September 26, 2024 • 9 mins
Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
The Warehouse has posted a record-setting net loss today - what's it going to take to bring consumers back?
The Government has announced another crackdown on student attendance - with teacher only days barred from happening during term time and prosecution for parents of truant kids. Do we agree with this approach?
The Dunedin Hospital project's costs have blown out, and the Government is looking to rescope it. What do we make of this?
The Hastings District Council has today voted to let non-elected Youth Councillors vote in sub-committee and committee meetings. They will also be paid $500 per meeting. Is this a fair move?
LISTEN ABOVE
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 (00:00):
The Huddle with New Zealand Southby's international realty, local and
global exposure like no other.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Mike Munroe on the Huddle, former chief of staff to
just send out doing a nic negative infrastructure New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Hello lads, Hello goa Mike.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I don't I don't know if you're the target market
for the warehouse. Do you do you still shop there
or you're more of a nold lemon guy?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Well, I live a stone throw from one actually out
at Layle Bay and Wellington, so I do. I do
drop in there, but it's only to buy some incidentals.
I must say I have noticed in recent times it's
very empty.
Speaker 5 (00:31):
You know.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
I've just been up an organo over the weekend. On
the way out, my wife and I dropped into that
new Mana Bay retail out the airport and it was
just absolutely charker. You know, there are hundreds and hundreds
of people there to have crushed into that place. I
know it's a new player on the block and people
like to try, you know, the latest new thing going
in retail. But the fact is that it's a very
(00:53):
competitive market now, that sort of low price chain market,
and I guess the warehouse is also feeling a bit
of that pressure.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
It was interesting John didn't touch on that. But but
but surely that.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Has to be a factor that there are other players
coming into that part of the market.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Yeah, that he probably doesn't want to have to say
their names out and exist. Nick, what about you, do
you still go to the warehouse?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
No?
Speaker 5 (01:19):
Not not really, And you know, I think it's a
shame because it's a New Zealand institution and a New
Zealand success story. Really, but look, you do have to
think that online shopping things like Timu are really having
a big impact on the retail sector and not just
at the top end either, And that's I think what
we're seeing here. So I mean the question will be,
(01:42):
and this is the great commercial challenges, can it reinvent itself?
And obviously they're backing themselves to be able to try
and turn things around them and good luck to them.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, I really hope they're able to. Mike, what do
you make of the government crackdown on truancy?
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Well, look, these punitive measures just sort of don't they
They don't work, and they won't work.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
I've been tried elsewhere. It's a very complex problem. This truancy, and.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
When you sort of look online, you know there's other
countries are suffering the same trends. Australia, Great Britain, even
dear old Japan, where people you know, we're etiquette and
sort of rules based, following the rules is very very important,
they're also suffering the same issues. I just think that
there's got to be more of a of a multi
(02:29):
agency approach to what's a very complex problem slapping fines
on people who don't send their kids to school. I mean,
one define is not probably not going to be paid.
But how's that going to change their behavior and how's
it going to change their attitude. I just think it's
more it's a more complex issue than that.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You know, like I think, is it about It's not
really about the dar pearance, right, the daar O parents
are never going to send their kids to school. They
don't give an ath, they're not going to pay the fines.
Is this not about the middle class parents who thinks
it's okay to fly to Fiji for a week in
school holidays, who might go. I actually know, actually you
shouldn't do it.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I don't disagree with that. I think it is partly
about that I think.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
I think we're suffering the consequences of what happened during
the COVID years, where you know, schools were closed for
a long time, the months of school closures. In fact,
twenty and twenty one, we've had teacher strikes where teacher
are not in the classrooms and the kids are at
home for often one, two, three days. So I just
think it's sort of scene now, is okay.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
To have the kids out of school for a while.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah, there's just been a bit of a change in
thinking around that from maybe a generation ago.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, okay, Nick, I want your take. We'll do it.
We'll get it from you. After the break, it's call
to two, right, and you're back with a huddle, Nick
Leagan and Mike Munroe. Nick, what do you make of
the crackdown on the truancy.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Well, look, I think that we know that the longer
kids spend in schools, the better they perform academically and socially,
and prosecution will be rare. So I think what the
governor has done is to say, hey, look, this is
a combined if it to ensure that we get the
best education outcomes for our kids. And you know, there's
(04:05):
an expectation that society has that schools will play their
part and that parents will play their part too by
helping sure that sure they get there.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I'm seeing this Nick a little bit more, you know.
