Today on Politics Friday John was joined by National's Vanessa Weenink and Labour's Duncan Webb in studio.
Is New Zealand in an energy crisis, and will the RMA changes help get more power into our grid at a better price?
Why is National supporting the treaty bill to a certain point, even though they have no plans at all to support it past the first reading?
And does central government really have a right to tell local councils what to spend their money on?
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Morning's podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's a time for politics right in the Labor's Duncan
Web Morning Labor. I'm Morning Duncan. Good to be here
at Nationals. Vanessa Wedding Morning, Vanessa Morning. Have you ever
had a cheeseburger pie?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Mate? No, I have never had a cheeseburger pie.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I have just had a cheeseburger pie and sent into
me very kindly from the people at the Sheffield Pie Shot.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
I have had a Sheffield pie more than one, and
very good pies and they're doing very well. Presumably they're paying.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
For the slot. No, they're not. An invoice will be
on the way. Like the guy that called up before
on Talkback at Power Prices and then snuck in a
promotion for the chicken when your sale tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
So it was charitable.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
So he's getting an invoice as well ritery, so yes,
so they'll be getting an invoice. And the Sheffeld Pie
Shop thank you very much for sending that pie. And guys,
this was a pie especially made to celebrate the release
of the movie Bookworm. And apparently what I gather what
happened is the Sheffield Pie Shop. This is old what's
the name? Movie's what's his name, Jess? What's her name?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
It Liesa would he'd say the same thing about me.
So I don't feel bad about that. But this is
his new movie. We spoke with the director a few
weeks ago and apparently the Sheffield Pie Shop did the
catering for the movie.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Oh there you go, what a what a win.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
So there we are. So they created this pobbit sized
past pie. It's actually I call it a cheeseburger. It's
a Canterbury panther pie. Because the movie actually hold on.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Well you be careful. I've heard some talk back about it,
the culling that goes on in Canterbury.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I wondered that didn't taste especially good. So that was
the the panther Pie. So if you go to the
Sheffield Pie Shop over the weekend, ask about the book
whim Pie the Cannaby panther Pie. Even better get one
for yourself or yourselves anyway. With the politics, let's talk
about power, prices and the tricity crisis. What we've been
talking about in the show so far this morning and
(02:09):
Chris bish A bouncing yesterday further changes or proposed changes
to the Resource Management Deed. And the bit we've been
focusing on is making it easier for any new energy
projects to get consent. Has to be a good thing,
doesn't it, Duncan.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
New energy projects are a good thing. There's already ten
wind farms that are consented ready to be starting to
be built. One of the questions is why the gent
tailors who have those consents haven't built them already. Those
consents have been around for a while.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I can tell you why.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
You know the answer, Well, you know they're tried, and
Shane Jones has made that point that it's not in
their interests to see more generation. So we do need
more generation.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Which is why Vanessa Wennick it has been my contingents
in this morning. It's all very well, I'm making it
easier to get consents, but it's not going to force
the big companies, the big four companies, to get into
more projects. So I think I think structural change of
the electricity system is needed one of your thoughts.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, I think that's possibly right. One of the things
we're doing right now is with the Electricity Authority making
sure that we get weakly updates on basically how much
they're generating, how much they're making from that, what their
margins are, what the what their total revenue is, and
having that published with the Electricity Authority Authority every week
that it's available to the public to look and know.
(03:20):
We want more transparency in the sector.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
But when it comes down to it that they won't
give a damn bell.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
That they will put some pressure on. We're also going
to make it easier for people to move power companies
through the Customer and Data Products Data Rights Bill that's
coming through. Its actually an extra extra excellent bill, and
so that is something that will help as well. So
the more competition there is, the better. I think we
do need to do more, but getting to getting more
(03:50):
energy in the system is what's needed. At the moment.
