January 21, 2026 • 11 mins
FIRST WITH YESTERDAY'S NEWS (highlights from Wednesday on Newstalk ZB) Winston Always Has the Final Say/Will Councils Ever Be Reined In?/When Trump's Not In the Room/Ramsay Hangs Around
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 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from news Talk, said b
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Used Talk said, be you talk.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Hello, my beautiful beanies, and welcome to the Means Thursday,
first of yesterday's news. I am Glen Hart, and we
are looking back at Wednesday. We wonder if counsels will
ever be hard to account over rates, however exorbitant they did.
(00:46):
Tim Rockburgh was very interested in what Cannie Prime Minister
Canney of Canada had to say at Davos in the
early hours of yesterday morning. And Raylen Ramsey celebrates a
significant anniversary. But before any of that, Yes, the election
(01:06):
date announced yesterday. Andrew Dickens was only e before that.
That didn't stop him talking about it.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
So it might be today that the government announces the
date of the election. So some of cour for an
early election. They argue that the job to fix us
up needs more time. The government could then argue they're
the ones to do it. They could ask for a
mandate for another three years to finish the job, and
the sooner we get on with it the better. Now, look,
I can see that point of view, but I don't
agree with it. In fact, I think it's wishful thinking.
(01:33):
How though, let's ground this in reality. We've been through
a tough two years. Governments always get the blame for
the tough years, so the government is currently at a
low ebb in their popularity. But as we're starting to hear,
there are good signs in the economy, not just here
but everywhere. Geopolitical events notwithstanding, So why not wait until
the green shoots actually turn into a proper crop. It's
(01:56):
too soon, is it not. And with Christopher Luxen's State
of the Nation's speech being portrayed as a yawn fest
with little new vision, there's no silver bullet in the
chamber that might excite the electorates. So why call an
early election? My pick and everybody's pick is still nearly November,
early November, and that will mean every party over the
(02:17):
next year are going to be looking at the economic
indicators with extra trepidation. And you know, you know what,
Labor's just sitting there trying to hide their policies, hoping
that economic dissatisfaction busts, while national is sitting there with
all their fingers crossed down, their toes crossed, hoping the
economy turns the corner and finally blows some favor on
their campaign.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Oh yes, sir, Andrew bang on there of course, So
none of us here at work. You are allowed to
go on leave from September through to early November. The
government doesn't think of this kind of thing when they
and now it's elections today. Suddenly, if we were wanting
(02:57):
to get a I don't know, FIGI or something in October, Stars.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
News talk z It Bean.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Hope Bridge already had his leave applications.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
In Winston Peters, as always, will decide who actually wins
the election. He's ruled out working with Chippy, but not Labor.
Here's the crucial point. Though Winston Peters cannot politically enter
a deal propped up by or supported by the Greens
or to Party Mardi. It would be political suicide. In
(03:32):
pretty much every poll this term, Labor has needed both
of them to get close to the magic sixty one seats.
Now you could argue that National might stumble and Labor
could surge. The chances of this happening, I would say
are probably around twenty percent at this point, very unlikely.
The economic recovery is underway, Summer will be around the
corner come November. But most importantly, people won't switch horses
(03:57):
mid stream when that recovery has been so hard fought.
The memory, particularly in Auckland, is too short for voters
to forget Labour's COVID mess and unbridled spending on outrageous
and expensive things. Remember the seven hundred and fifty million
dollar bridge going across the White Matar Harbor that wouldn't
(04:18):
carry a single car, the bike bridge. Come on, our
memories aren't that short. Chris Hopkins today has also announced
a date his wedding. He says it'll be held in
twenty twenty seven, and I fear Tony that means you
are likely to marry an unemployed bloke from the Hut.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Yeah, so.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
I thank everybody sort of who pays the attention to
these things does accept that it always comes down to
who Winston wants to deal with. So it makes me
wonder why we bother having the election at all, and
why we don't just wait for Winston. It takes Winston
so long to make a decision sometimes on this too.
(05:01):
Perhaps we could just call off the election now and
then give them a tall November to decide who he
likes best. Talk said anyway as part of the election campaign.
Of course, the issue of central government's influence over local
government might be a factor. They make a big noise
(05:23):
about these things, but has anything actually changed.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
How do you feel about higher parking fees? What about
higher dumping fees? How do you feel about paying more
to use to your local council pool, higher consent charges?
He life won't be cheaper, it'll be more expensive, which
shows just how disingenuous the government has been when it
(05:46):
says enforced council rates caps are going to reduce the
cost of living. Now, I've always known that this idea
isn't actually going to deliver us any benefits. In this
cabinet paper I've mentioned proves it, and the people who
actually know a thing or two about how councils work,
and the Croat sent council staff and counselors further proof.
