November 6, 2025 • 8 mins
Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
The Michelin Guide is coming to New Zealand - and it cost Tourism New Zealand over $6 million to get it going. Is this good news for tourism? And is this a worthy investment?
Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick has raised concerns with the Government's proposed solutions for rough sleepers - and labelled the Government's response 'hysterical'. What do we make of all this?
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
The huddle with New Zealand Southeby's International Realty, the global
leader in luxury real estate.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Somebody has just sent me a link to the story
about Dame Knowles that has dropped today. I am aware
of it and I am going to talk to you
about it before six so station because you're going to
want to hear this with me on the huddle right now.
I have Jordan Williams and also Ali Jones have read
pr hullo you too, Okay, Jordan, do you think that's
money well spent for the Michelin Star business?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Uh? I'm not cool cool for them? Okay? Is it
a good use of six and a half million dollars
of the Zealand taxpayers money? Absolutely not to think as
I mean, look, I'm just I'm just back from Spain
yere and we had you know, it was it was
Americans paying. It was wonderful. We went to Amma's incredible
(00:51):
food and Valencia and it would probably affect something like that.
You know what restaurants you went to. Would you go
to Spain and would you come to the Zellen because
they're miss Star restaurants? Clearly not? You come because of
the incredible food and the like. It's nice for them.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
The argument is that if you're thinking about you, you're
stitching together an itinery, and you think, shall I go
to Melbourne or shall I go to Queenstown, and you
look at all the things you can do. Well, all
of a sudden, Queenstown's got a whole bunch of Michelin stars,
and so the whole level of the thing goes up
for you and you pick it.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Look for a return for you know, six and a
half million dollars you're going to get what if in
order at least one hundred million in extra spending from
international tourists to justify that sort of spent. Clearly not either,
and that's you've got to look at the counterfactual. That's
six and a half million dollars out of the economy
from the taxpayers to spend on it. It actually suggests
(01:44):
that the quality of spending from tourism the Zealanders is poor.
Look for those restaurant heres that could get one amazing
Will the affect the restaurants that, as you know, I
wouldn't probably not for men. Sure, I'm not choosing to
go to the best restaurants in the country, but it
will of them when I'm you know, when I'm big, absolutely,
(02:07):
and will it will Will it mean that justify the
extra spend or resolve in extra spends?
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Totally wrong, Ellie, what do you reckon?
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Well, I hear what Jordan's saying, and this is rare,
but I tend to agree with him on this. But look,
I heard what you said earlier to Heather, and I
agree with you. I'm sitting on the fence here, So
rewarding those at the top of their game. Look, I'm
married to a chef, right and I like food, so
this is right up my alley, no pun intended. So
(02:37):
rewarding those at the top of their game and promoting
you know, amazing products and New Zealand and our foods,
taking advantage of of having that that mitchellin Lincoln and
relationship and that's fabulous and so I support it generally,
but with a cave And what worries me is it
feels a little bit like let them eat cake. You know,
(02:59):
as Jordan said, six and a half million dollars being
forked out pun intended by the taxpayer, and we can't
even bloody afford mints. So at the moment, if they're
going to do stuff like this. That's great, but move
along the opportunity for New Zealanders to enjoy the food
that we produce. I mean, Luxeon said in his stand
(03:21):
up today. What did you say? It's that New Zealand
is a really fortunate country and being able to grow
high quality food for the world. Yes, thanks, Chris, but
could you actually let some New Zealand eat New Zealanders
eat some of that food as well? So yeah, look,
I like the idea. I think it is going to
bring in the high spend, the high end tourism, people
who come here for golf, people who come here to eat,
(03:43):
but six and a half million dollars of taxpayers money
when we can't afford mints.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Come on, okay, we'll take a break. Come back to
you guys.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Short list the huddle with New Zealand Southby's International Realty.
Find your one of a kind.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Okay, back on the huddle.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
We've got Jordan Williams and Ellie Jones. Now, Jordan, I
have to ask you this question of his because you
live in Auckland, Chloe reckons that were being hysterical about
the homelessness issue.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
What do you think, well, i'd be hysterical too, but
probably from the other from the other side of it.
I really struggle coming back to Auckland when I've spent
a time in the South Island and you come back
and walk down Queen Street, it is just a disgrace.
(04:25):
Anyone who has visited rota Ua since COVID would would
would see the same thing. It's not being able to
move people on, which has looked to be what the
government is looking to do. Is a start, but the
real issue is is that you don't necessarily have people
to move them on too, you know since the eighties
(04:46):
where we've removed institutions or places to put people with
mental health problems. It is the real issue, and it
could I mean it's probably a good start. Look, I
am pretty concerned about homelessness and the degree to which
allowing homeless people to congregate it does bring down the
(05:10):
feeling of a city. I am posting international visitor at
the moment and that we put them up in CBD Auckland,
and I was ashamed of the homeless people sitting outside.
It is a Queen Street is now a dangerous place
at night. I don't think.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
What do you reckon, ye allie? What do you think
of the idea of moving people on Are you comfortable
with that?
