to London for the latest from our UK correspondent
Gavin Gray. TVNZ has returned to profit. Sodown Broadcasters posted
a net profit after tacks fifty three point one million
bucks for This is for the six months to December.

(01:07:31):
That includes a forty one million dollar non cash adjustment
to remove cost the operational earnings eleven point eight million dollars.
It's not all good news though for TVNZ it isn't
sure whether the full year result will be a profit
or a loss. Jody O'Donnell is the tvn Z CEO.
Jody good evening, Ryan, Hi, how are you very well?

(01:07:51):
Thank you? You must be pleased with this result.

Speaker 23 (01:07:54):
Look, I am really placed. It's encouraging, not just from
what we've seen in the last six months, but what
the next six months looks like, which is most encouraging.
A lot of people forget that TVZ isn't funded by
the taxpayer, so we are a commercial business. Ninety seven
percent of our revenue comes from advertising, so to be
amongst a lot of businesses that have been challenged over

(01:08:15):
the last couple of months, we've had to live within
our means. So I'm really encouraged with the result today.

Speaker 3 (01:08:20):
How much of this is to do with the fall
of news Hub and TV three's advertising revenue.

Speaker 23 (01:08:27):
I would say a very small amount, and that is
because obviously the overall market has been down. So yes,
we have enjoyed some increased viewership, but actually the overall
market has been down, So I would say small returns
which have come from those additional audiences.

Speaker 3 (01:08:44):
Have those additional audiences resulted in extra revenue or are
you saying that that you've got more viewers but you
haven't got more money.

Speaker 23 (01:08:50):
What I'd say is that with platform TVs Plus, we've
introduced a newstab and within that we're now producing more
news on hundred thousand kei. We are now watching news
every single week on TVs Plus with news clips, and
so I would say that would be additional audiences and
therefore additional revenue.

Speaker 3 (01:09:09):
You mentioned in your release that half of your revenue
now your revenue now comes from digital. Is that is
that correct?

Speaker 23 (01:09:16):
Twenty five percent our revenue is coming from digital. Our
ambition is for it to be half.

Speaker 3 (01:09:21):
So twenty five percent at the moment. How quickly is
your your terrestrial dropping off?

Speaker 23 (01:09:28):
Yeah, So we've got a five year strategy and at
the end of the five years we expect that at
least fifty percent of our revenue will be from digital
and the other fifty percent will be from broadcasts. So
there will be a point where they cross, and it
could be twenty eight to twenty nine anywhere between there,
and how much is.

Speaker 3 (01:09:46):
An AD on tallyworth versus an AD on digital, the
cost must be completely different.

Speaker 23 (01:09:52):
It's a really different cost base and I think that's
what's contributed to our digital revenue growth. We can now
engage with small New Zealanders who previously had thoughts they
couldn't afford to advertise on TV, But on TVNZ plus
you can spend as little as one thousand dollars advertising
with us and still reach a large audience. So it's
really open to the opportunities for us to talk to

(01:10:13):
lots of small businesses as well as the bigger, more
corporate businesses which have tended to invest more on television.

Speaker 3 (01:10:19):
How much longer will you have free to air television air?

Speaker 23 (01:10:23):
I've said that by twenty thirty, and that's our digital strategy.
We'll have the ability to turn off DTT. But that's
a conversation that we would need to have obviously in
line with our shareholder.

Speaker 3 (01:10:34):
The government.

Speaker 23 (01:10:35):
Yeah, that's right to make sure that all New Zealanders
can still access television. That's a really important part of
our mandate.

Speaker 3 (01:10:41):
How many of your viewers are currently watching your content
on TV versus your TVNZ plus?

Speaker 23 (01:10:48):
Yeah, good question every night about two million New Zealanders
are watching on our broadcast channels, our TV channels, and
every week one point sixty five New Zealanders are streaming
our content on TVNZ plus.

Speaker 3 (01:11:00):
How do you shift them over?

Speaker 23 (01:11:02):
Well, they're actually doing a bit of both at the moment.
So yes, there will always be an audience that still
watches terrestrial TV so the way they have always watched it,
and that audience is getting older. But actually you've still
got a really broad audience across TV. So bringing in
new shows such as Day of the Jackal, dropping it

(01:11:22):
first on our streaming platform TVs Plus means that viewers
can switch between the two options, either watching it as
live on broadcast TV or streaming it on TV's plus
when they want to. And that's what we've been experimenting
with is dropping different pieces of content at different times,
either on our broadcast channels or on TVNZ Plus to

(01:11:42):
allow viewers to use both options. Because at some stage
we will need to say, guess what, there's a better
way to watch and it's called tvnz plus.

