The Finance Minister has called Wellington City Council a 'shambles'.
The City Council is having to look at its 10 year budget again after a vote last week to reverse its airport shares sale.
It’s having to find cuts as the decision leaves a gap estimated to be worth hundreds of millions.
Nicola Willis says the Local Government Minister’s watching the situation closely.
"There are a number of options that he has - you often hear people talking about a commissioner, but there are things other than a commissioner that he can do."
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'll get you across the one News very in poll
just out. So National is sitting on thirty seven percent.
That's down one. Labour is on twenty nine percent, that's
down one. The Greens are on twelve, that's up one.
Actors on eight up one. New Zealand first on five,
down one, Tiptimari is on four, and Top is on
three up two. Now in the preferred prime minister stakes,
(00:22):
Chris Luxen twenty five percent, down three, Chris Hopkins fifteen percent,
down three, and weird Legisin Daardun has registered at one percent,
eight past six. Heller killer Will it's our finance minister
is with us now, Hey, Nikola, Hi, Heather, Yeah, it's
not flash a a year in. Those are not really
numbers to be kind of crowing about, are they.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Ah, we'll look, they're there or thereabouts. If there was
an election tomorrow based on those numbers, New Zealander would
elect the same government right right now? No?
Speaker 1 (00:50):
True? But why is Chris Luxan only on twenty five percent?
What's going on? Oh?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, look, as he has said, he's not focused on
those numbers they bounce up and down. He's focused on
delivery results for New Zealanders, and I look at three
key metrics that we set for ourselves that really matter.
One is are we getting a little on inflation? Answer? Yes,
down to three point three and we'll see if it
goes lower this week. Are we getting interest rates down? Yes,
(01:15):
they've dropped seventy five basis points and they have come
lower faster than many were forecasting. And our business is
feeling more confident about the future of the economy. Yes,
they are so. Our plan is showing progress. But I
will be the first to admit that it has been
a tough year for the New Zealand economy. We inherited
(01:35):
a real mess. We're getting on with what we said
we would and we're making progress.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Yeah, and you're not getting rewards for it. So when
do you start getting the popularity rewards in the polls it?
Do you think when the economy picks up?
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yes, I do. I think when New Zealanders start feeling
in their own household that things are getting a bit better,
when they start switching themselves onto lower mortgage rates, when
they notice that grocery prices are rising as fast as
they were, when they start feeling more confident about their
job and their future then you see that flowing through
(02:09):
into their reflections on the government. And we're working really
hard across the board to get results, and I'm confident
that the changes we're making at pace will deliver results.
Whether that's increased educational achievement in our schools with our
structured literacy approach and our stricter approach to maths, whether
that's making sure we're getting those waiting less times down
(02:29):
in our health system. Even the emergency housing numbers. You know,
that's something that I think was a scourge on the country.
We had literally thousands of children living in motel rooms
for the first time in years. We've now got that
lower than a thousand. So these things are starting to
show progress, but we want to see that accelerate. And
as new Zealanders see that, I think their support for
(02:52):
the government will grow as well.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Okay, are you on board with David Seymore's foreign investment
rule changes?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Why is it going to take so long then to
do it? I mean he's talking about passing the law
at the end of next year.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah, that's right. Look, this is a detailed area of law.
We need to get it right because the point is
to say to people overseas who might be interested in
investors land, whether that's in a power generation scheme, a factory,
a business. Here are the rules, here's how they work.
Please come and give us your money and create New
(03:26):
Zealand jobs and incomes. Making sure those rules are clear,
well understood and achieve what we want them to achieve
requires attention to detail. That's what he's doing. To be
fair to him, he has already made some pretty quick
changes to make sure that the processing times at the
Overseas Investment Office have been able to speed up, and
(03:46):
that's apparently already had quite a practical effect for many investors.
