June 24, 2025 • 10 mins
Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
Christchurch school kids are advocating to change the name of Rolleston Ave because of William Rolleston's involvement in leading the deadly invasion of Parihaka in Taranaki. Is there a case for a name change or should we refrain from erasing history?
GPs will soon be able to diagnose ADHD - do we approve of this change or are we worried about people abusing this?
Should the Government bring in rate caps for councils?
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I was coming up twenty one away from six. And
on the huddle we have Ali Jones read PR and
christ Church Local board member and Jordan Williams of the
Taxpayers Union. Hell are you too, Hi, good evening, Ali?
Do you want to change it?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Nope?
Speaker 3 (00:11):
No, nope no. Tyler Welle does a good job. Lovely guy. Actually,
But you know what frustrates me about this is that
they use those words like you know, Tyler said that
the kids mentioned about celebrating people. I don't think we're
celebrating someone by putting their name on a street sign.
We are acknowledging them, we are noting them. They are
(00:32):
part of the history. And the other point too, is
that I understand that Rolliston didn't actually lead the attack
on Patiaka. Yes he was part of the conversation leading
up to it, but someone else actually led that. Do
we erase the history? I mean? He also set up
the death school Vanish College out in Sumner here in
christ Church. He was also a key supporter of women's suffrage.
(00:54):
So what do we do here? Do we throw the
baby out with the bast water or do we teach
people New zem On history in context? And we're all
that for us.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Yeah, And I don't know about you, Jordan, but I
find often that history I find I enjoy learning about
our history and then connected and going, oh there is
a chap called Jenningham Wakefield. Oh that's why it's point Jenningham,
you know. And so actually those landmarks do help you
to learn it and realize the significance of these people,
you know.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I mean, history is actually can be quite dark, like
I mean, you know, and it's just a slippery So
they found at the Free Speech Union seven years ago
to fight against people, you know, that are alive being canceled.
Now it seems that the work have now turned on
that if you're diard, you can be canceled. You know.
We've got to get rid of this name. The cock Islands.
It's just it's so offensive. Churchill Lane, but the worst
(01:40):
is down near Stuart Island, the Pit Islands. Yeah, that
is just the younger No, I mean, it's true that
doesn't cancel them.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
And what great did he introduce it?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
It was very low, it was very low. But the
thing is is the taxes they grow.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Like was it like ten percent back in the day
or something like that. I mean, if you said to them.
You know, if you said I.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Need to, we need to the history of taxation newsy
Island was written not by me, that was Paul Goldsmith.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
You're getting confused, Yeah, but I mean I know that
you'll just you just know everything. But if you said
at the time, don't let the younger do this children,
because he'll start a ten percent, but it's the thin
of the wedge and before you know it, you're paying
thirty nine percent, that's ridicas.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I don't engage with it because I find it so
so emotionally distressful, and that's why we need to change
the triggering.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
There is one other thing, Can I just raise it
to where do we draw the line?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Right?
Speaker 3 (02:37):
We've got Rollston Township, Rolliston's growing is one of the
biggest fastest growing areas just outside christ Church. We've got
Rolliston College. I know people called Rolliston. What will they
change the names as well?
Speaker 1 (02:49):
It's just ridiculous, Yeah, totally. I mean, there is a
William Roliston, isn't It wasn't he in the Federated Farmers.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Well, there's a Humphrey Rolliston who's well known in christ Church.
So it's christ Church name. It's still a name.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
William will have to change the name all together. Now, Jordan,
what do you think about this adh move? Adhd move
A good move?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yeah, I guess. I mean, I'm I'm not libertarian on
too much, but HM on this, I take the sort
of the Economist magazine view that that you know that
the more the area. I'd say that the performance enhancing
mental drugs that are used widely in campuses in North America,
I don't have the same moral objection to as a
(03:32):
lot of people, but I know I'm not My views
aren't very mainstream. But the Economist just says like that, are.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
You saying it's it's cool to do your exams on Rittlin.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
No, I think it's cool. I just think that it's
south so widely done. I was astounded. This is obviously it's.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Like level level of the playing field. If everybody is
doing it, then you may as well let the rest
of them do it as well.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah. Not, my young guys in Aukland say it's very
common at the University of Auckland anyway. But I was
astounded when I did at university exchange to Germany, as
I say, many many years ago, the extent to which
performance enhancing drugs were used by students to sort of
stay awake and cram, and just from the Ivy League
(04:19):
schools in the US, I didn't know the extent to
which it's done. I should ask my young chaps in Wellington.
But that I just don't have the same moral issues
with ADHD drugs being slightly more widely available. I know
that this over diagnosis, and I agree with all of that,
but I just don't, as I say, but there's not
a certainly an obtexoson issue, and I know that it's
(04:42):
not a of you widely held Allie.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
I can't decide if we're overdiagnosing or underdiagnosing. I just
don't think we don't.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah, and look, it's really interesting and I support this
move one hundred percent. I've changed my mind on it.