Speaker 3 (01:11:50):
You mentioned Dave the Jackal. That's a British TV series,
isn't it. When will you be investing more in new
Zealand content.

Speaker 23 (01:11:57):
We've still got over one hundred local shows that are
in production or in development over the next twelve.

Speaker 3 (01:12:02):
Months and you haven't cut any of that back.

Speaker 23 (01:12:04):
So we're still investing hugely into our local content. So
we've said about so we haven't this year. We did
last year on FY twenty four, but this year I
have a fifty percent of our content investment will still
be across local that includes news, sport and local productions.

Speaker 3 (01:12:21):
News is bloody expensive, isn't it?

Speaker 23 (01:12:26):
No comment, And it's the thing about news is it's
you need it.

Speaker 3 (01:12:33):
It's important, but it's annoyingly expensive to produce. I mean
that's look, I've just come from a place where that
was proved true.

Speaker 23 (01:12:40):
Look, news and sport are the two pieces of content
that bring people into our platform every single day. So
whilst it's expensive, it's really important. It's important for the
daily usage of our channels and of our streaming platform,
and so we certainly looking for more efficiencies that we

(01:13:00):
can get out of our news product And like I
said earlier, heavy news the news tab on TVNZ Plus
allows us to reuse that news so that it doesn't
just get used once at six o'clock. And then it's
on the cutting room floor. It's reused and therefore able
to be monetized. So I think we just need to
think a bit differently around how actually we do distribute news.

(01:13:20):
It's not just a one time once only anymore.

Speaker 3 (01:13:24):
All Right, Jody, thank you very much for being with me.
Jodyo O'donald TVNZ's chief executive on the half year result.
Thirteen minutes after six. Now they're full year result. They're
expecting operational earnings of between five and negative five million
dollars for the full year. You're on News Talk CB.
Coming up next, Barry Soper wraps the political week that was.
Lots to discuss the four year terms, the Chinese boats,

(01:13:46):
you name it, Barry's doing it.

Speaker 1 (01:13:48):
Next, it's the Heather Duper Cell and Drive Full Show
podcast on my Heart Radio, empowered by Newstalk ZEBBI.

Speaker 3 (01:13:56):
News Talk zb Very Soper is our senior political correspondent.
He's with us every Friday to wrap the week that was. Barry,
Hello again, Good a Ryan, Good to have you back.
So get the retailers. Are they going to start tackling
these shoplifters?

Speaker 17 (01:14:11):
Well, you know, if you listen to the reaction, Ryan
you'd say that's what is the expectation is that anytime
a crop comes in, burly or not, he'll be tackled
by a poor store owner and the store owner will
be worse off. But it's not going to be that way.
I mean, this has got to go through a select
committee process for a start before the law comes into being,

(01:14:32):
so there'll be a lot of submissions made on it.
But the thing is it gives them that tool if
they want to use it.

Speaker 4 (01:14:39):
It's some.

Speaker 17 (01:14:41):
Toe rag at fourteen wanders in to grab a couple
of packets and cigarette, then the store owner can detain
them and call the cops, and the cops can come
and do what they will with them. And it's like,
you know, Goldriz Garriman, as I talked to you earlier
this week, she was leaving a shop with a tote bag.
Somebody wanted to look in it, she had stolen property

(01:15:02):
in it. She wouldn't turn it over and left the shop,
only to have it delivered later by somebody else. But
you know, you would tackle somebody like that. But if
he's a barly one hundred and twenty cagey big fellow
walking out of a supermarket with a trolley full of
stolen goods. You're hardly likely as a store owner or

(01:15:23):
an employee of the company to tackle the person.

Speaker 3 (01:15:26):
Probably not, and probably will apply more to the dairies
than to any other big markets. Anyway, Now, Andrew Bailey
falling on his sword this week, it was all a
bit weird and hush where she was last week technically,
but then falling.

Speaker 6 (01:15:38):
On carried on and on and on, and now we
only found out about it this week.

Speaker 17 (01:15:43):
Yeah, well, you know, the nobody actually has really said
what occurred.

Speaker 6 (01:15:48):
And you will have.