But this is something he's working hard to get right.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
So do we know that there are investors who want
to spend their money here, want to invest here?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Absolutely. Look the Prime Minister never returns from a visit
overseas without telling us about the investors he sat down with,
who just say, look, we look at New Zealand and
we see a great country with big prospects. But what
they want to invent institutions. Well, they're interested in the
areas where they can see growth happening. So renewable energy generation,
(04:21):
for example, they can see that that's something there's going
to be more demand for. They look at our food industry.
They see that we have successful farmers, but they also
see that there's more value we can be creating from
that New Zealand food and aquaculture story. Some of them
look at the forestry industry and see potential not only
for forestry, but for how do we make more out
(04:43):
of manufacturing those products to deliver more value. Some of
them look at New Zealand's smaller tech firms and they
see exciting things happening, and they can see that there's
often they're under capitalized. There's not a lot of competition
to invest in firms, and they think, well, maybe we
could be the next ones to envy. So Zero I.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Change the rules, like he says, and we get this
little past at the end of next year, floodgates open.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
No, because our judgment no a significant boost because our
judgment is we want to see investment flowing in that
benefits New Zealanders through better paid jobs, better and comes
more opportunities. And we think the policy settings right now
are holding back wage growth, they're holding back the ability
(05:29):
of any of our businesses to grow. So the mark
of success for our reforms will be Is it easier
for international investors to put their money here? And we
want to make sure that it is And you should
see that pretty much straight away.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Cool. I'm pleased to hear. Now, did we retrou fit
the money when when we bought the thing a commercial
vessel from Norway? Did we put water tight compartments in
it before we made it a warship or whatever ship
it was here.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
That I haven't been briefed on that operational detail, so
I can't give you an answer on it. What I
know is that the Defense Force operate with the expectation
that their vessels are up to performance, that they're well
maintained and can deliver on the function for which they're
procured for.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Yeah, the reason I'm asking it is because Ron Markho
was the former Defense minister who bought the things, suggested
that that didn't happen. That would be remarkable if that
didn't happen. Right.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Well, look, that's really a question for Judith Collins. But
as she has said, we've got this special Commission of Inquiry.
We'll look at what were the circumstances that lead to
that ship?
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Thinking how much is it going to cost to clean
the place up.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I don't have a figure on that. What I do
know is that we have a small amount of insurance
to cover those clean up costs and environmental effects if
there are any. And obviously so you must have freaked discussion.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
I mean you must have seen this happen and gone,
oh no, because we're broke already and now it's just
more stuff to pay for.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Quite honestly, Heather, I locked and I just had my
head in my mouth because I thought, thank goodness, those
people are safe, because if that had been a national
tragedy where young Navy officers had lost their lives, that
would have been a far far true.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
I mean, glass half full, I totally get it. Has
anybody said to you whether this is going to be
more expensive or less expensive than the arena cleanup?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
No, they haven't. But what I have been briefed on
is that actually this is so far a lot more
straightforward than that, and that we don't have any leakage
occurring at present.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Listen on Wellington City Council. Are we yet at the
stage where the government intervens.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Well, it's a shambles and the fact that the long
term plan is now having to go back to the
drawing board, that it's already one of the most highly
biggest increases in rates in the country, That Wellingtonians are
sort of despairing about the council's focus on itself rather
than the people it's meant to serve. Those are all
factors that I'm certainly concerned about, and I know that
(07:59):
the Minister for Local Government, Simeon Brown, is concerned about.
He is watching the situation very closely, and he has
a number of options under the Local Government Act.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Is he going to use those options now or is
he going to wait until I think it's May next
year when they are likely to have another crack at
the long term.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Plan A Well, look, he will be taking advice on
that himself and making his own judgments about that. Under
the Local Government Act, there are a number of options
that he has. You often hear people talking about a commissioner,
but there are things other than a commissioner that he
can do and sound take my advice on that.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
You're making it sound like a Crown monitor. Maybe a
consideration right now?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Well, I know, as I say, being upfront with you,
I know that Simeon Brown shares my concerns that we
have what appears to be not a very functional counsel
in Wellington right now, we take that pretty seriously. He's
looking carefully at that situation, taking advice on it and
if there is an action that the government can and
show sensibly take, then will be prepared to brilliant.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Hey, Nicolas, thank you very much, really appreciate your time.