(06:07):
And the government needs to accept that and drop it
instead of just instead of pandering to voters by waving
the big stick and telling councils just cut your cloth,
cut your cloth. I mean, it's like we're supposed to
clap at the headline and not look at the fine print.
The government knows that This won't make life cheaper. It's
just rearranging the ditches. And you know, talk about be
(06:30):
careful what you wish for, because no matter how much
you might think your local council needs to reign in
the spending wherever you live in the country, no matter
how much you think the spending needs to be rained in,
this idea of a rates cap won't make one bit
of difference.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, I think John's onto something there. There's a lot
of announcements of things that might happen, and then you
get another announcement when the thing actually happens, and there
are not so many announcements of how much difference has
it actually made. May I refer to you to the
(07:07):
road Cone hotline for example. So this morning I've been
watching as much as I can handle of the Trump's babbel,
his verbal diarrhea, opens his mouth and just turns off
the brain and away he goes and Davos yesterday, Mark
(07:28):
Karney of Canada he had a bit to say. Tim
caught up with that.
Speaker 7 (07:36):
It's worth checking out what he did. He wrote it
all himself. I mean, all the most prominent politicians have
speech writers, which is absolutely fine. That's how it works,
and normally their speech writers are able to get into
the brain of the person they're writing speeches for, and
then the political leader will then rewrite things and make
some tweaks. We'll keep it pretty much as is. But
(07:58):
in this case, this is entirely his work delivered at
the World Economic Forum and Davos, and this was a
speech for the times in which we're in and he
didn't meant words. And I think one of the things
that is, I guess, both comforting and unsettling, is that
he is saying that this is a rupture. Things aren't
(08:18):
going back to how they were before as far as
the world as we know it. And he said that
nostalgia is not a strategy. But he talked about the
collective power of medium countries, given we can't rely on
the States anymore, that countries like Canada and Australia and
South Korea, that they can have collective power, and that
(08:38):
new associations and friendships and alignments can be made. And
that's really what has to be done as far as
moving forward, given that you cannot rely on the US anymore,
and seeing the reaction from Americans who are just heartbroken
realizing that Canada is providing leadership in the world in
(08:59):
the US is providing instability anyway? Worth checking out Mark
Carney's speech the Canadian PM. Thank goodness he's there.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
I seem to recall Mark Kenney saying all these things
about what he was and wasn't going to do in
response to what the US was doing with Canada, with terrorists, etc.
And then he went to the White House and all
that seemed to be completely go out the window. So
I don't know if we can put too much wait
on what he says when Trump's not in the room.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
News talk has it been now?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
There was a morning tea? Was it an afternoon tea?
At some point in the day yesterday? There was some
food eaten. And to recognize Raylen Ramsey's fortieth anniversary, not
with her husband Malcolm working here.
Speaker 8 (09:52):
Ralian's News public Knowledge.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Oh yes, I think it is Raylean. You're still there, Yes, yes,
she's come back. I think I think most people know.
It's a big day for you today, Raylen. Yes, it
is a big day.
Speaker 8 (10:06):
Forty years with company forty.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Yes, well done, happy fortieth anniversary.
Speaker 8 (10:13):
Looking at the shots of you and Lively breakfast radio
teams back in the day.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Oh yes, it's what we all had to do, Matt,
wasn't it.
Speaker 8 (10:22):
Yeah, that's right, that's as we climbed our way up
to Zibei.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Yeah, so clear.
Speaker 8 (10:27):
So you know, forty years in radio, more more more
in radio, though, haven't you, Because you've been elsewhere as well,
haven't you.
Speaker 9 (10:34):
Oh no, I yeah, no, I actually started fifty years ago,
but went away just overseas and came back.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
But all the time has always been in radio, and
always with this.
Speaker 9 (10:46):
Company, even though I was asked to jump the pond
every now and again. But no, no, no, it's just
such an amazing medium, as you both know.
Speaker 8 (10:55):
Yeah, yeah, it's a fantastic medium, and you're a fantastic broadcaster.
So that's why you've been in the game as long
as you have been.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
If you just hang around long enough, they go, ok, okay,
we'll keep you. Thank you very much, Thank you huge.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Min Yes, I think she summed it up very well.
Just just hang around and then eventually you get a
morning tea. I got one for and I was only
here thirty years so that I don't know what's going
to happen if I make it to forty. Keep keep
(11:32):
your head down. That's that's my motto. And hope that
nobody notices what you're actually doing. What I'm actually doing
as finishing this podcast and I'll start it up again tomorrow.
