December 15, 2025 • 9 mins
Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former Green MP Gareth Hughes joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day!
There was a fatal attack on Bondi Beach last night, with 15 dead and over 40 people injured. What do we think of this? Is this a sign we've normalised anti-Semitism?
The Motor Trade Association is warning that we shouldn't extend WOFs from one to two years. Will this lead to more road-unfit cars on the roads?
James Cameron has said he might not make another Avatar sequel, and he wants the Government to strengthen the film rebate system. Do we really think this is the way to go?
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The huddle with New Zealand Southeby's International Realty and then
you can trust locally and globally.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Huddling tonight. Trish Huson Shuson Willis pr Good evening, Trish, Hi, Ryan,
Gareth hughs is with us two, director of the Wellington
Sorry well Being Economy Alliance ALTEDO and former Green MP.
Good to have you on the show too, Gareth. Good evening.
How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Oh, I'm very good, Thank you very good.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Nice to have you here. Hey, Just a horrible situation
for us to wake up to the news or go
bed to bed last night to the news. Trish, what
do you think when you look at what's happening in
Sydney right now?
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Well, just on a human level, I simply can't understand
how you get to a state in your head where
you think it's going to do anything or change anything,
or is any way you know, the way to go
to go out and just slaughter innocent people.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I mean, it's just at the beach.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
It's just horrible, isn't it. And I think the most
awful thing about what's happened at Bondi is as usual,
these individuals have chosen a really high profile target and
an event because their whole aim is to try and
send a message. And you know it might seem a
little bit kind of wofty and zen, I guess, but
(01:25):
I always think when in situations like this, it's it's
a great example of hatred begets hatred and you know,
nothing good ever comes.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
From it doesn't. And I mean already in Australia they're
talking about migration and they're talking about have we got
the settings right? All that kind of stuff, Gareth, But
just the thing that gets you is the evil, how
evil it is, how dark it feels when somebody can
do that to another person.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Oh, I agree the trish. I can't fathom the thought
process that would lead to that. Absolutely horrible. And it's
that extremeist hate which is driving not only this but
some other shocking events that we've been victims of with
the mosque shooting in the past. And I know the
police commissioner has to say that around you not urging
(02:12):
people to be heroes, but I salute Armed al Ahmed,
Like watching that footage was just incredible. I understand he's
a dad of to himself, is a dad of to
who myself. I can't believe you'd put yourself in touch
harm's way. But what an incredibly brave man.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Now I have to ask you this Gareth as a
former Green MP Chloe Swarbrook has been singled out individually
today by Debra Hart on this program, who's from the
Holocaust Center. Her rhetoric from the River to the Sea,
chanting at rallies. She says that is exactly the type
of rhetoric which encourages bad stuff like this happening. Do
(02:49):
you distance yourself from that?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Well, I wouldn't use those particular words, and I think
it's also very tasteless and I think pretty disgusting the
comments of Benjamin Etana who blaming effectively Australia for their
active Palestinian state recognition. Eighty percent of countries around the
world have done that. The UN has done that since
a resolution in the nineteen seventies. What we need to
(03:13):
do is separate anti Semitism and other forms of discrimination
which have no place in our society. That drives hateful violence.
But the policy choices of a state which is signed
up to international law are two separate things. It's okay
to criticize Israel. Anti Semitism is never okay and I.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Think that's one of the worrying things we've seen how
quickly the conversation around this moves onto a political footing,
which is completely wrong. These are two separate things. This
is a hideous evil act and trying to put a
political overlay on it. No matter what you think about
what's going on in the Middle East, it is not
okay to go and do what happened at BONDOI.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Beats Trishuson and Garethu's on you huddle tonight bo The
Huddle with.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
New Zealand Southeby's International Realty, the only truly global.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Brand talks be is thirteen minutes away from six. Trish
Sharson from Sherson, Willis pr and Garethew's former Green MP
with us tonight. Now the Motor Trade Association is warning
that we shouldn't extend the wafts from one years to
two years one year to two years because we will
have more cars with problems driving around on the streets
(04:25):
and causing issues. Gareth, do you have a problem? I
mean to me, I'm like, sweet, I'll save fifty bucks.