Speaker 17 (01:15:49):
Heard Mike hosking and that laborious three minutes of him
trying to get the Prime Minister to admit that he
would have sacked him.

Speaker 6 (01:15:57):
If he hadn't fallen on his sword.

Speaker 17 (01:15:59):
Well, the fact is, Mike I felt was going totally
over the top because everything he's complained about the media,
and that's basically us being obsessed with a sacking culture,
us concentrating on the Minushai, us doing all sorts of things.
He did everything himself as an interviewer. When he interviewed

(01:16:21):
the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister was reluctant to say
he would sack him. He simply mentioned the word demote,
so Mike didn't quite get the sack that he wanted,
that he had accused the media of being bloody minded
about in the past. Nevertheless, that having been said, I
think the explanation could be and I've done a lot
of work around the beehive talking to people that are fairly.

Speaker 6 (01:16:43):
Close to the situation. It wasn't a sackable offense. Basically,
it was a newbie in his.

Speaker 17 (01:16:51):
Office, a young person that wasn't used to be cut
and trust of politics. Obviously, Andrew Bailey is a tactile man.
If you know yes, he's always touching people.

Speaker 3 (01:17:01):
Even if you don't know him.

Speaker 17 (01:17:02):
He's a tactics and he touched this guy on the
The guy lodged a formal complaint and Baby looked at
it and thought, this has now got to go through
a process. I can't be bothered anymore than he says,
I understand it. So he said, okay, I'll resimnble portfolios.

Speaker 3 (01:17:22):
Which is what would have made it so difficult for
the Prime Minister to answer the question right, because because
you don't, you don't want to say I wouldn't have
sacked him, because then everyone on the other side will
go oh, for goodness sake, you're a week, you're a
weekly a week and he's punched him or something, you know.
So anyway, all right, let's move on legislation to be introduced.
This is for a four year term of parliament. But

(01:17:43):
mean it's a long complicated process, Barry, it's going to
take a lot longer than four years to get there.

Speaker 6 (01:17:48):
Well, look, it's a typical David Seymour.

Speaker 17 (01:17:51):
And this is not to insult David Seymour, but if
you look at the end of life Choice Bill, he
introduced that and it went on and on for years.
Treaty Saidlemen's bill. The idea is out there, people cogitate
on the idea, they debate it similarly, four year term
and I think, you know, David Tema was pretty good
at doing this, putting out an idea, getting the public

(01:18:13):
like we are at the moment, to discuss it and
have a thought about it, and then maybe further down
the track there will be a binding referendum on it.
I think there would be an appetite now as there
wasn't too previous referenda to vote it down. I think
people would vote for.

Speaker 3 (01:18:28):
The interesting I've done my column on for the heal
on Sunday saying exactly the opposite barrier. So I've never
read of that. Hey, the Chinese warships and now the
Chinese ambassador to Australia has come out and has said, well,
we've got nothing to apologize for this, and we're going
to keep doing this.

Speaker 6 (01:18:46):
They'll do it more often. He's suggesting that.

Speaker 17 (01:18:49):
So, yeah, the Chinese are not being apologetic at all,
and it comes as no surprise. I mean, you know,
they were within their rights internationally. I don't know whether
they are in the rights to go in the Australian
economic zone, but nevertheless they did and they've been there.

Speaker 3 (01:19:06):
But as long as they went fishing, I think that's
the thing.

Speaker 6 (01:19:08):
Okay, that's actually true.

Speaker 17 (01:19:12):
It is, yeah, I mean the live firing exercise, you
would think they would have had the good, well not
the good, the good diplomatic duty to let both Australia
New Zealand nine. We had to divert flights and that's
quite serious, so you know, I think they had to know.

Speaker 3 (01:19:30):
Finally, you have to hand it to the Brits, don't
you going to the White House with all of the charm.
I mean, it was brown nosing. It's at its worst,
but with the charm and the letter from the King,
and Trump was just a peg and shit, wasn't he?

Speaker 2 (01:19:45):
Well?

Speaker 17 (01:19:45):
Like I said, you know, Trump loves the sort of
adoration and kissed arm, the left of center prime minister
from Britain getting on with the right of center President
of the United States, and the way he did, he
knew to charm Trump. Charm was falling over himself, oozing
with charm. I mean to watch them together, I found

(01:20:07):
it highly amusing.