I'll see you then.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Used Talking Talking Said Beam. For more from News Talk
Said b Listen live on air or online, and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from news Talk, said b
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Used Talk said, be you talk.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Hello, my beautiful beanies, and welcome to the Means Thursday,
first of yesterday's news. I am Glen Hart, and we
are looking back at Wednesday. We wonder if counsels will
ever be hard to account over rates, however exorbitant they did.
(00:46):
Tim Rockburgh was very interested in what Cannie Prime Minister
Canney of Canada had to say at Davos in the
early hours of yesterday morning. And Raylen Ramsey celebrates a
significant anniversary. But before any of that, Yes, the election
(01:06):
date announced yesterday. Andrew Dickens was only e before that.
That didn't stop him talking about it.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
So it might be today that the government announces the
date of the election. So some of cour for an
early election. They argue that the job to fix us
up needs more time. The government could then argue they're
the ones to do it. They could ask for a
mandate for another three years to finish the job, and
the sooner we get on with it the better. Now, look,
I can see that point of view, but I don't
agree with it. In fact, I think it's wishful thinking.
(01:33):
How though, let's ground this in reality. We've been through
a tough two years. Governments always get the blame for
the tough years, so the government is currently at a
low ebb in their popularity. But as we're starting to hear,
there are good signs in the economy, not just here
but everywhere. Geopolitical events notwithstanding, So why not wait until
the green shoots actually turn into a proper crop. It's
(01:56):
too soon, is it not. And with Christopher Luxen's State
of the Nation's speech being portrayed as a yawn fest
with little new vision, there's no silver bullet in the
chamber that might excite the electorates. So why call an
early election? My pick and everybody's pick is still nearly November,
early November, and that will mean every party over the
(02:17):
next year are going to be looking at the economic
indicators with extra trepidation. And you know, you know what,
Labor's just sitting there trying to hide their policies, hoping
that economic dissatisfaction busts, while national is sitting there with
all their fingers crossed down, their toes crossed, hoping the
economy turns the corner and finally blows some favor on
their campaign.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Oh yes, sir, Andrew bang on there of course, So
none of us here at work. You are allowed to
go on leave from September through to early November. The
government doesn't think of this kind of thing when they
and now it's elections today. Suddenly, if we were wanting
(02:57):
to get a I don't know, FIGI or something in October, Stars.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
News talk z It Bean.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Hope Bridge already had his leave applications.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
In Winston Peters, as always, will decide who actually wins
the election. He's ruled out working with Chippy, but not Labor.
Here's the crucial point. Though Winston Peters cannot politically enter
a deal propped up by or supported by the Greens
or to Party Mardi. It would be political suicide. In
(03:32):
pretty much every poll this term, Labor has needed both
of them to get close to the magic sixty one seats.
Now you could argue that National might stumble and Labor
could surge. The chances of this happening, I would say
are probably around twenty percent at this point, very unlikely.
The economic recovery is underway, Summer will be around the
corner come November. But most importantly, people won't switch horses
(03:57):
mid stream when that recovery has been so hard fought.
The memory, particularly in Auckland, is too short for voters
to forget Labour's COVID mess and unbridled spending on outrageous
and expensive things. Remember the seven hundred and fifty million
dollar bridge going across the White Matar Harbor that wouldn't
(04:18):
carry a single car, the bike bridge. Come on, our
memories aren't that short. Chris Hopkins today has also announced
a date his wedding. He says it'll be held in
twenty twenty seven, and I fear Tony that means you
are likely to marry an unemployed bloke from the Hut.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Yeah, so.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
I thank everybody sort of who pays the attention to
these things does accept that it always comes down to
who Winston wants to deal with. So it makes me
wonder why we bother having the election at all, and
why we don't just wait for Winston. It takes Winston
so long to make a decision sometimes on this too.
(05:01):
Perhaps we could just call off the election now and
then give them a tall November to decide who he
likes best. Talk said anyway as part of the election campaign.
Of course, the issue of central government's influence over local
government might be a factor. They make a big noise
(05:23):
about these things, but has anything actually changed.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
How do you feel about higher parking fees? What about
higher dumping fees? How do you feel about paying more
to use to your local council pool, higher consent charges?
He life won't be cheaper, it'll be more expensive, which
shows just how disingenuous the government has been when it
(05:46):
says enforced council rates caps are going to reduce the
cost of living. Now, I've always known that this idea
isn't actually going to deliver us any benefits. In this
cabinet paper I've mentioned proves it, and the people who
actually know a thing or two about how councils work,
and the Croat sent council staff and counselors further proof.