I think seeing the difference that it made for someone's
daughter with ADHD recently be diagnosed and then beyond the
right medication, it was absolutely life changing for her. But
it was going to cost well, actually it did cost
her eighteen hundred bucks to see a specialist and she
(05:10):
had to wait, and that was privately. So the barriers
are really heartbreaking. What I'm concerned about here is that
it's all very well for the government to be making
these changes, but we need to have the support for
the GPS and the nurse magnetitioners, the training we needed,
counseling and support for those who are diagnosed. Otherwise it's
just virtual signaling. I think it's great that this is
(05:31):
going to be available to more people, but they need
some support to be supports around it as well.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Yeah, okay, guys, we'll take a break. Come back to you,
just in just to tech. It's the huddle. Back with
the huddle. Jordan Williams of the Taxpas union, Allie Jones,
Jordan Rates Caps tell me why look here.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I know you're captured by a big council and don't
want don't want rate the cats spending. Hey, yeah, the
thing is the spending was going to core infrastructure, if
it was going for where the pollys and the officials came.
You know, we look at the pipes of versting. We
desperately need more money to fix them. But whenever we've
done this, from an analysis on this over time, a
(06:09):
greater and greater proportion is going on operating expenditure, not
capital expenditure. It's going on empire buildings and staff. And
I'm sorry, when you can't be trusted with money, you
don't keep giving the agreement.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
But tell me I'm wrong, Jordan, tell me I'm wrong,
because I what I predict would happen is that they
will just run it up on the credit card. You'll
cap how much money they've got. They'll just keep on spending,
run it up on debt. They will still spend on
the wrong things. They will scrimp on the capital expenditure,
and before you know it, you've got a crisis like
they've got on Wellington with the pipes. And then somebody
like Grant Robertson goes it's okay, just you know, go hard, Okay.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Turn me out, take water act because that's go thanks
to the excellent work the tax Baser Union did before
the election and the National Party. But I mean, if
the government squeezes from the size around their power of
general competence and what local government can do, you gotta
squeeze it from the top bottom two. And that is
around this, you know, And it's not unreasonable. It is
(07:04):
limiting rates to inflation, except for if you convince people
in a local referenda. That's what the policy we're calling
for happens in part Australia, it happens in the UK.
Well we can they do it in Australia in the UK.
Can't when you can do it in Australia in the
UK a.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Different countries money because random would cost an absolute fortune.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Oh not so very Chucke. Fifteen percent was the average
rates increase last year? No household is spending year after
year fifteen percent.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Disagree, that's what we're.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Putting out with.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I'm not disagreeing with you, Jordan, but you cannot run
things like this on a committee, which is what a
referendum system does.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Will you?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
I totally agree hang on, I totally agree with the
wood No, no, no, no. What I agree with what
you said earlier, Heather, which was you've got to put
people around that council table who have got the nouse
to be a to do the job. And the other
thing is it's not city how It's not the staff
that are their nets are on the line here or
the accountability is there with them, it's the chief executive.
(08:09):
The chief executive is the only person that is answerable
to the counselors. Now, if the delegations of such that
people are signing stuff off that they shouldn't be, that
it's far too high, then they have to change that. No,
you have got to allow people to do the job
that they are there to do. But if they can't
do it, there has to be oversight. And that's where
the chief executive comes in.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Look at the story that the tax paying and exposed
today there's two point three million dollar disco duney in
Wellington of of of some public lows two point three
million with all the flashing lights and stuff. Yeah, no,
killing are irrelevant problem, but it's not like or irrelevant
Wells two point three million dollar public laboratories. Then Ali,
(08:54):
that is that is that is you cannot say that
that is not representative of local council and your solution
to fix the Wellington pipes is to give them more money.
It is not a revenue issue. It is the quality
of decision making and quality of spending. I got agree
with you these decisions.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I don't disagree with you that it's an issue in
two point three million is a ridiculous amount of money
to pay for toilets. In fact, I rang round because
that's what I do, and I found that you can
get a triple toilet built for one hundred and twenty
five k. You have to add claning to that and
he has to grate it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But the
point is that I don't think. I think procurement policies
(09:36):
have to be looked at. The Boston has to be
looked at, and there is no doubt that this cost
more than should have because it took three years to
do so. There are a whole lot of issues here
that need to be looked at as to how this
even came to two point three million. I think the
lights are great. More lights only if I'm not going
to add a massive amount.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Now in the district Dunning, because this is this book end.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Sitting does Queen cubicles.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yeah, guys, it's wonderful to talk to you, and I
really appreciate the fact that you're both the experts on
this particular subject, So thanks so much, being obviously counsels
not toilets. Allie Jones Jordan Williams are huddle.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
This evening for more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen
live to news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
I was coming up twenty one away from six. And
on the huddle we have Ali Jones read PR and
christ Church Local board member and Jordan Williams of the
Taxpayers Union. Hell are you too, Hi, good evening, Ali?
