October 29, 2025 • 10 mins
Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
Bill Gates has cautioned against the 'doomsday' view on climate change and claimed there's more urgent things to worry about. Do we agree with the calls for calm?
Education Minister Erica Stanford unveiled some new changes to the social sciences off the back of the maths and English updates - and some educators have voiced concerns? Do they have a point - or is this just a fear of change?
Labour's capital gains tax has spent a full day in the public arena - do we think this will impact their changes of getting back into Government?
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):
Twenty one away from six the Huddle with New Zealand
Southeby's International Realty. Find your one of a.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Kind on the Huddle with me.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
This evening we have Morris Williams, an Auckland councilor, and
Jack Tame, host of Q and A and Saturday Mornings
here on z B. Hello you too. Yeah, how refreshing
Morris is.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
Bill Gates, Oh, it's fantastic. I love the man and
I think he's just saying, let's put it in proportion
instead of it being the we're all doomed and we're
all going to die and the world's coming to an end,
because that's how it was being portrayed at some point. Yes,
we've got to do things. Yes, we've got to do
things that make sense. Yes, science will actually allow us
(00:38):
to change how much an animal farts and so on.
But let's actually just not sort of run into the
dark room and think it's all coming to an end, Morris.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
For somebody like you who is in a position like
Auckland Council, is this going to help you? Like the
fact that there are more and more people coming out
and say whoa like this needs to just we need
to calm our farm on this, and people like Bill
Gates is this it's going to help you to be
able to resist some of the nuttier ideas that you
come up against that council level.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
I'd hope so. I'd hope so, because in the end,
one of the facts that I quite use regularly is
that if New Zealand was to disappear off the planet
tomorrow and not be here, then in twelve days time,
just the growth and the missions in China, India and
the Middle East alone would have made up for the
entire emissions of New Zealand. So we'd be back to
(01:26):
exactly where we were in twelve days time. So we
could wipe New Zealand completely off the planet and it
would make no difference. Yeah, I'm not saying we shouldn't
do things. We should do things that are sensible, should
do things that are in the cost benefit ratios in
terms of it, And there's lots that can be done.
But let's not sort of sort of flagellate ourselves and
wear a hair shirt.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Now, Jack, do you remember what we were talking about
last week?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
A climate change?
Speaker 3 (01:51):
You and I were talking about climate change and how
the thing just has to kind of swing wildly to
one side and the other and then settle in the middle.
This is more of us just settling in the middle,
isn't it. Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I think so. Actually, Yeah, I mean, I think, having
breathed through Bill Gates's comments, I think for the most part,
he is, you know, pretty reasonably coming down to kind
of a practical response point. I mean, it's true that
if we blow through one point five to go is warming,
which I think pretty clearly we have, It's not like
the world is going to end. I still think there
(02:23):
is a wealth of evidence that suggests that the more
warming we see, the greater the impacts, and I think
it is in humanity's collective interest to try and reduce
those impacts as much as possible. But you know, I
think it's also pretty clear that that there are all
manner of crises facing the planet, you know, in the
(02:45):
immediacy of this moment, and it's pretty natural that human
beings want to respond to those as well. So yeah, yeah,
I think for the most party reason.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Jack, there will be you will have friends, right because
you've got some You've got some lefty friends. You will
have friends who genuinely will be upset with him. For
saying that it's not going to wipe out humanity right
there are people who actually believe it's an existential crisis
for humans.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Right here.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
I don't have any friends, full stop. I don't have
many friends, full stop. So I'm sure that I'm sure
there are people who think that it is a looming
existential crisis. Absolutely, And I think if global warming were
at the absolute top end of you know, some of
the early initial estimates, you know, if we're looking at
five or six degrees, there's arguments that can be made that,
(03:30):
you know, c currents are irreversibly changed, or bees die
or whatever, that that could lead to an existential crisis.
I don't think we're facing an existential crisis anytime soon.