(06:07):
And the government needs to accept that and drop it
instead of just instead of pandering to voters by waving
the big stick and telling councils just cut your cloth,
cut your cloth. I mean, it's like we're supposed to
clap at the headline and not look at the fine print.
The government knows that This won't make life cheaper. It's
just rearranging the ditches. And you know, talk about be
(06:30):
careful what you wish for, because no matter how much
you might think your local council needs to reign in
the spending wherever you live in the country, no matter
how much you think the spending needs to be rained in,
this idea of a rates cap won't make one bit
of difference.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, I think John's onto something there. There's a lot
of announcements of things that might happen, and then you
get another announcement when the thing actually happens, and there
are not so many announcements of how much difference has
it actually made. May I refer to you to the
(07:07):
road Cone hotline for example. So this morning I've been
watching as much as I can handle of the Trump's babbel,
his verbal diarrhea, opens his mouth and just turns off
the brain and away he goes and Davos yesterday, Mark
(07:28):
Karney of Canada he had a bit to say. Tim
caught up with that.
Speaker 7 (07:36):
It's worth checking out what he did. He wrote it
all himself. I mean, all the most prominent politicians have
speech writers, which is absolutely fine. That's how it works,
and normally their speech writers are able to get into
the brain of the person they're writing speeches for, and
then the political leader will then rewrite things and make
some tweaks. We'll keep it pretty much as is. But
(07:58):
in this case, this is entirely his work delivered at
the World Economic Forum and Davos, and this was a
speech for the times in which we're in and he
didn't meant words. And I think one of the things
that is, I guess, both comforting and unsettling, is that
he is saying that this is a rupture. Things aren't
(08:18):
going back to how they were before as far as
the world as we know it. And he said that
nostalgia is not a strategy. But he talked about the
collective power of medium countries, given we can't rely on
the States anymore, that countries like Canada and Australia and
South Korea, that they can have collective power, and that
(08:38):
new associations and friendships and alignments can be made. And
that's really what has to be done as far as
moving forward, given that you cannot rely on the US anymore,
and seeing the reaction from Americans who are just heartbroken
realizing that Canada is providing leadership in the world in
(08:59):
the US is providing instability anyway? Worth checking out Mark
Carney's speech the Canadian PM. Thank goodness he's there.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
I seem to recall Mark Kenney saying all these things
about what he was and wasn't going to do in
response to what the US was doing with Canada, with terrorists, etc.
And then he went to the White House and all
that seemed to be completely go out the window. So
I don't know if we can put too much wait
on what he says when Trump's not in the room.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
News talk has it been now?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
There was a morning tea? Was it an afternoon tea?
At some point in the day yesterday? There was some
food eaten. And to recognize Raylen Ramsey's fortieth anniversary, not
with her husband Malcolm working here.
Speaker 8 (09:52):
Ralian's News public Knowledge.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Oh yes, I think it is Raylean. You're still there, Yes, yes,
she's come back. I think I think most people know.
It's a big day for you today, Raylen. Yes, it
is a big day.
Speaker 8 (10:06):
Forty years with company forty.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Yes, well done, happy fortieth anniversary.
Speaker 8 (10:13):
Looking at the shots of you and Lively breakfast radio
teams back in the day.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Oh yes, it's what we all had to do, Matt,
wasn't it.
Speaker 8 (10:22):
Yeah, that's right, that's as we climbed our way up
to Zibei.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Yeah, so clear.
Speaker 8 (10:27):
So you know, forty years in radio, more more more
in radio, though, haven't you, Because you've been elsewhere as well,
haven't you.
Speaker 9 (10:34):
Oh no, I yeah, no, I actually started fifty years ago,
but went away just overseas and came back.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
But all the time has always been in radio, and
always with this.
Speaker 9 (10:46):
Company, even though I was asked to jump the pond
every now and again. But no, no, no, it's just
such an amazing medium, as you both know.
Speaker 8 (10:55):
Yeah, yeah, it's a fantastic medium, and you're a fantastic broadcaster.
So that's why you've been in the game as long
as you have been.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
If you just hang around long enough, they go, ok, okay,
we'll keep you. Thank you very much, Thank you huge.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Min Yes, I think she summed it up very well.
Just just hang around and then eventually you get a
morning tea. I got one for and I was only
here thirty years so that I don't know what's going
to happen if I make it to forty. Keep keep
(11:32):
your head down. That's that's my motto. And hope that
nobody notices what you're actually doing. What I'm actually doing
as finishing this podcast and I'll start it up again tomorrow.
I'll see you then.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Used Talking Talking Said Beam. For more from News Talk
Said b Listen live on air or online, and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcast
on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
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.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal Season 5
Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.