As always, talked to again next week. That's Nicola Willis,
Finance Minister. For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen
live to news Talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
I'll get you across the one News very in poll
just out. So National is sitting on thirty seven percent.
That's down one. Labour is on twenty nine percent, that's
down one. The Greens are on twelve, that's up one.
Actors on eight up one. New Zealand first on five,
down one, Tiptimari is on four, and Top is on
three up two. Now in the preferred prime minister stakes,
(00:22):
Chris Luxen twenty five percent, down three, Chris Hopkins fifteen percent,
down three, and weird Legisin Daardun has registered at one percent,
eight past six. Heller killer Will it's our finance minister
is with us now, Hey, Nikola, Hi, Heather, Yeah, it's
not flash a a year in. Those are not really
numbers to be kind of crowing about, are they.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Ah, we'll look, they're there or thereabouts. If there was
an election tomorrow based on those numbers, New Zealander would
elect the same government right right now? No?
Speaker 1 (00:50):
True? But why is Chris Luxan only on twenty five percent?
What's going on? Oh?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, look, as he has said, he's not focused on
those numbers they bounce up and down. He's focused on
delivery results for New Zealanders, and I look at three
key metrics that we set for ourselves that really matter.
One is are we getting a little on inflation? Answer? Yes,
down to three point three and we'll see if it
goes lower this week. Are we getting interest rates down? Yes,
(01:15):
they've dropped seventy five basis points and they have come
lower faster than many were forecasting. And our business is
feeling more confident about the future of the economy. Yes,
they are so. Our plan is showing progress. But I
will be the first to admit that it has been
a tough year for the New Zealand economy. We inherited
(01:35):
a real mess. We're getting on with what we said
we would and we're making progress.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Yeah, and you're not getting rewards for it. So when
do you start getting the popularity rewards in the polls it?
Do you think when the economy picks up?
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yes, I do. I think when New Zealanders start feeling
in their own household that things are getting a bit better,
when they start switching themselves onto lower mortgage rates, when
they notice that grocery prices are rising as fast as
they were, when they start feeling more confident about their
job and their future then you see that flowing through
(02:09):
into their reflections on the government. And we're working really
hard across the board to get results, and I'm confident
that the changes we're making at pace will deliver results.
Whether that's increased educational achievement in our schools with our
structured literacy approach and our stricter approach to maths, whether
that's making sure we're getting those waiting less times down
(02:29):
in our health system. Even the emergency housing numbers. You know,
that's something that I think was a scourge on the country.
We had literally thousands of children living in motel rooms
for the first time in years. We've now got that
lower than a thousand. So these things are starting to
show progress, but we want to see that accelerate. And
as new Zealanders see that, I think their support for
(02:52):
the government will grow as well.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Okay, are you on board with David Seymore's foreign investment
rule changes?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Why is it going to take so long then to
do it? I mean he's talking about passing the law
at the end of next year.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah, that's right. Look, this is a detailed area of law.
We need to get it right because the point is
to say to people overseas who might be interested in
investors land, whether that's in a power generation scheme, a factory,
a business. Here are the rules, here's how they work.
Please come and give us your money and create New
(03:26):
Zealand jobs and incomes. Making sure those rules are clear,
well understood and achieve what we want them to achieve
requires attention to detail. That's what he's doing. To be
fair to him, he has already made some pretty quick
changes to make sure that the processing times at the
Overseas Investment Office have been able to speed up, and
(03:46):
that's apparently already had quite a practical effect for many investors.
But this is something he's working hard to get right.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
So do we know that there are investors who want
to spend their money here, want to invest here?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Absolutely. Look the Prime Minister never returns from a visit
overseas without telling us about the investors he sat down with,
who just say, look, we look at New Zealand and
we see a great country with big prospects. But what
they want to invent institutions. Well, they're interested in the
areas where they can see growth happening. So renewable energy generation,
(04:21):
for example, they can see that that's something there's going
to be more demand for. They look at our food industry.
