March 12, 2026 • 9 mins
Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has sparked concerns about the future of the global oil supply, and the Government is looking into solutions in case our supply gets low. Do we need to find an alternative solution - or encourage more people to walk or bike?
New reports show beneficiary numbers have soared to a 12-year high, despite the Government promising a reduction. Do we think things will turn around?
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Huddle with New Zealand Southeby's International Real Team, the
only truly global brand in the.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Huddle of us has even I've got Thomas Scrimger of
the Maximum Institute of Mark Sainsbury broadcast.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Hell are you two today?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thomas? You had all worried about the possibility, as Audrey
Young is, that we may have to start talking about
fuel shortages.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
I'm not too worried about it at this stage. I mean,
the prices have spiked up today and that's already the
first step of rationing. People are going to be driving
less when petrol's over three bucks elevat. But you know,
it's certainly something that could keep coming that. You know,
it's not clear how quickly the fuel crunch will resolve,
and you know, we are at the far end of
the world. It's not going to be first in line
(00:40):
for any fuel deliveries, even though hopefully fingers crossed, those
tankers are on their way. I cycle to work, so
I'm feeling a little less stressed than some people. So
cycling is patriotic, you know, do your bit for the
national security and ride a bike.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Oh my gosh, have you signed up to the Green
Party or something.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
I have not signed up to the Green Party here though,
I'll give you I cycle because I'm a recovering libertarian.
Is it kind of a great deal where you can
buy your bank without paying tax on it. Because we're
saving the planet. You don't have to have a license,
you don't fund hostile foreign powers. It's the libertarian's dream.
Cycling should be picked up by more right wingers.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
I'm loving the unexpected take on cycling. Okay, saying, so
are you buying this? You're going to get into the.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Cycling Well, I'm it's ying and yang on the other
side of the equation. I've got a I took my
car up to Auckland the other week for using a
film the daughters working on, and I think the fee
just covered the gas. It's got a seven liter V
eight and is made in nineteen sixty three. See you
can imagine how efficient. So I'm already paying three bucks
(01:44):
a leader.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Oh mate, have you read of how many Jerry cans
have you got out in the back full of fuel?
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah? Well it's weird, I mean, and of course you
know we don't have the We don't have the backstop
of Marsden, which was ther company's decision. But you know
it's but apparently bit of it.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
But they they got the okay from the government, So
does go back to the government.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Well why does it? Does the government owners or.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
But apparently they didn't. They didn't pull the pin until
they got the nod from from old mate Meghan Megan
Woods who shut down a whole bunch of stuff, shut
that and shut down that one too.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Well, I still go back to all companies that was
their asset. Wasn't a state state asset if they don't
want to run it?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So you know, do you think though? But saying so,
is there a case in something like a strategic like
that you could argue that's a strategic asset, right, like
like in New Zealand? Doesn't Is there a case if
z wants to shut it down that you as the
state step in and you go, okay, you can do
that as a private company will take it over.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
And use it as a as a strategic Yeah, reminery,
most other countries, Most other countries do it.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
I mean, are we finding out Thomas that we've got
that we made a mistake.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Well, the problem with Marsden that it was still refining
crude oil and it's crude oil that's the problem. So
it might have been able to give us a bit
more leeway, and it would have given resilience against a
different kind of problem if the choke point in the
chain was refineries overseas. But if we couldn't bring crude
oil into the country, it wouldn't have made too much difference.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Here.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
We wrong, though, Thomas, because my understanding of it is,
and I might be completely wrong. My understanding is that
with the refined oil, it limits the places we can
get it from. With the crude oil, you can get
it from. You can source it from a wider range. Thereby,
if South Korea cuts you off, it's not as big
a deal.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
But the problem is it's a global market, and the
problem is that prices are spiking at the moment. You
can still buy oil. It's just ludicrously expensive and we'll
be for the while. So even though it gives you
the wider range of places, most times that won't matter
because the price tracks globally, so we can buy as
much as we want. Now we'll just be paying through
the nose to get it.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, the fair point, all right, Well, take a break
that you guys, come back and just the tickets quarter
to two the huddle with.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
New Zealand Southeby's International Realty, a name you can trust
locally and globally.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Right, you're back of the huddle, Mark Sainsbridge. Thomas Scrimger
now saying, so we need to talk about the welfare
numbers because apparently we have thirteen percent of the working
age population on some kind of a benefit. What do
you think of that?