I mean, these are rules that exist already, right Teacher
only days should be taken in the breaks. There are
fines existing for parents. It's not like he's introducing new rules.
He's only threatening to enforce them. And it feels to
me like it's just resetting the very thing that Mike
was talking about before, which is a complacency about education.
It's just reminding you.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
Got to go yeah, yeah, yeah, I think I think
Mike was right, and we do need you know, at
times we relax. We all relax, don't we We eat
too much, or we don't exercise, or we let standard
slip in some of our public systems. And so that's
what is happening here. The government's just stepping up and saying, look,
we're going to take this a little bit more seriously
(04:53):
and enforce the rules. And I think that will be
you know that, I think the results will begin to
speak for themselves after sure a certain amount of time.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
What do we do, Mike about Dunedin hospital.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Well, it works underway, it's happening.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
The outpatient building is understand it is well advanced and
will be open by twenty twenty six. They've got to
push on and finish it. Look, I think this government
government's discovering whither that you know, running sound, first world
public services costs a huge amount of money. And they
go around with all the chest beating bravado about slashing
(05:28):
billions off spending. Well, when you do that, it costs somewhere,
and you'll end up having to trim public services or
not go ahead with some public services. And I think
this is an example of that happening.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Now.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Hospital should be built on the basis of clinical needs,
not where Nikola Willis thinks a spending cap should be set.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Do you know what's gone wrong here, Nick? Why it's
blown out quite to the extent it has.
Speaker 5 (05:54):
Well, the first thing I'd say is it's not because
the government's imposed a spending cap that this project has
blown out. And yeah, I mean I think that probably
the structure of the project from the start wasn't great.
I mean, this is this is a much bigger question.
I mean, it's obviously a big problem for and a
big challenge for Otago and Dunedin, and we all want that.
(06:15):
We all want there to be a decent hospital service
therein for the southern part of New Zealand. But why
why does New Zealand get this wrong? We seem to
be failing our major projects. We used to be innovative
and smart and things have slipped. And so yeah, this
is going to be the most expensive hospital per bed
(06:35):
ever built in Australasia. Now, I think we all want
really high quality public services, but actually we shouldn't be
aiming for the most expensive. We've got to cut our
cloth and so this we need to examine ourselves more broadly.
It is not MICA's right. It's not just about cutting
costs of the bone, but it is about extracting more
(06:57):
value for the money we spend. If I think every
key we would expect that.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah, fair enough, Hey Mike, Okay, what about Hastings District
Council giving the non elected youth councillors voting rights and
five hundred bucks per meeting.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Well, on the financial side of it, I've got no
problem with that. These youth councils are performing an important
role and making decisions or help make decisions. Around the
well being and mental health sort of issues for young people.
I mean, councilors and Willington in Auckland get about one
hundred k year, I understand, so five hundred dollars a
(07:33):
meeting to me sounds a very sort of minor payment. Look,
I'm all in favor of giving the younger voice in
terms of their voting rights. You know, there's any number
of people now who sort of have a say in
the affairs of our cities via their councils. And I'm
talking here about the management teams and the chief executives
(07:54):
who are putting up ideas and proposals which are effectively
just getting rougher stamped by councils.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
So I don't, I don't.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
I don't have any difficult at all with the idea
of these young people having to say about services that
will affect them.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
I hate everything you're saying.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
What do you say, Nick, Well, somebody is somebody. I
got elected to a council when I was nineteen.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Elected.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Yeah, no, No, that's the that's the point I'm making.
