February 12, 2025 • 9 mins
Tonight on The Huddle, Sarah Trotman from Business Mentors 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!
What do we make of Judith Collins' latest warning to the public service? She told industry leaders to show respect to taxpayers and not use so much bloated language. What do we make of this?
Plans to build Wānaka’s first McDonald’s have been thrown out after the council declined the restaurant's application for good. Do we agree with this?
New Zealand has slipped to its worst ever ranking on the least-corrupted country list - it's now sitting on number four. Should we be worried?
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Huddle with New Zealand Southerby's International Realty, local and
global exposure like no other.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Jactating from Saturday mornings on Newstork's A B and Sarah
Trumpman from Business Mentors join me. Holl the guys killed up?
Oh I sorry, Sarah? Are you there?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I sure am?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
And that's very good. So Judith Collins told off the
public service? What did you make of it?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Jack?
Speaker 4 (00:24):
Look? I think flu is entirely right. I think there
was probably an element of political theater involved in Judith
Colins statements. And when it comes to political theater, there
are a few masters of greater talent than Judith Collins.
That being said, at the core of the message, I
think our entirely reasonable points. Yes, I think sometimes the
public service can get a bit grandiose in some of
(00:45):
its language, and especially given the current fiscal conditions we
all face, economic conditions we all face. I think it's
absolutely incumbent public service, public servants speened taxpayer dollars. Wisely,
that being seen, I don't think there are too many
recent examples, at least during this term and government, of
(01:07):
you know, gross spending from government departments or public service
that might raise the ire of the taxpayer. You know,
I recall a couple of prime examples in the last
couple of years from fearwell Who's and celebrations and birthday
parties and things where some tens of thousands of dollars
well spent. I think that sort of you know, that
(01:27):
sort of attitude has been stamped out. Probably wasn't terribly
widespread to begin with, but yeah, I think most public
servants are probably on board with the minister's comments. They
probably didn't need the reminder. I think that's for the
rest of us.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Well, what do you think, Sarah I actually thought when
I was listening to Flur, I thought, oh gosh, she's
she's saying no all the way through that there was
a lack of humility that you know, she believed that
her point of view was more important than the ministers.
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Not to be honest, I found myself getting a bit
irritated with her the more she spoke. And you know,
to Jack's point, with respect, if somebody's throwing a thirty
thousand dollar farewell for a CEO and they think it's okay,
one wonders about the culture and an organization. When I
(02:15):
heard JERF Collins warning the public service. I thought, hallelujas,
here's a politician that understands the blood, sweat and tears
that goes into making a dollar. But I also noticed
that she called on the public service to embrace innovation,
specifically AI, and to be championing high standards and on
all for that. But look, I think she's always been
(02:37):
a great servant of the people. She's always got the
people at heart. We the taxpason spends what six billion
dollars on salaries for people in the public service, as
first said, I think it was blurted. That's gone up
thirty four percent, and it's got to come back down.
Many of these people are excellent, but it certainly doesn't
(02:57):
hurt to encourage them to spend our money as if
it's their own.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, okay, Sarah, can I say so?
Speaker 4 (03:02):
One thing? I think I think we do like run
into danger of turning public servants into the enemy, kind
of unnecessarily, like turning this cultural that doesn't need to exist.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I mean, Jack, I don't know how much you've dealt
with them. Some of them are the enemy, some of
them are actually they've got such a political belief they
stop stuff.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
I actually, I actually think for the most part so
that look, there are bad actors in every organization everywhere,
whether it's the private sector or the public sector. I
think for the most part we can be thankful that
in New Zealand we have a relatively politically neutral public service.
I'm not saying it's perfect, but I think for the
most part it's pretty good. And I think for the
most part, the vast majority of people working in the
(03:44):
public service are not working there because they're expecting to
make millions of dollars or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Off I agree with you on that they are woefully underpaid.
And if you've got to Singapore they're the highest paid people,
you know they are woefully underpaid. And if you paid
Pena to get monkeys. But look, we're going to get
on to the big story of the day, which is
one and it's McDonald's.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
The Huddle with New Zealand Southeby's International Realty Elevate the
Marketing of your Home.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
On the Hell of Jack, Jack Taymer and Sarah Trupman
and I'm Andrew Dickens. Right. Wonica has told Macas it
won't be allowed to build a restaurant in the town.