Speaker 3 (01:20:09):
Yes, so did I. And he kept saying, this letter
is unprecedented, exactly strong rooming here it is. He'll be
back very Sopher, great to see you.

Speaker 6 (01:20:20):
Nice to talk to you.

Speaker 3 (01:20:21):
Ryan, good on you. Barry Soper, senior political correspondent from
News Talks B. It is twenty two minutes after six.
It is a Friday evening. Our numbers nine two nine
to if you want to flick text. Coming up after
the news at six thirty, we are going to our
Asia Business correspondent. Lots to discuss, including this undersea cable
that's been given the snip snip by the dwell. The
Taiwanese say it's been given the snip snip by the Chinese,

(01:20:43):
and we'll find out whether there's truth and that if it's.

Speaker 2 (01:20:46):
To do with money, it matters to you.

Speaker 1 (01:20:49):
The Business Hour with Ryan Rich and Mayor's Insurance and Investments,
Grow your Wealth, Protect your Future.

Speaker 3 (01:20:56):
News talks edb big mystery out of Santa Fe, New
mex in the US tonight. This is about Gene Hackman,
who's the actor, was ninety five years old, sadly passed
away along with his wife Betsy at a Kawa. They
were reportedly a very happy couple living together with lots
of animals, including a dog that was also found dead

(01:21:17):
at the home. Now we've been talking this afternoon. We
had Damn Mitch snoelm We've had a reporter out of
LA because they're obviously across it there with his Hollywood connections.
But they have now released the police released. They do
this very quickly, but a preliminary autopsy into the case
and they have found the police according to the police

(01:21:38):
release on the autopsy, no external trauma to either individual.
So Gene Hackman was found in the mud room by
the front door, Betsy was found in the bathroom, and
the dog was apparently found in another area of the home.
And there were some pills, some prescription medication that was

(01:21:58):
spelt on the floor in the bathroom near Betsy. But
apart from that, it's all a bit of a mystery.
Initially people thought, oh, it was it a gas leak
because all three of them, the two humans and the pet,
had passed away and in seemingly all at the same time.
The answer to that question was no, because they did
some checks. So still the mystery remains at this point.

(01:22:19):
The toxicology reports they're hoping will give them more information.
Twenty seven minutes after six were off to Asia and
London right after the news.

Speaker 2 (01:22:33):
Day. Oh aren't you one? Need you Olga h need.
It's beautiful things that are crunching the numbers and getting
the results.

Speaker 1 (01:22:47):
It's Ryan Bridge with the business hour and mass insurance
and investments.

Speaker 2 (01:22:53):
Grew your wealth, protect your future. News dogs that'd be.

Speaker 14 (01:23:01):
From the sound Enjoy twenty five away from seven.

Speaker 3 (01:23:14):
You're on news Talk se b I hope you're enjoying
your Friday evening. A lot of people have been texting
in after our sports huddle earlier with Nicky Styrus and
Matt Brown, just asking what time is the Warriors game
on in New Zealand because it's obviously been played over
in Las Vegas. It's one PM New Zealand time Warriors
Fee Raiders. And I can confirm that I've now heard
from my brother because obviously it's Las Vegas, it's the

(01:23:36):
city of sin and I hadn't heard from him in
two days and I was starting to get a little
bit worried. Anyway, He's just sent through a whole bunch
of photos having great time with his mates, along with
apparently hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of other Kiweks who
were all wearing Warriors jerseys. Twenty four away from.

Speaker 2 (01:23:51):
Seven, Ryan Bridge.

Speaker 3 (01:23:52):
He looks like me just ugbia.

Speaker 2 (01:23:55):
You're interested, Ryan Bridge?

Speaker 3 (01:23:57):
If Peter Lewis is our Asia business correspondent, high hi
o Ryan. And Now Indonesia and Apple are apparently agreeing
on terms to lift an iPhone sixteen band. What's this about?