And there'll be some people who say that Bill Gates
saying this will distract us from the immediate priority of
reducing emissions. I go back to my first point. I
think Bill Gates would agree that the more we can
reduce warming, the better for all of us, the better
(03:52):
for the state of our species. But the mere fact
that we've gone through one point five doesn't mean that we.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Are all doomed.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
No, not at all all. Right, Listen, I want to Morris,
you're loving this as much as me I can tell. Right,
we're going to discuss the teachers next stand By sixteen
away from Sex.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
The Huddle with New Zealand Southeby's International Realty, the global
leader in luxury real.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Estate fourteen away from six Back with the Huddle, Morris
Williams and Jack Tay Morris. What's up with the teachers
and they're winging over the curriculum.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
I look, it's disappointing, but I guess everybody feels sort
of nervous about change. I think when Erica did the
maths and the English stuff, there was the same level
of Oh, we don't want this, and this is too
much and we are not equipped for it. And she
made it clear that if proper resources were made available,
and if professional learning and development was given to every
one of the teachers so they could participate in it promptly.
(04:45):
I now, I think that's gone exceedingly well and good honor.
I think she's one of the best ministers this government's
got by far, and good on and now to start
extending it into things like history, for example, and start
to teach history across the board, history including a bit
of internettional history as well well done, and I just
think as long as the teachers are resourced for it,
they sent on a professional sinning and development so they
(05:07):
can teach it and the resource materials there, then they
really should just get with the program. Jack.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I think it's just really hard to separate the criticisms
from the context. And by that I mean we're in
the middle of industrial action for starters, so the relationship
between the teacher unions and the government's not exactly in
a great place. But as an outsider, I also find
it really tricky to distinguish legitimate criticisms from what sometimes
(05:34):
feel like reactive opposition to a national government. But when
was the last time like the teachers or teacher unions
came out and said that a national league government was
doing something good. And that's not to say that their
criticisms of the curriculum are all unfounded, because I'm sure
there are some legitimate criticisms or concerns and all of this,
But from an outsider's perspective, it does feel like the
(05:57):
teacher unions always criticize national lead government, you know, policy decisions,
and as a result, it's quite difficult to distinguish what
might be good, well founded legitimate criticisms from some stuff
that feels more politically motivated.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
You mean, like when the pe teachers complained that the
new curriculum has too much physical activity in it.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Well, essentially, yeah, do you know an another thing?
Speaker 4 (06:24):
I always remember New Zealand and.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
After I am, after they announced the new qualification, and look,
we haven't seen all the meat on the bone with
a new qualification. But I just went through the archive
and looked up what the teaching and said about NCAA
when that was reduced. And of course when that was introduced,
they were really critical of nca and they were like,
this is a terrible change, this is going to be
a disaster. And now of course that NCAA is being
(06:48):
replaced with a new qualification, they're saying, no, NCAA is great,
like this is all this isn't necessarily good. And so
my point is just that like if it's from time
to time the teachers came out and said, actually, year,
this National government lead decision is a really good thing
and this is going to improve educational outcome, then I
would find some of their criticisms a little bit founder.
(07:10):
Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I hear you. I hear you now, Marris, what do
you make of Chippy making it personal with Luxel? I
mean that was with a CGT. That was probably always
going to happen, wasn't it, because he is very wealthy.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
I'm one of these people who think if you have
to make anything in politics personal, then you've lost the debate.
I only ever got thrown out of Parliament once in
my whole thirty years, and that's because I didn't wear
a tie on Wellington's tireleist day. I never got stuck
into people about anything to do with their personal lives
or anything else, and you can check my record on
But if you've got a good debate, then you've got
(07:41):
really good facts to back up your debate. Then use
them and prove what's wrong about the other side or
what's good about yours. Get into the personal stuff, you've
just lost the debate in my view.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
I thought of you yesterday, Jack, because I know you
love a CGT. So how'd you feel? Was it a
happy day.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
A CDT? I don't know.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
You do know that one of your most famous moments
on the show was predates me. It was when the
CG your discussion with laz about the CGT and he'd
never seen the text machine go go mad like that.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Because you were, well, I mean, I do think there
is a reasonable argument that you could say that the
New Zealand tax system is relatively well balanced, but that
we tax almost all forms of income except for one.