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah, I mean this is the problem, isn't it. I mean,
and the government had promised to going to cut that.
They've been in power two and a half years now
and I see that I'm still blaming the last government,
which may well, I've had so contribution, but there's a
point where you're going to start taking on the chin yourself.
I mean, the numbers that are just exploding because jobs
(04:31):
are disappearing. That's what happened how Wellington's been the last year.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
It look, I'm not an apologist for the government or
the National Party in particular, but I mean it is
hard to blame them, isn't it. Saying zo When you
have a recession which generally causes people to go on
the doll which was caused by Adrian or so it's
not the government's fault.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Yeah, well, then if you go back, was it Jesus's
fault for creating Adan in the first place.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
It's not that ancient history. The dude was in the
job only last year. Jeez.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
But look, but I suppose one sign is these things
are a lot harder to do when people are electioneering.
We're going to be going through it all later on
this year, and there's so many things. It'd be like
when when National launch Think Big, they did that never
thinking they're going to come into power. Then that was
stuck with it when they.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Were Yeah, I suppose I mean something they carry on.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Now I'm just going to say, this is something that
I've sort of promised and and then you just you
can't deliver. It could be all sorts of reasons, but
it's not a great look. Maybe maybe they need to
do some rebounding.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Yeah, well, was that one of their things?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I think.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
I think what it does is it kind of makes
it does make a mockery of a promise to get
people off the doll. But Thomas, the thing here is,
I just wonder if when you look at these numbers
and you look at what's going on in the UK
and they're having a debate about one and ten of
them being on the doll if actually we've got a
structural problem here that we need to fix, Like maybe
there is something inherently wrong with the welfare system in
that it incentivizes people to not work.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Oh, I think there's definitely plenty of room to reform
the system. The thing is how do we think about
how do we do it better? And the government came
into the election and then into government with a lot
of good talk about this idea of social investment, which
was supposed to think about these kind of things right,
long run kind of individuals over time, getting people into work.
The problem is the government hasn't actually done anything with
(06:21):
the idea of social investments. They set up an agency
and it's kind of done some interesting you know, stats analysis,
but they haven't actually done the really interesting stuff. We
need to have kind of performance based pay for getting
people off the doll We need to kind of create
opportunities and actually evai it. Are we providing pathways into
work rather than just complaining about people when they don't.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
No, I don't hate that idea. Now says are what
are you team Emily or team Chelsea.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Well, listen is almost identical to my morning routine. You know,
it's fishy. No, it's it's my first thought. I thought
I thought it was I thought it was someone had
done this as they were just taking the braverbial, you know.
So No, I'm team Emily?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Are you? And what about you? Thomas?
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Well, I'm going to not pick a side, and it's
not because I think either of them are doing anything wrong.
I just think both of them are cultivating an image
to sell for money. You know, Chelsea Winter performs aspiration
and Emily Wrights performs authenticity. Neither of them do we
actually know. They're writers who cultivate images, you know, as
part of their personal brand, and so I think this
(07:31):
is probably great for both of them. I'm just in
it for the game. You know that both teams are going. Well,
I'm in it for the sport of it, and so
it's a huge success for both brands.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Okay, Well, if you're not going to take a take
a side, can you at least attempt to explain to
me what coconut oil pulling is.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
I wouldn't have the foggy es what coconut oil pulling is,
you know, to be honest, getting up at five thirty
is not really my jam either. But you know what,
I like that Chelsea Winter is doing it. It's important
to me that someone lives that great life, because I
don't if Chelsea Winter isn't doing that, what hope is
there for humanity? You know, it's important. It's that we
(08:07):
have somewhat great among us who can do such things.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
I know.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Just it's it's like it's like the Messiah living here
right now, saying so I reckon, I reckon. The intention
infused water sounds like it could be up you rarely well.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Although the coconut oil pulling apparently you gargle with coconut
oil and we'll run it round your mouth.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Is that what she's doing here? Is it? Are you
making that up right now?
Speaker 1 (08:30):
On the raid?
Speaker 3 (08:31):
No? No, I read the story. He said that the
the coconut coconut oil pulling was a thing almost like
a rinsing your mouth, like a gargle with this stuff.
God know it's what it's for. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
You're just you're just a treasure. You're just so full
of wow. Thank you for that. I'm going to go google.