Speaker 10 (01:24:10):
Yes, well, this is to do with a regulation that
smartphones that are sold in India have to have forty
percent of their contents and their components sourced locally. Now,
this forty percent role has been a problem for a
lot of manufacturers in Indonesia because it's quite hard to meet.
It's actually very difficult to find all the bits and

(01:24:33):
components that you need locally to be able to put
into a smartphone like an iPhone sixteen. Well, it was
deemed by the Indonesian government that Apple didn't meet this
forty percent requirement, so they banned sales altogether of the
iPhone sixteen until it was resolved. Now, the interesting thing

(01:24:53):
about this is that Apple has tried very hard to
resolve it because Indonesia is a very big market. There's
about three hundred million people there, so it's certainly a
market that Apple wants to operate in. It initially offered
ten million dollars to invest that was nowhere near enough.
It offered one hundred million dollars then to go and

(01:25:16):
invest in Indonesia, and then finally it offered one billion
dollars to completely build a new plant in India, but
the government turned it down and said, despite it being
a billion dollars, you still weren't sourcing forty percent of
your components locally. What they have now done is they've

(01:25:37):
come to an agreement where there are going to be
a couple of new plants from Apple in Indonesia and
they're going to invest about three hundred and fifty million.
So what the Indonesian government hasn't explained here is how
they've ended up going down from a one billion dollar
investment to three hundred and fifty million dollars. Why didn't

(01:25:58):
they accept the ini or one billion dollars because you know,
this is a very significant investment in an emerging market
like Indonesia. But anyway, everyone seems to be happy. The
government seems to be happy. Apple seems to be happy.
They're going to be providing jobs for local people there
when they build this factory, which will be Apple's very

(01:26:20):
first one in Indonesia.

Speaker 3 (01:26:23):
Fascinating and what a low ball to start with the
ten million dollars. I'm glad they go.

Speaker 10 (01:26:31):
That's someone in the Indonesian government hasn't got the art
of the deal.

Speaker 3 (01:26:35):
No, certainly not. Now Taiwan has apparently caught a Chinese
own ship cutting a sub seed cable' what's this about?
What was the cable for? And have we had confirmation
from the Chinese on the salt or what?

Speaker 10 (01:26:48):
We haven't heard a word from the Chinese. The Taiwanese
governments say that they caught red handed this boat attempting
to cut an underwater cable. These are the cables that
vide international data traffic and provide Internet. We've seen this
in the Baltics with Russia cutting cables around the Baltic

(01:27:09):
States and around Finland. Now in Taiwan, they call this
gray zone activities. In other words, it's sort of activities
that fall short of an act of war, but nevertheless
they're very intimidating. So the thought sort of things that
Taiwan that China does here is providing putting blockades around

(01:27:33):
the island, harassing local fishermen and fishing boats, cyber attacks
and so on. So this is part of those what
they call gray zone operations have been going on now
for quite a while around Taiwan, as you know, to
China wants to have a reunification between the mainland and Taiwan.

(01:27:56):
The Coastguard caught the boat. It was just staffed with
with Chinese nationals. They've been taken back to Taiwan and
local prosecutors are investigating. But this all comes at a
rather difficult time for Taiwan because they're watching nervously what
is going on with Ukraine, and there is a feeling

(01:28:18):
obviously that Ukraine is maybe being sold down the water
here and what is the US's stance going to be
on Taiwan. Donald Trump hasn't actually said so far what
his thoughts are about Taiwanese, about the harassment that's going
on around Taiwan, and about the reunification of China, of

(01:28:41):
mainland China and the island. So we wait to see.
But people in Taiwan are quite nervous about this.

Speaker 3 (01:28:47):
Yeah, I can imagine now Trump at the White House
taking aim on Chinese trade and investment. We know that
he's put some of those tariffs on Then how's that
been received there?

Speaker 10 (01:28:57):
Well, this is this is going to become a big
issue because just in the last twenty four hours Taiwan,
Trump has said he's going to double the tariffs that
are on Chinese goods. They were originally set at ten percent.
These were actually, out of all the tariffs that he's threatened,
the only ones that actually went into effect at the

(01:29:18):
beginning of the month. Well as of March the fourth,
they are going to become twenty percent, along with twenty
five percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada. It's not totally
clear why they're being doubled on China. It's made clear
that he's unhappy with Mexico and Canada because of fentanyl
going over the border, which he says is flooding in

(01:29:40):
through Canada and Mexico. China and the US have been
working quite hard in the last year or so on
the fentanyl issue, and China believes it had made quite
good progress with the US on this, so it's rather
bemused as to why it's now had these how it
is doubled. It'll be interesting to see what China will do.