And I think if productivity is the big problem that
New Zealand governments have, successive governments have face and have
sworn that they would fax, then at the very least
(08:37):
bringing us in line with other countries when it comes
to a CGT is worth considering. That being said, I
reckon the policy yesterday was about as safe as my
statement just then, and that I don't think at first Lush,
it looks like it's going to meaningfully move the dial
in any direction.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
That's how it works.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Yeah, exactly. Well, well this is the thing though, right
like they'll just come out and say, yeah, we're not
going to extend, we're committing to non extending it in
our first term or whatever, and try and blunt those criticisms.
I just don't think from solely from a political perspective,
that it's meaningfully going to cost them massive numbers of votes,
meaningfully're going to win the massive numbers of votes or
meaningfully going to change these other's productivity equation in the
(09:18):
short term.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
What do you reckon, Morris? Do you reckon New Zealand's
ready to love it? Because the people in Wellington keep
on texting me and not on New Zealand's ready for
a CGT people love it? I don't know.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
I don't. I don't think they love it at all.
And I think if you're one of these lawyers in
the property area, you can drive a tractor through this.
I mean, first, what's the definition of a family home?
What if you're just living with the person rather than married,
And that's very popular these days. They own a house
and you own a house, which is which? So do
(09:46):
you have to actually dwell it? And then they have
to have government inspectors to come and make sure you're
living in that house and not just saying it. I
mean you can divorce your husband and both own a
property in the future, and in the end one of
your kids, if they're old enough, can own the property
of what? And then how do you accommodate all the
money you've spent on maintenance and improvements over the years.
Now it says you can have that deducted who keeps
(10:09):
all the bloody receipts?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
We all are now, aren't we?
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Though?
Speaker 3 (10:13):
That's going to happen to reduce that text.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
I thought, if you're ever going to launch a new policy,
that has got to be the Titanic of all policy launchers.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Yeah, they are the distinct faces on yesterday for sure.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Guys.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
It's wonderful to talk to you. Thank you, Jack and Morris.
The huddle this evening seven away from six.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
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
Twenty one away from six the Huddle with New Zealand
Southeby's International Realty. Find your one of a.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Kind on the Huddle with me.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
This evening we have Morris Williams, an Auckland councilor, and
Jack Tame, host of Q and A and Saturday Mornings
here on z B. Hello you too. Yeah, how refreshing
Morris is.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
Bill Gates, Oh, it's fantastic. I love the man and
I think he's just saying, let's put it in proportion
instead of it being the we're all doomed and we're
all going to die and the world's coming to an end,
because that's how it was being portrayed at some point. Yes,
we've got to do things. Yes, we've got to do
things that make sense. Yes, science will actually allow us
(00:38):
to change how much an animal farts and so on.
But let's actually just not sort of run into the
dark room and think it's all coming to an end, Morris.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
For somebody like you who is in a position like
Auckland Council, is this going to help you? Like the
fact that there are more and more people coming out
and say whoa like this needs to just we need
to calm our farm on this, and people like Bill
Gates is this it's going to help you to be
able to resist some of the nuttier ideas that you
come up against that council level.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
I'd hope so. I'd hope so, because in the end,
one of the facts that I quite use regularly is
that if New Zealand was to disappear off the planet
tomorrow and not be here, then in twelve days time,
just the growth and the missions in China, India and
the Middle East alone would have made up for the
entire emissions of New Zealand. So we'd be back to
(01:26):
exactly where we were in twelve days time. So we
could wipe New Zealand completely off the planet and it
would make no difference. Yeah, I'm not saying we shouldn't
do things. We should do things that are sensible, should
do things that are in the cost benefit ratios in
terms of it, And there's lots that can be done.
But let's not sort of sort of flagellate ourselves and
wear a hair shirt.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Now, Jack, do you remember what we were talking about
last week?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
A climate change?