We talked to the deputy mayor. He suggested that maybe
it was a better site. It could be, it could happen. However,
i've read the decision. I never read any of that
in there. What did you guys make of the decision? Sarah?
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Oh, look, I wasn't surprised by it. The vast majority
of those three hundred and fifty submittives and that's quite
a high number for this sort of consultation, they were
opposed to it. But I do wonder about it. I think, yes,
the commissioners do need to consider the district plan. These
things are usually widely consulted on. But for me, I
wondered where are where the property rights sit in the
(04:55):
priority of things? And I also thought it was interesting
that McDonald's spent more than a year navigating the arima,
making major concessions throughout the process. And you've got to
wonder what sort of message we're sending on the ease
of doing business in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Jack, I reckon, you're a keen tramp and you've got
the mountains, and boy, there's nothing like a quarter pounder
when you've come down from mount to spill.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Far be it from me to jump on the side
of the big fast food franchisers. In fact, I think
it's I think it's eighteen years at least since I
had my last meal from McDonald's Andrew. But I think
with the decision, so the locals raise concerns about the
esthetic essentially right, and McDonald's tried to meet them halfway.
(05:40):
They said, right, for starters, we won't operate twenty four
hours a day just by the our original plan, or
reduce the opening hours, and they even reduced the size
of the golden arches of the logo as far as
I understand it. So I don't know, Like I say,
far be it from me to come down the side
of the big brands. But I reckon it's a little
bit snooty. I reckon it's just a little bit snooty.
You know. Maybe there'll be another opportunity for another operator
(06:04):
to come in and perhaps McDonald to have another crack
if they find another location. But yeah, I'm on McDonald's
side on this one.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yeah, And here's the thing. Didn't the play minister say
we've got to stop saying.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
No, Yeah, that's the thing, right. Aren't we all pro
growth now? Aren't we saying, YaST of these things? Aren't
we getting sick of how long it takes stuff to
get through the planning process? I mean, Wonica has that
classic small town thing. It's the same thing that they
had in Queenstown over the Hill about twenty years ago. Right.
One of the charms is that it's a really beautiful
small town in an idyllic location. The problem is that
you get heaps of New Zealanders who go, hey, here's
(06:37):
a beautiful small town, idyllic location, let's move here.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Right. Well, I know, well that the old town is
like the old town, but the new town, Northlake and
all that, that's a new town. And there's lots of
young families who have moved there. There's over thirteen thousand
people living in the place. The place is coming on
to being a city, and it's going to be a
city without a McDonald's and they're going to say they've
got to McDonald's in Gore, so come on now. Anyway,
(07:00):
New Zealand has slipped to its worst ever ranking on
the Least Corruption Country list, and there's conniptions about this
because we're now in spot number four, which is still
quite good, or is it not. I don't know. What
do you think, Sarah.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I think we should be very worried about it, not
so much that we sit at number four, but more
the trend of perception of our integrity trending downwards. We're
a small country, a long long way away from our
export markets, and I just don't think we can afford
to be complacent about the quality of our reputation. And
I think also, Andrew, one of the things we've got
(07:35):
to remember is that the CPI isn't reporting the views
of Joe average. These views are views of thirteen expert organizations.
And I think also we need to think about the
fact that two thirds of countries have a score of
less than fifty out of one hundred, and there are
billions of dollars of climate thumbs at risk of being
(07:58):
stolen or miss you within these countries. And you know,
you just need to look at the last year in
Climate Change conference and a number of oil and guest
lobbyists that we're calling all over that. So I think
this is the biggest news of the day.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Oh okay, and Jack, Yeah, look, it's serious, right.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
I know you're out of time, Andrew, so I'll just
say this. I think the ranking doesn't matter so much
as the trend. And actually there are a couple of
areas that we could tidy up in New Zealand that
make a big difference. Some of the rules around lobbying
top of the list for me. And if we're trying
to attract international investment, having a really, really strong reputation
around corruption is absolutely vital because any company or person
that's coming into New Zealand wants to spend money here
(08:39):
developing a business, of developing our opportunity opening a McDonald's
and wonaka, wants to know that they are doing it
on an equal playing field. They don't. They want to
know that there's no one else who's getting a secret advantage.