Speaker 5 (05:34):
Well, I'm more uncomfortable with the fact that I'm agreeing
with virtually everything Jordan is saying today, which is concerning
me greatly.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Yet.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
Look, I haven't had a look at Queen Street for
a long time, and we do have a little bit
of an issue here. It's been an issue around Valentine's
and the city mall, and even in my local Edgewa
village there are some issues there as well. And alcohol
is the problem there, and we're trying to get alcohol
banned from you know, when they got rist drinking alcohol
in a public place rule, it.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Was to or law.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
It was madness. I think Jordan's right though, we need
to know what the problem is. And again we're trying
to fix a problem without actually knowing what the problem is.
We're trying to fix the mental health is well, look
is it mental health? Is it addiction? Is it polity?
Is it a combination? Because if you don't know, because
they're all different issues, Jordan, and if you don't know
(06:24):
what they are, how do you know how.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
To fix it? We do? I mean, there's you have
a social, wealthy, safety yet you know the government will
even put you up in a hotel if it's at
an absolute emergency. People choosing to live on the streets
or not having a social wealthy system where there is
zero requirements or expectations to chet And I think this
(06:50):
is a didn't go police. We're not able just to
move people on, able to take them somewhere. We have
had discipline that's now gone, you know, we've removed that
that And I think, as I say, I mean, I'm
astonished that you consider it a problem across you've spent
(07:11):
when I spend time and as I say in Christ
of the South Island, I go back to Auckland and
my first experience driving home as people knocking on your
window at the Hoursley roundabout begging for money. There is Yeah,
it does seem police not either don't have the powers
or are not moving people along.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Yeah, but hang on a minute. What you said though, too,
that does make senses. We don't have the place for
those who are dealing with mental health and addictions.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
There are not the same because we don't believe in
institutions anymore.
Speaker 5 (07:43):
Well exactly, so we need to well that needs to
be addressed, and that's what I'm saying that, Yeah, if
we know what the issues are and how many of
these people that you're talking about edits or are dealing
with severe mental health that either can or can't be
fixed with medication because we don't even know that.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
But you can't do it if you know that you can't.
That's my point is that is that we used to
the benchmark used to be a lot lower to say
you have to stay here and sort out your addiction
problem or we don't think.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
You can do that if they're dealing with it.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
We used to do that before nineteen eighty what we
used to do.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Yeah, but the agencies that are dealing with them know
the answers to these questions. That should not be a
barrier that is not difficult to ascitain.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
All right, guys, listen, Thanks very much. It was really
instructive discussion. I really appreciated that. That's how the huddle
this evening, Allie Jones, Jordan Williams.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
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, the global
leader in luxury real estate.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Somebody has just sent me a link to the story
about Dame Knowles that has dropped today. I am aware
of it and I am going to talk to you
about it before six so station because you're going to
want to hear this with me on the huddle right now.
I have Jordan Williams and also Ali Jones have read
pr hullo you too, Okay, Jordan, do you think that's
money well spent for the Michelin Star business?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Uh? I'm not cool cool for them? Okay? Is it
a good use of six and a half million dollars
of the Zealand taxpayers money? Absolutely not to think as
I mean, look, I'm just I'm just back from Spain
yere and we had you know, it was it was
Americans paying. It was wonderful. We went to Amma's incredible
(00:51):
food and Valencia and it would probably affect something like that.
You know what restaurants you went to. Would you go
to Spain and would you come to the Zellen because
they're miss Star restaurants? Clearly not? You come because of
the incredible food and the like. It's nice for them.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
The argument is that if you're thinking about you, you're
stitching together an itinery, and you think, shall I go
to Melbourne or shall I go to Queenstown, and you
look at all the things you can do. Well, all
of a sudden, Queenstown's got a whole bunch of Michelin stars,
and so the whole level of the thing goes up
for you and you pick it.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Look for a return for you know, six and a
half million dollars you're going to get what if in
order at least one hundred million in extra spending from
international tourists to justify that sort of spent. Clearly not either,
and that's you've got to look at the counterfactual. That's
six and a half million dollars out of the economy
from the taxpayers to spend on it. It actually suggests
(01:44):
that the quality of spending from tourism the Zealanders is poor.
Look for those restaurant heres that could get one amazing
Will the affect the restaurants that, as you know, I
wouldn't probably not for men. Sure, I'm not choosing to
go to the best restaurants in the country, but it
will of them when I'm you know, when I'm big, absolutely,
(02:07):
and will it will Will it mean that justify the
extra spend or resolve in extra spends?
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Totally wrong, Ellie, what do you reckon?