They see that we have successful farmers, but they also
see that there's more value we can be creating from
that New Zealand food and aquaculture story. Some of them
look at the forestry industry and see potential not only
for forestry, but for how do we make more out
(04:43):
of manufacturing those products to deliver more value. Some of
them look at New Zealand's smaller tech firms and they
see exciting things happening, and they can see that there's
often they're under capitalized. There's not a lot of competition
to invest in firms, and they think, well, maybe we
could be the next ones to envy. So Zero I.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Change the rules, like he says, and we get this
little past at the end of next year, floodgates open.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
No, because our judgment no a significant boost because our
judgment is we want to see investment flowing in that
benefits New Zealanders through better paid jobs, better and comes
more opportunities. And we think the policy settings right now
are holding back wage growth, they're holding back the ability
(05:29):
of any of our businesses to grow. So the mark
of success for our reforms will be Is it easier
for international investors to put their money here? And we
want to make sure that it is And you should
see that pretty much straight away.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Cool. I'm pleased to hear. Now, did we retrou fit
the money when when we bought the thing a commercial
vessel from Norway? Did we put water tight compartments in
it before we made it a warship or whatever ship
it was here.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
That I haven't been briefed on that operational detail, so
I can't give you an answer on it. What I
know is that the Defense Force operate with the expectation
that their vessels are up to performance, that they're well
maintained and can deliver on the function for which they're
procured for.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Yeah, the reason I'm asking it is because Ron Markho
was the former Defense minister who bought the things, suggested
that that didn't happen. That would be remarkable if that
didn't happen. Right.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Well, look, that's really a question for Judith Collins. But
as she has said, we've got this special Commission of Inquiry.
We'll look at what were the circumstances that lead to
that ship?
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Thinking how much is it going to cost to clean
the place up.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I don't have a figure on that. What I do
know is that we have a small amount of insurance
to cover those clean up costs and environmental effects if
there are any. And obviously so you must have freaked discussion.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
I mean you must have seen this happen and gone,
oh no, because we're broke already and now it's just
more stuff to pay for.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Quite honestly, Heather, I locked and I just had my
head in my mouth because I thought, thank goodness, those
people are safe, because if that had been a national
tragedy where young Navy officers had lost their lives, that
would have been a far far true.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
I mean, glass half full, I totally get it. Has
anybody said to you whether this is going to be
more expensive or less expensive than the arena cleanup?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
No, they haven't. But what I have been briefed on
is that actually this is so far a lot more
straightforward than that, and that we don't have any leakage
occurring at present.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Listen on Wellington City Council. Are we yet at the
stage where the government intervens.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Well, it's a shambles and the fact that the long
term plan is now having to go back to the
drawing board, that it's already one of the most highly
biggest increases in rates in the country, That Wellingtonians are
sort of despairing about the council's focus on itself rather
than the people it's meant to serve. Those are all
factors that I'm certainly concerned about, and I know that
(07:59):
the Minister for Local Government, Simeon Brown, is concerned about.
He is watching the situation very closely, and he has
a number of options under the Local Government Act.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Is he going to use those options now or is
he going to wait until I think it's May next
year when they are likely to have another crack at
the long term.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Plan A Well, look, he will be taking advice on
that himself and making his own judgments about that. Under
the Local Government Act, there are a number of options
that he has. You often hear people talking about a commissioner,
but there are things other than a commissioner that he
can do and sound take my advice on that.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
You're making it sound like a Crown monitor. Maybe a
consideration right now?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Well, I know, as I say, being upfront with you,
I know that Simeon Brown shares my concerns that we
have what appears to be not a very functional counsel
in Wellington right now, we take that pretty seriously. He's
looking carefully at that situation, taking advice on it and
if there is an action that the government can and
show sensibly take, then will be prepared to brilliant.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Hey, Nicolas, thank you very much, really appreciate your time.
As always, talked to again next week. That's Nicola Willis,
Finance Minister. For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen
live to news Talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.