Speaker 3 (01:51):
You and I were talking about climate change and how
the thing just has to kind of swing wildly to
one side and the other and then settle in the middle.
This is more of us just settling in the middle,
isn't it. Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I think so. Actually, Yeah, I mean, I think, having
breathed through Bill Gates's comments, I think for the most part,
he is, you know, pretty reasonably coming down to kind
of a practical response point. I mean, it's true that
if we blow through one point five to go is warming,
which I think pretty clearly we have, It's not like
the world is going to end. I still think there
(02:23):
is a wealth of evidence that suggests that the more
warming we see, the greater the impacts, and I think
it is in humanity's collective interest to try and reduce
those impacts as much as possible. But you know, I
think it's also pretty clear that that there are all
manner of crises facing the planet, you know, in the
(02:45):
immediacy of this moment, and it's pretty natural that human
beings want to respond to those as well. So yeah, yeah,
I think for the most party reason.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Jack, there will be you will have friends, right because
you've got some You've got some lefty friends. You will
have friends who genuinely will be upset with him. For
saying that it's not going to wipe out humanity right
there are people who actually believe it's an existential crisis
for humans.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Right here.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
I don't have any friends, full stop. I don't have
many friends, full stop. So I'm sure that I'm sure
there are people who think that it is a looming
existential crisis. Absolutely, And I think if global warming were
at the absolute top end of you know, some of
the early initial estimates, you know, if we're looking at
five or six degrees, there's arguments that can be made that,
(03:30):
you know, c currents are irreversibly changed, or bees die
or whatever, that that could lead to an existential crisis.
I don't think we're facing an existential crisis anytime soon.
And there'll be some people who say that Bill Gates
saying this will distract us from the immediate priority of
reducing emissions. I go back to my first point. I
think Bill Gates would agree that the more we can
reduce warming, the better for all of us, the better
(03:52):
for the state of our species. But the mere fact
that we've gone through one point five doesn't mean that we.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Are all doomed.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
No, not at all all. Right, Listen, I want to Morris,
you're loving this as much as me I can tell. Right,
we're going to discuss the teachers next stand By sixteen
away from Sex.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
The Huddle with New Zealand Southeby's International Realty, the global
leader in luxury real.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Estate fourteen away from six Back with the Huddle, Morris
Williams and Jack Tay Morris. What's up with the teachers
and they're winging over the curriculum.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
I look, it's disappointing, but I guess everybody feels sort
of nervous about change. I think when Erica did the
maths and the English stuff, there was the same level
of Oh, we don't want this, and this is too
much and we are not equipped for it. And she
made it clear that if proper resources were made available,
and if professional learning and development was given to every
one of the teachers so they could participate in it promptly.
(04:45):
I now, I think that's gone exceedingly well and good honor.
I think she's one of the best ministers this government's
got by far, and good on and now to start
extending it into things like history, for example, and start
to teach history across the board, history including a bit
of internettional history as well well done, and I just
think as long as the teachers are resourced for it,
they sent on a professional sinning and development so they
(05:07):
can teach it and the resource materials there, then they
really should just get with the program. Jack.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I think it's just really hard to separate the criticisms
from the context. And by that I mean we're in
the middle of industrial action for starters, so the relationship
between the teacher unions and the government's not exactly in
a great place. But as an outsider, I also find
it really tricky to distinguish legitimate criticisms from what sometimes
(05:34):
feel like reactive opposition to a national government. But when
was the last time like the teachers or teacher unions
came out and said that a national league government was
doing something good. And that's not to say that their
criticisms of the curriculum are all unfounded, because I'm sure
there are some legitimate criticisms or concerns and all of this,
But from an outsider's perspective, it does feel like the
(05:57):
teacher unions always criticize national lead government, you know, policy decisions,
and as a result, it's quite difficult to distinguish what
might be good, well founded legitimate criticisms from some stuff
that feels more politically motivated.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
You mean, like when the pe teachers complained that the
new curriculum has too much physical activity in it.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Well, essentially, yeah, do you know an another thing?