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Well, I hear what Jordan's saying, and this is rare,
but I tend to agree with him on this. But look,
I heard what you said earlier to Heather, and I
agree with you. I'm sitting on the fence here, So
rewarding those at the top of their game. Look, I'm
married to a chef, right and I like food, so
this is right up my alley, no pun intended. So
(02:37):
rewarding those at the top of their game and promoting
you know, amazing products and New Zealand and our foods,
taking advantage of of having that that mitchellin Lincoln and
relationship and that's fabulous and so I support it generally,
but with a cave And what worries me is it
feels a little bit like let them eat cake. You know,
(02:59):
as Jordan said, six and a half million dollars being
forked out pun intended by the taxpayer, and we can't
even bloody afford mints. So at the moment, if they're
going to do stuff like this. That's great, but move
along the opportunity for New Zealanders to enjoy the food
that we produce. I mean, Luxeon said in his stand
(03:21):
up today. What did you say? It's that New Zealand
is a really fortunate country and being able to grow
high quality food for the world. Yes, thanks, Chris, but
could you actually let some New Zealand eat New Zealanders
eat some of that food as well? So yeah, look,
I like the idea. I think it is going to
bring in the high spend, the high end tourism, people
who come here for golf, people who come here to eat,
(03:43):
but six and a half million dollars of taxpayers money
when we can't afford mints.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Come on, okay, we'll take a break. Come back to
you guys.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Short list the huddle with New Zealand Southby's International Realty.
Find your one of a kind.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Okay, back on the huddle.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
We've got Jordan Williams and Ellie Jones. Now, Jordan, I
have to ask you this question of his because you
live in Auckland, Chloe reckons that were being hysterical about
the homelessness issue.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
What do you think, well, i'd be hysterical too, but
probably from the other from the other side of it.
I really struggle coming back to Auckland when I've spent
a time in the South Island and you come back
and walk down Queen Street, it is just a disgrace.
(04:25):
Anyone who has visited rota Ua since COVID would would
would see the same thing. It's not being able to
move people on, which has looked to be what the
government is looking to do. Is a start, but the
real issue is is that you don't necessarily have people
to move them on too, you know since the eighties
(04:46):
where we've removed institutions or places to put people with
mental health problems. It is the real issue, and it
could I mean it's probably a good start. Look, I
am pretty concerned about homelessness and the degree to which
allowing homeless people to congregate it does bring down the
(05:10):
feeling of a city. I am posting international visitor at
the moment and that we put them up in CBD Auckland,
and I was ashamed of the homeless people sitting outside.
It is a Queen Street is now a dangerous place
at night. I don't think.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
What do you reckon, ye allie? What do you think
of the idea of moving people on Are you comfortable
with that?
Speaker 5 (05:34):
Well, I'm more uncomfortable with the fact that I'm agreeing
with virtually everything Jordan is saying today, which is concerning
me greatly.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Yet.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
Look, I haven't had a look at Queen Street for
a long time, and we do have a little bit
of an issue here. It's been an issue around Valentine's
and the city mall, and even in my local Edgewa
village there are some issues there as well. And alcohol
is the problem there, and we're trying to get alcohol
banned from you know, when they got rist drinking alcohol
in a public place rule, it.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Was to or law.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
It was madness. I think Jordan's right though, we need
to know what the problem is. And again we're trying
to fix a problem without actually knowing what the problem is.
We're trying to fix the mental health is well, look
is it mental health? Is it addiction? Is it polity?
Is it a combination? Because if you don't know, because
they're all different issues, Jordan, and if you don't know
(06:24):
what they are, how do you know how.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
To fix it? We do? I mean, there's you have
a social, wealthy, safety yet you know the government will
even put you up in a hotel if it's at
an absolute emergency. People choosing to live on the streets
or not having a social wealthy system where there is
zero requirements or expectations to chet And I think this
(06:50):
is a didn't go police. We're not able just to
move people on, able to take them somewhere. We have
had discipline that's now gone, you know, we've removed that
that And I think, as I say, I mean, I'm
astonished that you consider it a problem across you've spent
(07:11):
when I spend time and as I say in Christ
of the South Island, I go back to Auckland and
my first experience driving home as people knocking on your
window at the Hoursley roundabout begging for money. There is Yeah,
it does seem police not either don't have the powers
or are not moving people along.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Yeah, but hang on a minute. What you said though, too,
that does make senses. We don't have the place for
those who are dealing with mental health and addictions.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
There are not the same because we don't believe in
institutions anymore.
Speaker 5 (07:43):
Well exactly, so we need to well that needs to
be addressed, and that's what I'm saying that, Yeah, if
we know what the issues are and how many of
these people that you're talking about edits or are dealing
with severe mental health that either can or can't be
fixed with medication because we don't even know that.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
But you can't do it if you know that you can't.
That's my point is that is that we used to
the benchmark used to be a lot lower to say
you have to stay here and sort out your addiction
problem or we don't think.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
You can do that if they're dealing with it.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
We used to do that before nineteen eighty what we
used to do.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Yeah, but the agencies that are dealing with them know
the answers to these questions. That should not be a
barrier that is not difficult to ascitain.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
All right, guys, listen, Thanks very much. It was really
instructive discussion. I really appreciated that. That's how the huddle
this evening, Allie Jones, Jordan Williams.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
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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