Do you want to change it?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Nope?
Speaker 3 (00:11):
No, nope no. Tyler Welle does a good job. Lovely guy. Actually,
But you know what frustrates me about this is that
they use those words like you know, Tyler said that
the kids mentioned about celebrating people. I don't think we're
celebrating someone by putting their name on a street sign.
We are acknowledging them, we are noting them. They are
(00:32):
part of the history. And the other point too, is
that I understand that Rolliston didn't actually lead the attack
on Patiaka. Yes he was part of the conversation leading
up to it, but someone else actually led that. Do
we erase the history? I mean? He also set up
the death school Vanish College out in Sumner here in
christ Church. He was also a key supporter of women's suffrage.
(00:54):
So what do we do here? Do we throw the
baby out with the bast water or do we teach
people New zem On history in context? And we're all
that for us.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Yeah, And I don't know about you, Jordan, but I
find often that history I find I enjoy learning about
our history and then connected and going, oh there is
a chap called Jenningham Wakefield. Oh that's why it's point Jenningham,
you know. And so actually those landmarks do help you
to learn it and realize the significance of these people,
you know.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I mean, history is actually can be quite dark, like
I mean, you know, and it's just a slippery So
they found at the Free Speech Union seven years ago
to fight against people, you know, that are alive being canceled.
Now it seems that the work have now turned on
that if you're diard, you can be canceled. You know.
We've got to get rid of this name. The cock Islands.
It's just it's so offensive. Churchill Lane, but the worst
(01:40):
is down near Stuart Island, the Pit Islands. Yeah, that
is just the younger No, I mean, it's true that
doesn't cancel them.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
And what great did he introduce it?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
It was very low, it was very low. But the
thing is is the taxes they grow.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Like was it like ten percent back in the day
or something like that. I mean, if you said to them.
You know, if you said I.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Need to, we need to the history of taxation newsy
Island was written not by me, that was Paul Goldsmith.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
You're getting confused, Yeah, but I mean I know that
you'll just you just know everything. But if you said
at the time, don't let the younger do this children,
because he'll start a ten percent, but it's the thin
of the wedge and before you know it, you're paying
thirty nine percent, that's ridicas.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I don't engage with it because I find it so
so emotionally distressful, and that's why we need to change
the triggering.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
There is one other thing, Can I just raise it
to where do we draw the line?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Right?
Speaker 3 (02:37):
We've got Rollston Township, Rolliston's growing is one of the
biggest fastest growing areas just outside christ Church. We've got
Rolliston College. I know people called Rolliston. What will they
change the names as well?
Speaker 1 (02:49):
It's just ridiculous, Yeah, totally. I mean, there is a
William Roliston, isn't It wasn't he in the Federated Farmers.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Well, there's a Humphrey Rolliston who's well known in christ Church.
So it's christ Church name. It's still a name.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
William will have to change the name all together. Now, Jordan,
what do you think about this adh move? Adhd move
A good move?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yeah, I guess. I mean, I'm I'm not libertarian on
too much, but HM on this, I take the sort
of the Economist magazine view that that you know that
the more the area. I'd say that the performance enhancing
mental drugs that are used widely in campuses in North America,
I don't have the same moral objection to as a
(03:32):
lot of people, but I know I'm not My views
aren't very mainstream. But the Economist just says like that, are.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
You saying it's it's cool to do your exams on Rittlin.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
No, I think it's cool. I just think that it's
south so widely done. I was astounded. This is obviously it's.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Like level level of the playing field. If everybody is
doing it, then you may as well let the rest
of them do it as well.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah. Not, my young guys in Aukland say it's very
common at the University of Auckland anyway. But I was
astounded when I did at university exchange to Germany, as
I say, many many years ago, the extent to which
performance enhancing drugs were used by students to sort of
stay awake and cram, and just from the Ivy League
(04:19):
schools in the US, I didn't know the extent to
which it's done. I should ask my young chaps in Wellington.
But that I just don't have the same moral issues
with ADHD drugs being slightly more widely available. I know
that this over diagnosis, and I agree with all of that,
but I just don't, as I say, but there's not
a certainly an obtexoson issue, and I know that it's
(04:42):
not a of you widely held Allie.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
I can't decide if we're overdiagnosing or underdiagnosing. I just
don't think we don't.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah, and look, it's really interesting and I support this
move one hundred percent. I've changed my mind on it.