Speaker 4 (06:24):
I always remember New Zealand and.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
After I am, after they announced the new qualification, and look,
we haven't seen all the meat on the bone with
a new qualification. But I just went through the archive
and looked up what the teaching and said about NCAA
when that was reduced. And of course when that was introduced,
they were really critical of nca and they were like,
this is a terrible change, this is going to be
a disaster. And now of course that NCAA is being
(06:48):
replaced with a new qualification, they're saying, no, NCAA is great,
like this is all this isn't necessarily good. And so
my point is just that like if it's from time
to time the teachers came out and said, actually, year,
this National government lead decision is a really good thing
and this is going to improve educational outcome, then I
would find some of their criticisms a little bit founder.
(07:10):
Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I hear you. I hear you now, Marris, what do
you make of Chippy making it personal with Luxel? I
mean that was with a CGT. That was probably always
going to happen, wasn't it, because he is very wealthy.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
I'm one of these people who think if you have
to make anything in politics personal, then you've lost the debate.
I only ever got thrown out of Parliament once in
my whole thirty years, and that's because I didn't wear
a tie on Wellington's tireleist day. I never got stuck
into people about anything to do with their personal lives
or anything else, and you can check my record on
But if you've got a good debate, then you've got
(07:41):
really good facts to back up your debate. Then use
them and prove what's wrong about the other side or
what's good about yours. Get into the personal stuff, you've
just lost the debate in my view.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
I thought of you yesterday, Jack, because I know you
love a CGT. So how'd you feel? Was it a
happy day.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
A CDT? I don't know.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
You do know that one of your most famous moments
on the show was predates me. It was when the
CG your discussion with laz about the CGT and he'd
never seen the text machine go go mad like that.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Because you were, well, I mean, I do think there
is a reasonable argument that you could say that the
New Zealand tax system is relatively well balanced, but that
we tax almost all forms of income except for one.
And I think if productivity is the big problem that
New Zealand governments have, successive governments have face and have
sworn that they would fax, then at the very least
(08:37):
bringing us in line with other countries when it comes
to a CGT is worth considering. That being said, I
reckon the policy yesterday was about as safe as my
statement just then, and that I don't think at first Lush,
it looks like it's going to meaningfully move the dial
in any direction.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
That's how it works.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Yeah, exactly. Well, well this is the thing though, right
like they'll just come out and say, yeah, we're not
going to extend, we're committing to non extending it in
our first term or whatever, and try and blunt those criticisms.
I just don't think from solely from a political perspective,
that it's meaningfully going to cost them massive numbers of votes,
meaningfully're going to win the massive numbers of votes or
meaningfully going to change these other's productivity equation in the
(09:18):
short term.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
What do you reckon, Morris? Do you reckon New Zealand's
ready to love it? Because the people in Wellington keep
on texting me and not on New Zealand's ready for
a CGT people love it? I don't know.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
I don't. I don't think they love it at all.
And I think if you're one of these lawyers in
the property area, you can drive a tractor through this.
I mean, first, what's the definition of a family home?
What if you're just living with the person rather than married,
And that's very popular these days. They own a house
and you own a house, which is which? So do
(09:46):
you have to actually dwell it? And then they have
to have government inspectors to come and make sure you're
living in that house and not just saying it. I
mean you can divorce your husband and both own a
property in the future, and in the end one of
your kids, if they're old enough, can own the property
of what? And then how do you accommodate all the
money you've spent on maintenance and improvements over the years.
Now it says you can have that deducted who keeps
(10:09):
all the bloody receipts?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
We all are now, aren't we?
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Though?
Speaker 3 (10:13):
That's going to happen to reduce that text.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
I thought, if you're ever going to launch a new policy,
that has got to be the Titanic of all policy launchers.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Yeah, they are the distinct faces on yesterday for sure.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Guys.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
It's wonderful to talk to you. Thank you, Jack and Morris.
The huddle this evening seven away from six.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
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
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.