And that's why I think this is so important.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Thank you so so much to both of you, that
is Jack Taman and Sera Trumpman.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
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 Southerby's International Realty, local and
global exposure like no other.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Jactating from Saturday mornings on Newstork's A B and Sarah
Trumpman from Business Mentors join me. Holl the guys killed up?
Oh I sorry, Sarah? Are you there?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I sure am?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
And that's very good. So Judith Collins told off the
public service? What did you make of it?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Jack?
Speaker 4 (00:24):
Look? I think flu is entirely right. I think there
was probably an element of political theater involved in Judith
Colins statements. And when it comes to political theater, there
are a few masters of greater talent than Judith Collins.
That being said, at the core of the message, I
think our entirely reasonable points. Yes, I think sometimes the
public service can get a bit grandiose in some of
(00:45):
its language, and especially given the current fiscal conditions we
all face, economic conditions we all face. I think it's
absolutely incumbent public service, public servants speened taxpayer dollars. Wisely,
that being seen, I don't think there are too many
recent examples, at least during this term and government, of
(01:07):
you know, gross spending from government departments or public service
that might raise the ire of the taxpayer. You know,
I recall a couple of prime examples in the last
couple of years from fearwell Who's and celebrations and birthday
parties and things where some tens of thousands of dollars
well spent. I think that sort of you know, that
(01:27):
sort of attitude has been stamped out. Probably wasn't terribly
widespread to begin with, but yeah, I think most public
servants are probably on board with the minister's comments. They
probably didn't need the reminder. I think that's for the
rest of us.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Well, what do you think, Sarah I actually thought when
I was listening to Flur, I thought, oh gosh, she's
she's saying no all the way through that there was
a lack of humility that you know, she believed that
her point of view was more important than the ministers.
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Not to be honest, I found myself getting a bit
irritated with her the more she spoke. And you know,
to Jack's point, with respect, if somebody's throwing a thirty
thousand dollar farewell for a CEO and they think it's okay,
one wonders about the culture and an organization. When I
(02:15):
heard JERF Collins warning the public service. I thought, hallelujas,
here's a politician that understands the blood, sweat and tears
that goes into making a dollar. But I also noticed
that she called on the public service to embrace innovation,
specifically AI, and to be championing high standards and on
all for that. But look, I think she's always been
(02:37):
a great servant of the people. She's always got the
people at heart. We the taxpason spends what six billion
dollars on salaries for people in the public service, as
first said, I think it was blurted. That's gone up
thirty four percent, and it's got to come back down.
Many of these people are excellent, but it certainly doesn't
(02:57):
hurt to encourage them to spend our money as if
it's their own.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, okay, Sarah, can I say so?
Speaker 4 (03:02):
One thing? I think I think we do like run
into danger of turning public servants into the enemy, kind
of unnecessarily, like turning this cultural that doesn't need to exist.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I mean, Jack, I don't know how much you've dealt
with them. Some of them are the enemy, some of
them are actually they've got such a political belief they
stop stuff.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
I actually, I actually think for the most part so
that look, there are bad actors in every organization everywhere,
whether it's the private sector or the public sector. I
think for the most part we can be thankful that
in New Zealand we have a relatively politically neutral public service.
I'm not saying it's perfect, but I think for the
most part it's pretty good. And I think for the
most part, the vast majority of people working in the
(03:44):
public service are not working there because they're expecting to
make millions of dollars or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Off I agree with you on that they are woefully underpaid.
And if you've got to Singapore they're the highest paid people,
you know they are woefully underpaid. And if you paid
Pena to get monkeys. But look, we're going to get
on to the big story of the day, which is
one and it's McDonald's.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
The Huddle with New Zealand Southeby's International Realty Elevate the
Marketing of your Home.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
On the Hell of Jack, Jack Taymer and Sarah Trupman
and I'm Andrew Dickens. Right. Wonica has told Macas it
won't be allowed to build a restaurant in the town.
We talked to the deputy mayor. He suggested that maybe
it was a better site. It could be, it could happen. However,
i've read the decision. I never read any of that
in there. What did you guys make of the decision? Sarah?