It's about as much as I thought about it. What
do you reckon?
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Well?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
I mean that does sound nice, but I also know
people who have been in terrible car crashes and had
family members die in them. So I mean, what's the
point of a waft. After all, it's about safety. We
drive some of the oldest cars in the developed world.
Our average older car is fifteen years old. I actually
kind of like going to the testing center. They tell
me I forgot to fill the oil, and I should
(04:54):
really do that. But I think, you know, basically we
should be common tent about this. This is about safety.
I see the AA saying that maybe it really should
be based on the amount of distance travel rather than
just the age, which could be seen as a bit
arbitrary for me. At the heart of it, we should
be making these decisions based on safety, not just cost
and productivity. I understand the forecasters that if we make
(05:17):
this change, we could see eight additional fatal car crashes
as the estimate. You know, this is a question about
what we value and that comes at huge cost, more
so than me saving fifty bucks.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I think all great points from Garreth, except I am
a fan of moving it out to two years. I
think probably the people who go and get a WAFT
every year, which is you know, a lot of people,
but they are also the people who probably book their
cars in for at least an annual service, if not
(05:49):
a couple of services. I think there's a huge rump
of people who are driving unregistered, unwarranted cars who this
will completely pass by. But I think for the majority
of people who are regular in getting their WAFT, they're
going to have their car serviced anyway. So I think
that's a mitigation.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Against the organized people.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
The organized people and probably the people who you know,
want to keep their car in good running order, because
ultimately that's going to save the money over time.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Very well true that hey, James Cameron wants some more
money out of us, Gareth, do you ever because thinks
they do create jobs, and the jobs are not just
any old jobs. They're normally quite well paid jobs, and
they give us free publicity by making amazing movies. So
if he says jump, do we say how high?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Well, it's a really tricky one and I think it's
a genuine policy dilemma. On one hand, we're in an
arms race righting against other countries that are also a
lowering that in offering tax rebates and lowering things to
attract them. It's kind of an arms race, and there's
a rest that you're racing to the bottom. But on
the other hand, right, these are high value exports. I
live in Wellington, you know there's I think five hundred
(06:58):
million to the local economy. I know people employed in
the sector. I personally would rather see New Zealand exporting
weightless creative products like films or games than dirty, old,
polluting products. So in other countries you call it industrial strategy.
You actually pick some sectors that you really want to
foster and develop. I would be perfectly happy with video games, movies,
(07:19):
but we need to do a better job of communicating
the actual benefits. That's not clear. So I think there's
a lot of skepticism when Cameron, you know, of course,
in his own self interest, is going to be saying
we need more money. If we're going to do that,
there's another side of the deal. It's got to have
real benefits for local communities.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, and it does. It does. I'm with you. I
actually think you should up it until we can beat
the Australians, which are at thirty percent now apparently true.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Well, I think it's a great area for New Zealand
to focus on, because don't forget now with Lord of
the Rings, we've got almost thirty years of capability at
the very highest end of global movie making. I was
around at the time of the original Lord of the
Rings movies Wellington and my husband was one of the
(08:02):
crew that got his start in filmmaking there and it
was just incredible for those young guys to get a
start on a Hollywood movie and in a highly technical
movie like that, and a lot of them have gone
on and they are now the foundation of the New
Zealand film industry. I think from the government perspective, the
(08:22):
issue is there is a lack of fact and evidence
based out there to say, you know, we are strategically
making this a focus. This is what we know about
its returns to everyone. These are the jobs created. So
I think they need to put the two They need
to decide if it is an industry they want to back,
and then they need to put the pieces of the
puzzle together and sell it.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Ironically, they can't sell the movie story, which is you know,
the industry's filled with people who are selling things. But
I think you're right and the South Koreans are a
great example of this. You know, the demon pop Gareth
you've got kids, haven't you. The dem K Pop Demon
Hunters whatever it's called, the show that the it on Netflix.