(01:30:03):
Last time, at the beginning of the month, they introduced
their own tariffs within minutes of the US ones coming
into effects. The problem is, there aren't a lot of
things that China can put tariffs on, So the best
thing that it can do here while all this is
going on is try and boost its own domestic economy.
It's what known as the two Sessions coming up next week,

(01:30:25):
which is the annual meeting of the Chinese legislature. They're
going to focus on the economy and trying to find
ways of boosting the local economy. This will be the
best way of trying to counter all these actions. Trump's
talking about other things as well. He wants Mexico to
put tariffs on Chinese goods because some countries are rerouting

(01:30:47):
their products through Mexico, and is also threatening to put
a tariff on any Chinese made ship that docks anywhere
in the US. Now, as he does that, that's going
to have a huge, huge impact on international trade and
relations with not just China, but with a host of
other countries as well. So it seems that, you know,

(01:31:09):
China may be the main target of all these tariffs
because Trump is certainly ramping up the pressure at the moment.

Speaker 3 (01:31:17):
Certainly is Thank you so much for that, Peter, A
very comprehensive wrap from you. Peter Lewis our Asia business
correspondent with US with the ladies from the region. Just
gone seventeen minutes away from seven coming up next to
Gavin Gray. Now, don't get sick of Trump. It's not
about Trump. It's about the economic relationship between the countries
that he's currently engaging with. So we've just spoken about China.

(01:31:41):
Coming up next, we're going to talk about the UK.
We know that there's been talk or threats of tariffs.
He's done it to the EU. He hasn't done it
to the UK. They don't have a trade surplus with
the Brits at the moment, but what he is talking
about now is potentially a trade deal, which is a
completely different prospect. Indeed, Gavin Gray next, whether it's.

Speaker 1 (01:32:04):
Macro micro or just playing economics, it's all on the
business hours with Ryan Bridge and Mayor's insurance and investments,
Grow your wealth, protect your future.

Speaker 3 (01:32:15):
He's talksv thirteen minutes away from seven. Gavin Gray's a
UK correspondent, Gavin Good evening.

Speaker 2 (01:32:22):
Hi there right.

Speaker 3 (01:32:22):
I've got to say I've been a little skeptical about Starma,
but he is. What a performance he put on. We're
calling him Starma charmer or charmer Starma over here at
the White House, very shrewd, playing to Trump's ego, all
of those things, and potentially a trade deal or talks
of one at least.

Speaker 24 (01:32:40):
Yes, I'm a very interesting press conference to pair. Held
for nearly thirty minutes. He and of course Donald Trump.
There was talk about Ukraine. He didn't get his way.
I don't think on that very much. He's offering to
send troops, but he wants American air cover. The President
sounded very dubious about that, suggesting Europe provided, but on

(01:33:01):
trade much much more upbeat, and sakist Armer arrived with
the sort of major gift, which is a second state
visit to the UK by Donald Trump. That would be unprecedented.
I think he definitely played his ego there. Immediately Trump
said he would come and describe the king as a
wonderful man, and what a great honor it would be.

(01:33:22):
He's a huge raph fan, So yeah, Sakis Stamer took
that knowing that that would go down extremely well. But
he let the President do most of the talking and
certainly seem to be getting on pretty well with him.
They are so different people, they're real chalk and cheese.
But I think sakis Starmer had learned to play, as
you said, a bit to his ego, and this talk

(01:33:43):
about a trade deal would be a huge relief. They've
been talking about this trade deal now for years and
years and years, and when Joe Biden took over the
administration it seemed to be even further away. He seemed
to go the other way. But Donald Trump, I think,
very keen to get a trade deal. But what is
the UK going to have to give in in order
to get that, and will it mean that we don't

(01:34:04):
have to suffer from the tariffs, which he's holding over
as some kind of threat to the EU and also
partially to the UK.

Speaker 3 (01:34:10):
Yeah, these second busiest airport in London and courses getwork.
It's going to be allowed to expand to two simultaneously
functioning runways given.

Speaker 24 (01:34:21):
Yeah, so the government has made since July a big
pledge of getting growth going in the UK. We really
haven't had substantial growth and they say we're.

Speaker 2 (01:34:29):
Going to build as well.

Speaker 24 (01:34:30):
And one of these sort of low hanging bits of
fruit there Ryan. In other words, an easy take is
this allowing to use a second runway at Gatwick Airport,
the second busiest runway, second busiest.

Speaker 2 (01:34:43):
Airport in the UK.