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Oh, look, I wasn't surprised by it. The vast majority
of those three hundred and fifty submittives and that's quite
a high number for this sort of consultation, they were
opposed to it. But I do wonder about it. I think, yes,
the commissioners do need to consider the district plan. These
things are usually widely consulted on. But for me, I
wondered where are where the property rights sit in the
(04:55):
priority of things? And I also thought it was interesting
that McDonald's spent more than a year navigating the arima,
making major concessions throughout the process. And you've got to
wonder what sort of message we're sending on the ease
of doing business in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Jack, I reckon, you're a keen tramp and you've got
the mountains, and boy, there's nothing like a quarter pounder
when you've come down from mount to spill.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Far be it from me to jump on the side
of the big fast food franchisers. In fact, I think
it's I think it's eighteen years at least since I
had my last meal from McDonald's Andrew. But I think
with the decision, so the locals raise concerns about the
esthetic essentially right, and McDonald's tried to meet them halfway.
(05:40):
They said, right, for starters, we won't operate twenty four
hours a day just by the our original plan, or
reduce the opening hours, and they even reduced the size
of the golden arches of the logo as far as
I understand it. So I don't know, Like I say,
far be it from me to come down the side
of the big brands. But I reckon it's a little
bit snooty. I reckon it's just a little bit snooty.
You know. Maybe there'll be another opportunity for another operator
(06:04):
to come in and perhaps McDonald to have another crack
if they find another location. But yeah, I'm on McDonald's
side on this one.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yeah, And here's the thing. Didn't the play minister say
we've got to stop saying.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
No, Yeah, that's the thing, right. Aren't we all pro
growth now? Aren't we saying, YaST of these things? Aren't
we getting sick of how long it takes stuff to
get through the planning process? I mean, Wonica has that
classic small town thing. It's the same thing that they
had in Queenstown over the Hill about twenty years ago. Right.
One of the charms is that it's a really beautiful
small town in an idyllic location. The problem is that
you get heaps of New Zealanders who go, hey, here's
(06:37):
a beautiful small town, idyllic location, let's move here.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Right. Well, I know, well that the old town is
like the old town, but the new town, Northlake and
all that, that's a new town. And there's lots of
young families who have moved there. There's over thirteen thousand
people living in the place. The place is coming on
to being a city, and it's going to be a
city without a McDonald's and they're going to say they've
got to McDonald's in Gore, so come on now. Anyway,
(07:00):
New Zealand has slipped to its worst ever ranking on
the Least Corruption Country list, and there's conniptions about this
because we're now in spot number four, which is still
quite good, or is it not. I don't know. What
do you think, Sarah.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I think we should be very worried about it, not
so much that we sit at number four, but more
the trend of perception of our integrity trending downwards. We're
a small country, a long long way away from our
export markets, and I just don't think we can afford
to be complacent about the quality of our reputation. And
I think also, Andrew, one of the things we've got
(07:35):
to remember is that the CPI isn't reporting the views
of Joe average. These views are views of thirteen expert organizations.
And I think also we need to think about the
fact that two thirds of countries have a score of
less than fifty out of one hundred, and there are
billions of dollars of climate thumbs at risk of being
(07:58):
stolen or miss you within these countries. And you know,
you just need to look at the last year in
Climate Change conference and a number of oil and guest
lobbyists that we're calling all over that. So I think
this is the biggest news of the day.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Oh okay, and Jack, Yeah, look, it's serious, right.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
I know you're out of time, Andrew, so I'll just
say this. I think the ranking doesn't matter so much
as the trend. And actually there are a couple of
areas that we could tidy up in New Zealand that
make a big difference. Some of the rules around lobbying
top of the list for me. And if we're trying
to attract international investment, having a really, really strong reputation
around corruption is absolutely vital because any company or person
that's coming into New Zealand wants to spend money here
(08:39):
developing a business, of developing our opportunity opening a McDonald's
and wonaka, wants to know that they are doing it
on an equal playing field. They don't. They want to
know that there's no one else who's getting a secret advantage.
And that's why I think this is so important.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Thank you so so much to both of you, that
is Jack Taman and Sera Trumpman.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
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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