Everyone's watching And they did a survey of tourists coming
(09:02):
into South Korek because they've got this massive explosion in
tourism numbers. What are you coming for? Other kids wanted
to come because this is where it's filmed, this is
where it's from, so it has a massive impact. So
I think I think you're right. We need to sell
the story better. Trish, Thank you, Trish hus and Shuston
Willis pr Gareth Hughes, who's the director of the Well
Being Economy Alliance ALTO, and you'll know him as a
(09:23):
former Green MP.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
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
The huddle with New Zealand Southeby's International Realty and then
you can trust locally and globally.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Huddling tonight. Trish Huson Shuson Willis pr Good evening, Trish, Hi, Ryan,
Gareth hughs is with us two, director of the Wellington
Sorry well Being Economy Alliance ALTEDO and former Green MP.
Good to have you on the show too, Gareth. Good evening.
How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Oh, I'm very good, Thank you very good.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Nice to have you here. Hey, Just a horrible situation
for us to wake up to the news or go
bed to bed last night to the news. Trish, what
do you think when you look at what's happening in
Sydney right now?
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Well, just on a human level, I simply can't understand
how you get to a state in your head where
you think it's going to do anything or change anything,
or is any way you know, the way to go
to go out and just slaughter innocent people.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I mean, it's just at the beach.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
It's just horrible, isn't it. And I think the most
awful thing about what's happened at Bondi is as usual,
these individuals have chosen a really high profile target and
an event because their whole aim is to try and
send a message. And you know it might seem a
little bit kind of wofty and zen, I guess, but
(01:25):
I always think when in situations like this, it's it's
a great example of hatred begets hatred and you know,
nothing good ever comes.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
From it doesn't. And I mean already in Australia they're
talking about migration and they're talking about have we got
the settings right? All that kind of stuff, Gareth, But
just the thing that gets you is the evil, how
evil it is, how dark it feels when somebody can
do that to another person.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Oh, I agree the trish. I can't fathom the thought
process that would lead to that. Absolutely horrible. And it's
that extremeist hate which is driving not only this but
some other shocking events that we've been victims of with
the mosque shooting in the past. And I know the
police commissioner has to say that around you not urging
(02:12):
people to be heroes, but I salute Armed al Ahmed,
Like watching that footage was just incredible. I understand he's
a dad of to himself, is a dad of to
who myself. I can't believe you'd put yourself in touch
harm's way. But what an incredibly brave man.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Now I have to ask you this Gareth as a
former Green MP Chloe Swarbrook has been singled out individually
today by Debra Hart on this program, who's from the
Holocaust Center. Her rhetoric from the River to the Sea,
chanting at rallies. She says that is exactly the type
of rhetoric which encourages bad stuff like this happening. Do
(02:49):
you distance yourself from that?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Well, I wouldn't use those particular words, and I think
it's also very tasteless and I think pretty disgusting the
comments of Benjamin Etana who blaming effectively Australia for their
active Palestinian state recognition. Eighty percent of countries around the
world have done that. The UN has done that since
a resolution in the nineteen seventies. What we need to
(03:13):
do is separate anti Semitism and other forms of discrimination
which have no place in our society. That drives hateful violence.
But the policy choices of a state which is signed
up to international law are two separate things. It's okay
to criticize Israel. Anti Semitism is never okay and I.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Think that's one of the worrying things we've seen how
quickly the conversation around this moves onto a political footing,
which is completely wrong. These are two separate things. This
is a hideous evil act and trying to put a
political overlay on it. No matter what you think about
what's going on in the Middle East, it is not
okay to go and do what happened at BONDOI.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Beats Trishuson and Garethu's on you huddle tonight bo The
Huddle with.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
New Zealand Southeby's International Realty, the only truly global.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Brand talks be is thirteen minutes away from six. Trish
Sharson from Sherson, Willis pr and Garethew's former Green MP
with us tonight. Now the Motor Trade Association is warning
that we shouldn't extend the wafts from one years to
two years one year to two years because we will
have more cars with problems driving around on the streets
(04:25):
and causing issues. Gareth, do you have a problem? I
mean to me, I'm like, sweet, I'll save fifty bucks.
It's about as much as I thought about it. What
do you reckon?
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Well?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
I mean that does sound nice, but I also know
people who have been in terrible car crashes and had
family members die in them. So I mean, what's the
point of a waft. After all, it's about safety. We
drive some of the oldest cars in the developed world.