And actually it's easier for young people to get elected
these days than it ever has been. So no, I
take a pretty dim view. I think that I mean
youth Obviously, I believe that youth participation is important and
should be encouraged. But I think voting rights is a
step too far because what we we have, you know,
(08:40):
we've got a bit complacent, you know, about democracy, and
we've seen to be prepared to erode it. We elect
a council to make decisions on behalf of a community
and resource the youth council, get them involved. But the
truth is that a couple of young people on a
committee of council not going to represent young people effectively
any not at all. Sorry, and I say that with
(09:02):
twenty five years of experience.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Apologize to me, Nick Ashle, you made my frown turn
upside down.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Thank you very much. Huddle This Evening, Mike Munroe and
Nickoley gets seven Away from.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Six 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 Southby's international realty, local and
global exposure like no other.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Mike Munroe on the Huddle, former chief of staff to
just send out doing a nic negative infrastructure New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Hello lads, Hello goa Mike.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I don't I don't know if you're the target market
for the warehouse. Do you do you still shop there
or you're more of a nold lemon guy?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Well, I live a stone throw from one actually out
at Layle Bay and Wellington, so I do. I do
drop in there, but it's only to buy some incidentals.
I must say I have noticed in recent times it's
very empty.
Speaker 5 (00:31):
You know.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
I've just been up an organo over the weekend. On
the way out, my wife and I dropped into that
new Mana Bay retail out the airport and it was
just absolutely charker. You know, there are hundreds and hundreds
of people there to have crushed into that place. I
know it's a new player on the block and people
like to try, you know, the latest new thing going
in retail. But the fact is that it's a very
(00:53):
competitive market now, that sort of low price chain market,
and I guess the warehouse is also feeling a bit
of that pressure.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
It was interesting John didn't touch on that. But but
but surely that.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Has to be a factor that there are other players
coming into that part of the market.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Yeah, that he probably doesn't want to have to say
their names out and exist. Nick, what about you, do
you still go to the warehouse?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
No?
Speaker 5 (01:19):
Not not really, And you know, I think it's a
shame because it's a New Zealand institution and a New
Zealand success story. Really, but look, you do have to
think that online shopping things like Timu are really having
a big impact on the retail sector and not just
at the top end either, And that's I think what
we're seeing here. So I mean the question will be,
(01:42):
and this is the great commercial challenges, can it reinvent itself?
And obviously they're backing themselves to be able to try
and turn things around them and good luck to them.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, I really hope they're able to. Mike, what do
you make of the government crackdown on truancy?
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Well, look, these punitive measures just sort of don't they
They don't work, and they won't work.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
I've been tried elsewhere. It's a very complex problem. This truancy, and.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
When you sort of look online, you know there's other
countries are suffering the same trends. Australia, Great Britain, even
dear old Japan, where people you know, we're etiquette and
sort of rules based, following the rules is very very important,
they're also suffering the same issues. I just think that
there's got to be more of a of a multi
(02:29):
agency approach to what's a very complex problem slapping fines
on people who don't send their kids to school. I mean,
one define is not probably not going to be paid.
But how's that going to change their behavior and how's
it going to change their attitude. I just think it's
more it's a more complex issue than that.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You know, like I think, is it about It's not
really about the dar pearance, right, the daar O parents
are never going to send their kids to school. They
don't give an ath, they're not going to pay the fines.
Is this not about the middle class parents who thinks
it's okay to fly to Fiji for a week in
school holidays, who might go. I actually know, actually you
shouldn't do it.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I don't disagree with that. I think it is partly
about that I think.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
I think we're suffering the consequences of what happened during
the COVID years, where you know, schools were closed for
a long time, the months of school closures. In fact,
twenty and twenty one, we've had teacher strikes where teacher
are not in the classrooms and the kids are at
home for often one, two, three days. So I just
think it's sort of scene now, is okay.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
To have the kids out of school for a while.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah, there's just been a bit of a change in
thinking around that from maybe a generation ago.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, okay, Nick, I want your take. We'll do it.
We'll get it from you. After the break, it's call
to two, right, and you're back with a huddle, Nick
Leagan and Mike Munroe. Nick, what do you make of
the crackdown on the truancy.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Well, look, I think that we know that the longer
kids spend in schools, the better they perform academically and socially,
and prosecution will be rare. So I think what the
governor has done is to say, hey, look, this is
a combined if it to ensure that we get the
best education outcomes for our kids. And you know, there's
(04:05):
an expectation that society has that schools will play their
part and that parents will play their part too by
helping sure that sure they get there.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I'm seeing this Nick a little bit more, you know.