Speaker 24 (01:34:45):
It's just to the south of London. It already has
two runways, but it only operates as a single runway airport.
So that's why I describe it as the easy option.
The northern runway is currently only used for taxiing or
as a backup, so it wouldn't take a huge amount
to make it operational, say within the next five years.

(01:35:05):
It's a huge plan, costing well over five billion New
Zealand dollars, but we're not there yet. It still requires
planning permission, some MPs are against it. Of course, even
within the government's own party local authorities, the local councilors
are against some of them. And indeed it will still
have to get this planning permission through and there'll no

(01:35:26):
doubt be an environmental kickback on that. But this is
seen to be as perhaps one of the most obvious
decisions to make when the government talks about growth, and
in theory, as I mentioned, could be done by the
early twenty thirties.

Speaker 3 (01:35:39):
Interesting, Hey, this Colombian guy who's been caught trying to
smuggle drugs, what's he doing? How's he doing it?

Speaker 24 (01:35:47):
Well, he's effectively taped the drugs to the underside of
a wig and then put the wig on his head
and he's tried to smuggle some eighteen thousand worth and
New Zealand dollars worth of cocaine. However, as we probably
all could say, Ryan, we've seen some very convincing wigs,
and then we've seen some not so convincing wigs. And

(01:36:07):
I have to say this man who came from the
Raphael Nunez International Airport flying into Amsterdam, Netherlands, had perhaps
the least convincing wig I've seen the forty year old
attempted to board the plane and footage shows him being
talked to by police, showing the wig being cut off
from the man's head to reveal nineteen capsules of the substance,

(01:36:30):
weighing some two hundred and twenty grams worth of cocaine.
He's been arrested on suspicion of trafficking and no doubt
the Dutch authority is very pleased to be keeping that
drug out of their nation.

Speaker 3 (01:36:41):
Certainly given and always always buy the good wig. I
guess this is them all of the story, Kevin Gray,
UK Chorus won and thanks so much for your time, Gevin.
Nine minutes away from seven News Talk Zibby.

Speaker 1 (01:36:53):
It's the hitherto to See Allan Drive full show podcast
on iHeartRadio powered by News Talk Zibby.

Speaker 3 (01:37:01):
What a week six minutes away from seven before we
go today, just a quick update on the Jeff Bezos front,
the billionaire who owns Amazon. He also owns the spaceflight
company Blue Origin and they are sending an all female
flight up into space. Who's going? I hear you asking?
Katie Perry, the pop singer, Gail King, Lauren Sanchez, Aischabao,

(01:37:26):
Amanda Neunion, and Carrie Anne Flynn. I know two of
those people, so there you go. Actually is it one
of them his wife or his new wife? I think
one of them might be, So there you go. They're
going to go up in Blue Origin's eleventh Human Voyage.
It's going to be an all female ship into space

(01:37:47):
and that'd be fun. Little girl's weekend away.

Speaker 8 (01:37:50):
Yeah, I was gonna say, I'd probab married you bok.
I'm and I got go to space as well, and
money'd be nice too. Superstylin by groov Armada to play
us out tonight Ryan Arden's Music Festival. It's actually happening
right now in Auckland at the Auckland to Main and
it's a two day festival. So tonight Wilkinson nineteen ninety
ninety one culture shop people for generally kind of the
younger audience, and then tomorrow is the stuff for the

(01:38:13):
older audience. We've got groovar Mada too many DJs and
Robin s as well.

Speaker 2 (01:38:16):
We'll all be playing.

Speaker 3 (01:38:17):
Sounds, good love, a bit of groover of Marta. Thank
you and thank you everybody for listening for all of
your texts and your feedback. It's been a great week
we'll see you on Monday.

Speaker 25 (01:38:31):
So we dropped on the line one time lyric and
mustake on your mark to this your spirit on your mind.

Speaker 12 (01:39:04):
Tom maybe that's.

Speaker 6 (01:39:25):
We're like, we're like.

Speaker 2 (01:39:30):
And indeed on slogating and we begin throwing them in
this center.

Speaker 12 (01:39:35):
They watched me with him, Watch the way we drop
it in a mixed time rise and amplifying.

Speaker 25 (01:39:43):
Then we're coming with these wings, just trying arm and
it climb into position with things. So life from Ata
getto with maximising some of the googama that was.

Speaker 12 (01:39:58):
So fustil

Speaker 1 (01:40:39):
For more from Hither Duplessy Alan Drive, listen live to
news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio

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