Our average older car is fifteen years old. I actually
kind of like going to the testing center. They tell
me I forgot to fill the oil, and I should
(04:54):
really do that. But I think, you know, basically we
should be common tent about this. This is about safety.
I see the AA saying that maybe it really should
be based on the amount of distance travel rather than
just the age, which could be seen as a bit
arbitrary for me. At the heart of it, we should
be making these decisions based on safety, not just cost
and productivity. I understand the forecasters that if we make
(05:17):
this change, we could see eight additional fatal car crashes
as the estimate. You know, this is a question about
what we value and that comes at huge cost, more
so than me saving fifty bucks.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I think all great points from Garreth, except I am
a fan of moving it out to two years. I
think probably the people who go and get a WAFT
every year, which is you know, a lot of people,
but they are also the people who probably book their
cars in for at least an annual service, if not
(05:49):
a couple of services. I think there's a huge rump
of people who are driving unregistered, unwarranted cars who this
will completely pass by. But I think for the majority
of people who are regular in getting their WAFT, they're
going to have their car serviced anyway. So I think
that's a mitigation.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Against the organized people.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
The organized people and probably the people who you know,
want to keep their car in good running order, because
ultimately that's going to save the money over time.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Very well true that hey, James Cameron wants some more
money out of us, Gareth, do you ever because thinks
they do create jobs, and the jobs are not just
any old jobs. They're normally quite well paid jobs, and
they give us free publicity by making amazing movies. So
if he says jump, do we say how high?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Well, it's a really tricky one and I think it's
a genuine policy dilemma. On one hand, we're in an
arms race righting against other countries that are also a
lowering that in offering tax rebates and lowering things to
attract them. It's kind of an arms race, and there's
a rest that you're racing to the bottom. But on
the other hand, right, these are high value exports. I
live in Wellington, you know there's I think five hundred
(06:58):
million to the local economy. I know people employed in
the sector. I personally would rather see New Zealand exporting
weightless creative products like films or games than dirty, old,
polluting products. So in other countries you call it industrial strategy.
You actually pick some sectors that you really want to
foster and develop. I would be perfectly happy with video games, movies,
(07:19):
but we need to do a better job of communicating
the actual benefits. That's not clear. So I think there's
a lot of skepticism when Cameron, you know, of course,
in his own self interest, is going to be saying
we need more money. If we're going to do that,
there's another side of the deal. It's got to have
real benefits for local communities.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, and it does. It does. I'm with you. I
actually think you should up it until we can beat
the Australians, which are at thirty percent now apparently true.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Well, I think it's a great area for New Zealand
to focus on, because don't forget now with Lord of
the Rings, we've got almost thirty years of capability at
the very highest end of global movie making. I was
around at the time of the original Lord of the
Rings movies Wellington and my husband was one of the
(08:02):
crew that got his start in filmmaking there and it
was just incredible for those young guys to get a
start on a Hollywood movie and in a highly technical
movie like that, and a lot of them have gone
on and they are now the foundation of the New
Zealand film industry. I think from the government perspective, the
(08:22):
issue is there is a lack of fact and evidence
based out there to say, you know, we are strategically
making this a focus. This is what we know about
its returns to everyone. These are the jobs created. So
I think they need to put the two They need
to decide if it is an industry they want to back,
and then they need to put the pieces of the
puzzle together and sell it.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Ironically, they can't sell the movie story, which is you know,
the industry's filled with people who are selling things. But
I think you're right and the South Koreans are a
great example of this. You know, the demon pop Gareth
you've got kids, haven't you. The dem K Pop Demon
Hunters whatever it's called, the show that the it on Netflix.
Everyone's watching And they did a survey of tourists coming
(09:02):
into South Korek because they've got this massive explosion in
tourism numbers. What are you coming for? Other kids wanted
to come because this is where it's filmed, this is
where it's from, so it has a massive impact. So
I think I think you're right. We need to sell
the story better. Trish, Thank you, Trish hus and Shuston
Willis pr Gareth Hughes, who's the director of the Well
Being Economy Alliance ALTO, and you'll know him as a
(09:23):
former Green MP.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
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
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