I mean, these are rules that exist already, right Teacher
only days should be taken in the breaks. There are
fines existing for parents. It's not like he's introducing new rules.
He's only threatening to enforce them. And it feels to
me like it's just resetting the very thing that Mike
was talking about before, which is a complacency about education.
It's just reminding you.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
Got to go yeah, yeah, yeah, I think I think
Mike was right, and we do need you know, at
times we relax. We all relax, don't we We eat
too much, or we don't exercise, or we let standard
slip in some of our public systems. And so that's
what is happening here. The government's just stepping up and saying, look,
we're going to take this a little bit more seriously
(04:53):
and enforce the rules. And I think that will be
you know that, I think the results will begin to
speak for themselves after sure a certain amount of time.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
What do we do, Mike about Dunedin hospital.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Well, it works underway, it's happening.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
The outpatient building is understand it is well advanced and
will be open by twenty twenty six. They've got to
push on and finish it. Look, I think this government
government's discovering whither that you know, running sound, first world
public services costs a huge amount of money. And they
go around with all the chest beating bravado about slashing
(05:28):
billions off spending. Well, when you do that, it costs somewhere,
and you'll end up having to trim public services or
not go ahead with some public services. And I think
this is an example of that happening.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Now.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Hospital should be built on the basis of clinical needs,
not where Nikola Willis thinks a spending cap should be set.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Do you know what's gone wrong here, Nick? Why it's
blown out quite to the extent it has.
Speaker 5 (05:54):
Well, the first thing I'd say is it's not because
the government's imposed a spending cap that this project has
blown out. And yeah, I mean I think that probably
the structure of the project from the start wasn't great.
I mean, this is this is a much bigger question.
I mean, it's obviously a big problem for and a
big challenge for Otago and Dunedin, and we all want that.
(06:15):
We all want there to be a decent hospital service
therein for the southern part of New Zealand. But why
why does New Zealand get this wrong? We seem to
be failing our major projects. We used to be innovative
and smart and things have slipped. And so yeah, this
is going to be the most expensive hospital per bed
(06:35):
ever built in Australasia. Now, I think we all want
really high quality public services, but actually we shouldn't be
aiming for the most expensive. We've got to cut our
cloth and so this we need to examine ourselves more broadly.
It is not MICA's right. It's not just about cutting
costs of the bone, but it is about extracting more
(06:57):
value for the money we spend. If I think every
key we would expect that.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah, fair enough, Hey Mike, Okay, what about Hastings District
Council giving the non elected youth councillors voting rights and
five hundred bucks per meeting.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Well, on the financial side of it, I've got no
problem with that. These youth councils are performing an important
role and making decisions or help make decisions. Around the
well being and mental health sort of issues for young people.
I mean, councilors and Willington in Auckland get about one
hundred k year, I understand, so five hundred dollars a
(07:33):
meeting to me sounds a very sort of minor payment. Look,
I'm all in favor of giving the younger voice in
terms of their voting rights. You know, there's any number
of people now who sort of have a say in
the affairs of our cities via their councils. And I'm
talking here about the management teams and the chief executives
(07:54):
who are putting up ideas and proposals which are effectively
just getting rougher stamped by councils.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
So I don't, I don't.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
I don't have any difficult at all with the idea
of these young people having to say about services that
will affect them.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
I hate everything you're saying.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
What do you say, Nick, Well, somebody is somebody. I
got elected to a council when I was nineteen.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Elected.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Yeah, no, No, that's the that's the point I'm making.
And actually it's easier for young people to get elected
these days than it ever has been. So no, I
take a pretty dim view. I think that I mean
youth Obviously, I believe that youth participation is important and
should be encouraged. But I think voting rights is a
step too far because what we we have, you know,
(08:40):
we've got a bit complacent, you know, about democracy, and
we've seen to be prepared to erode it. We elect
a council to make decisions on behalf of a community
and resource the youth council, get them involved. But the
truth is that a couple of young people on a
committee of council not going to represent young people effectively
any not at all. Sorry, and I say that with
(09:02):
twenty five years of experience.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Apologize to me, Nick Ashle, you made my frown turn
upside down.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Thank you very much. Huddle This Evening, Mike Munroe and
Nickoley gets seven Away from.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Six 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.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.