I don't trust him. I'm going to Google It's Hardle,
Mark Sainsbury, Thomas Scrimgers.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
For more from Heather duplessy elandro Listen live to News
Talks it B from four pm weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
The Huddle with New Zealand Southeby's International Real Team, the
only truly global brand in the.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Huddle of us has even I've got Thomas Scrimger of
the Maximum Institute of Mark Sainsbury broadcast.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Hell are you two today?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thomas? You had all worried about the possibility, as Audrey
Young is, that we may have to start talking about
fuel shortages.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
I'm not too worried about it at this stage. I mean,
the prices have spiked up today and that's already the
first step of rationing. People are going to be driving
less when petrol's over three bucks elevat. But you know,
it's certainly something that could keep coming that. You know,
it's not clear how quickly the fuel crunch will resolve,
and you know, we are at the far end of
the world. It's not going to be first in line
(00:40):
for any fuel deliveries, even though hopefully fingers crossed, those
tankers are on their way. I cycle to work, so
I'm feeling a little less stressed than some people. So
cycling is patriotic, you know, do your bit for the
national security and ride a bike.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Oh my gosh, have you signed up to the Green
Party or something.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
I have not signed up to the Green Party here though,
I'll give you I cycle because I'm a recovering libertarian.
Is it kind of a great deal where you can
buy your bank without paying tax on it. Because we're
saving the planet. You don't have to have a license,
you don't fund hostile foreign powers. It's the libertarian's dream.
Cycling should be picked up by more right wingers.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
I'm loving the unexpected take on cycling. Okay, saying, so
are you buying this? You're going to get into the.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Cycling Well, I'm it's ying and yang on the other
side of the equation. I've got a I took my
car up to Auckland the other week for using a
film the daughters working on, and I think the fee
just covered the gas. It's got a seven liter V
eight and is made in nineteen sixty three. See you
can imagine how efficient. So I'm already paying three bucks
(01:44):
a leader.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Oh mate, have you read of how many Jerry cans
have you got out in the back full of fuel?
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah? Well it's weird, I mean, and of course you
know we don't have the We don't have the backstop
of Marsden, which was ther company's decision. But you know
it's but apparently bit of it.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
But they they got the okay from the government, So
does go back to the government.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Well why does it? Does the government owners or.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
But apparently they didn't. They didn't pull the pin until
they got the nod from from old mate Meghan Megan
Woods who shut down a whole bunch of stuff, shut
that and shut down that one too.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Well, I still go back to all companies that was
their asset. Wasn't a state state asset if they don't
want to run it?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So you know, do you think though? But saying so,
is there a case in something like a strategic like
that you could argue that's a strategic asset, right, like
like in New Zealand? Doesn't Is there a case if
z wants to shut it down that you as the
state step in and you go, okay, you can do
that as a private company will take it over.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
And use it as a as a strategic Yeah, reminery,
most other countries, Most other countries do it.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
I mean, are we finding out Thomas that we've got
that we made a mistake.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Well, the problem with Marsden that it was still refining
crude oil and it's crude oil that's the problem. So
it might have been able to give us a bit
more leeway, and it would have given resilience against a
different kind of problem if the choke point in the
chain was refineries overseas. But if we couldn't bring crude
oil into the country, it wouldn't have made too much difference.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Here.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
We wrong, though, Thomas, because my understanding of it is,
and I might be completely wrong. My understanding is that
with the refined oil, it limits the places we can
get it from. With the crude oil, you can get
it from. You can source it from a wider range. Thereby,
if South Korea cuts you off, it's not as big
a deal.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
But the problem is it's a global market, and the
problem is that prices are spiking at the moment. You
can still buy oil. It's just ludicrously expensive and we'll
be for the while. So even though it gives you
the wider range of places, most times that won't matter
because the price tracks globally, so we can buy as
much as we want. Now we'll just be paying through
the nose to get it.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, the fair point, all right, Well, take a break
that you guys, come back and just the tickets quarter
to two the huddle with.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
New Zealand Southeby's International Realty, a name you can trust
locally and globally.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Right, you're back of the huddle, Mark Sainsbridge. Thomas Scrimger
now saying, so we need to talk about the welfare
numbers because apparently we have thirteen percent of the working
age population on some kind of a benefit. What do
you think of that?
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah, I mean this is the problem, isn't it. I mean,
and the government had promised to going to cut that.