I think seeing the difference that it made for someone's
daughter with ADHD recently be diagnosed and then beyond the
right medication, it was absolutely life changing for her. But
it was going to cost well, actually it did cost
her eighteen hundred bucks to see a specialist and she
(05:10):
had to wait, and that was privately. So the barriers
are really heartbreaking. What I'm concerned about here is that
it's all very well for the government to be making
these changes, but we need to have the support for
the GPS and the nurse magnetitioners, the training we needed,
counseling and support for those who are diagnosed. Otherwise it's
just virtual signaling. I think it's great that this is
(05:31):
going to be available to more people, but they need
some support to be supports around it as well.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Yeah, okay, guys, we'll take a break. Come back to you,
just in just to tech. It's the huddle. Back with
the huddle. Jordan Williams of the Taxpas union, Allie Jones,
Jordan Rates Caps tell me why look here.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I know you're captured by a big council and don't
want don't want rate the cats spending. Hey, yeah, the
thing is the spending was going to core infrastructure, if
it was going for where the pollys and the officials came.
You know, we look at the pipes of versting. We
desperately need more money to fix them. But whenever we've
done this, from an analysis on this over time, a
(06:09):
greater and greater proportion is going on operating expenditure, not
capital expenditure. It's going on empire buildings and staff. And
I'm sorry, when you can't be trusted with money, you
don't keep giving the agreement.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
But tell me I'm wrong, Jordan, tell me I'm wrong,
because I what I predict would happen is that they
will just run it up on the credit card. You'll
cap how much money they've got. They'll just keep on spending,
run it up on debt. They will still spend on
the wrong things. They will scrimp on the capital expenditure,
and before you know it, you've got a crisis like
they've got on Wellington with the pipes. And then somebody
like Grant Robertson goes it's okay, just you know, go hard, Okay.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Turn me out, take water act because that's go thanks
to the excellent work the tax Baser Union did before
the election and the National Party. But I mean, if
the government squeezes from the size around their power of
general competence and what local government can do, you gotta
squeeze it from the top bottom two. And that is
around this, you know, And it's not unreasonable. It is
(07:04):
limiting rates to inflation, except for if you convince people
in a local referenda. That's what the policy we're calling
for happens in part Australia, it happens in the UK.
Well we can they do it in Australia in the UK.
Can't when you can do it in Australia in the
UK a.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Different countries money because random would cost an absolute fortune.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Oh not so very Chucke. Fifteen percent was the average
rates increase last year? No household is spending year after
year fifteen percent.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Disagree, that's what we're.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Putting out with.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I'm not disagreeing with you, Jordan, but you cannot run
things like this on a committee, which is what a
referendum system does.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Will you?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
I totally agree hang on, I totally agree with the
wood No, no, no, no. What I agree with what
you said earlier, Heather, which was you've got to put
people around that council table who have got the nouse
to be a to do the job. And the other
thing is it's not city how It's not the staff
that are their nets are on the line here or
the accountability is there with them, it's the chief executive.
(08:09):
The chief executive is the only person that is answerable
to the counselors. Now, if the delegations of such that
people are signing stuff off that they shouldn't be, that
it's far too high, then they have to change that. No,
you have got to allow people to do the job
that they are there to do. But if they can't
do it, there has to be oversight. And that's where
the chief executive comes in.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Look at the story that the tax paying and exposed
today there's two point three million dollar disco duney in
Wellington of of of some public lows two point three
million with all the flashing lights and stuff. Yeah, no,
killing are irrelevant problem, but it's not like or irrelevant
Wells two point three million dollar public laboratories. Then Ali,
(08:54):
that is that is that is you cannot say that
that is not representative of local council and your solution
to fix the Wellington pipes is to give them more money.
It is not a revenue issue. It is the quality
of decision making and quality of spending. I got agree
with you these decisions.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I don't disagree with you that it's an issue in
two point three million is a ridiculous amount of money
to pay for toilets. In fact, I rang round because
that's what I do, and I found that you can
get a triple toilet built for one hundred and twenty
five k. You have to add claning to that and
he has to grate it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But the
point is that I don't think. I think procurement policies
(09:36):
have to be looked at. The Boston has to be
looked at, and there is no doubt that this cost
more than should have because it took three years to
do so. There are a whole lot of issues here
that need to be looked at as to how this
even came to two point three million. I think the
lights are great. More lights only if I'm not going
to add a massive amount.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Now in the district Dunning, because this is this book end.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Sitting does Queen cubicles.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yeah, guys, it's wonderful to talk to you, and I
really appreciate the fact that you're both the experts on
this particular subject, So thanks so much, being obviously counsels
not toilets. Allie Jones Jordan Williams are huddle.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
This evening for more from Hither 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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