They've been in power two and a half years now
and I see that I'm still blaming the last government,
which may well, I've had so contribution, but there's a
point where you're going to start taking on the chin yourself.
I mean, the numbers that are just exploding because jobs
(04:31):
are disappearing. That's what happened how Wellington's been the last year.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
It look, I'm not an apologist for the government or
the National Party in particular, but I mean it is
hard to blame them, isn't it. Saying zo When you
have a recession which generally causes people to go on
the doll which was caused by Adrian or so it's
not the government's fault.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Yeah, well, then if you go back, was it Jesus's
fault for creating Adan in the first place.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
It's not that ancient history. The dude was in the
job only last year. Jeez.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
But look, but I suppose one sign is these things
are a lot harder to do when people are electioneering.
We're going to be going through it all later on
this year, and there's so many things. It'd be like
when when National launch Think Big, they did that never
thinking they're going to come into power. Then that was
stuck with it when they.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Were Yeah, I suppose I mean something they carry on.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Now I'm just going to say, this is something that
I've sort of promised and and then you just you
can't deliver. It could be all sorts of reasons, but
it's not a great look. Maybe maybe they need to
do some rebounding.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Yeah, well, was that one of their things?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I think.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
I think what it does is it kind of makes
it does make a mockery of a promise to get
people off the doll. But Thomas, the thing here is,
I just wonder if when you look at these numbers
and you look at what's going on in the UK
and they're having a debate about one and ten of
them being on the doll if actually we've got a
structural problem here that we need to fix, Like maybe
there is something inherently wrong with the welfare system in
that it incentivizes people to not work.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Oh, I think there's definitely plenty of room to reform
the system. The thing is how do we think about
how do we do it better? And the government came
into the election and then into government with a lot
of good talk about this idea of social investment, which
was supposed to think about these kind of things right,
long run kind of individuals over time, getting people into work.
The problem is the government hasn't actually done anything with
(06:21):
the idea of social investments. They set up an agency
and it's kind of done some interesting you know, stats analysis,
but they haven't actually done the really interesting stuff. We
need to have kind of performance based pay for getting
people off the doll We need to kind of create
opportunities and actually evai it. Are we providing pathways into
work rather than just complaining about people when they don't.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
No, I don't hate that idea. Now says are what
are you team Emily or team Chelsea.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Well, listen is almost identical to my morning routine. You know,
it's fishy. No, it's it's my first thought. I thought
I thought it was I thought it was someone had
done this as they were just taking the braverbial, you know.
So No, I'm team Emily?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Are you? And what about you? Thomas?
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Well, I'm going to not pick a side, and it's
not because I think either of them are doing anything wrong.
I just think both of them are cultivating an image
to sell for money. You know, Chelsea Winter performs aspiration
and Emily Wrights performs authenticity. Neither of them do we
actually know. They're writers who cultivate images, you know, as
part of their personal brand, and so I think this
(07:31):
is probably great for both of them. I'm just in
it for the game. You know that both teams are going. Well,
I'm in it for the sport of it, and so
it's a huge success for both brands.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Okay, Well, if you're not going to take a take
a side, can you at least attempt to explain to
me what coconut oil pulling is.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
I wouldn't have the foggy es what coconut oil pulling is,
you know, to be honest, getting up at five thirty
is not really my jam either. But you know what,
I like that Chelsea Winter is doing it. It's important
to me that someone lives that great life, because I
don't if Chelsea Winter isn't doing that, what hope is
there for humanity? You know, it's important. It's that we
(08:07):
have somewhat great among us who can do such things.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
I know.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Just it's it's like it's like the Messiah living here
right now, saying so I reckon, I reckon. The intention
infused water sounds like it could be up you rarely well.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Although the coconut oil pulling apparently you gargle with coconut
oil and we'll run it round your mouth.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Is that what she's doing here? Is it? Are you
making that up right now?
Speaker 1 (08:30):
On the raid?
Speaker 3 (08:31):
No? No, I read the story. He said that the
the coconut coconut oil pulling was a thing almost like
a rinsing your mouth, like a gargle with this stuff.
God know it's what it's for. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
You're just you're just a treasure. You're just so full
of wow. Thank you for that. I'm going to go google.
I don't trust him. I'm going to Google It's Hardle,
Mark Sainsbury, Thomas Scrimgers.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
For more from Heather duplessy elandro Listen live to News
Talks it B from four pm weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
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