We've had not enough wind, not enough we haven't got
enough gas and not enough sun and we've had the
driest hydrological year it's ninety ninety two. So look, the
lakes are dry and we don't have enough power. When
things are scarce, it costs more.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So they sat on the news the other night and
in the coming days the government is going to make
another significant announcement. What's that going to be, well, I
can't do nice.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Try is going to be yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Old duncan. What do you what do you suspect the
announcement is going to be.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
What it should be.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
No, no, no, no, no, no, what do you suspect?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Okay, I'm going to dream a dream. It's going to
be solar, domestic solar in storage at people's homes, distributed power.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
We've got roofs No, no, is that what you suspect?
What you hope?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
I suspect that the National Party is going to do
something amazing and they're going to announce that they're going
to they're going to assist people to put solar on
their roofs in batteries, which would give a huge reservoir
of power.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, they're not going to do that. That's what That's
what you would do in your perfect world.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
All right.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
They're going to announce their importing liquified gas are.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Yeah, they're going to announce there's going to spend three
billion on a on a stranded asset in having infrastructure
to put liquified natural grass.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
You're going to be Mars and points.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
More likely to Taranaki with the gas met work already.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Is okay, out of teen and how close is Vanessa.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
I couldn't possibly come in. However, we are going. We
are looking at we are looking at options and like
fied natural gashes one of those. And one of the
problems we have is that the previous government demonized the
exploration of gas and that is a transition energy use
that we need. We absolutely need to have that transition
(05:36):
energy and we need to have that. We agree that
we need to electrify our economy, but we see now
what happens when you don't have the investment.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Vanessa, what do you think of the idea of nationalizing
the energy sector, particularly electricity? So you have like the
old New Zealand Electricity Department and you have the government
being responsible for power generation and also for selling it
to people.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I think generally the government's not the most efficient way
of doing things, but I also don't think that the
system working properly at the moment, so we do need
to look at that. But I believe it right, you know,
the government's not the most efficient.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
What do you think Duncan nationalizing the.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
Well, the government owns half of some of those gentators already.
But I think what we need is to split up
those gentators, because being able to retail and generate gives
perverse incentives to not generate so that you can make
money downstream.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Because who who also does that go on supermarkets?
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Well, yeah, they've got integrated supply chains right through the
supply and we put in that supply code and the
Grocery Commissioner, which actually was pillory by the opposition, but
they're now actually talking about what a good thing it
was and even talking about strengthening it. So that's interesting.
All right.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
We were just talking before about Razer and Leon and Duncan.
You talked about they've had a conscious uncoupling and you
offered that I could use that at some point during
the morning. But I'll tell you what. That's what we
are going to see what the government, aren't we If
David Seymour keeps banging on about the Treaty's Bill and
you've got the other two partners saying no, no, no,
(07:14):
no no, although whence Peter's the other sall no, no, no,
or maybe maybe I mean, well.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
It's outrageous. Look, this bill is one of the most
divisive pieces of legislation I've ever seen. And that's saying
something and we know it's not going to pass, So
we're going to spend ten thousand dollars an hour in Parliament,
which is about what it costs to do something which
is shop front for David Seymour so he can wind
(07:45):
up the populace and divide us. It's outrageous, it should
never be introduced. It's and it's really irresponsible government. If
I can say that to do something that you know
is pure window dressing, I'm.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Appalled, Vanessa. You cringe a bit when you see what's
going on.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Well, we are certainly not going to take it any
further than Select Committee. That we're going to the first
Reading Select Committee. Well, and that'll be as far as
it's supported and no further.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Do you cringe when you say that.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
It's not something that I support. I think it's divisive
and I'll be glad to see the other side of
it as soon as possible.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Do you think it's nuts that your party is going
through this charade ten thousand dollars an Now.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
It's something that we had to do for a coalition agreement.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
The price of power is rending the country apart. That's
the sub total of it.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Vanessa, What do you say to that?
Speaker 3 (08:44):
We had to change the government's course. We had to
get this country back on track. If we had another
six years of labor, we would be a third world country.
It's the economic vandalism. It's been absolutely appalling. We had
to do everything.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
I haven't been I haven't been with a country view.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Yes, Cerril, I was there first six months.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
She's saying just like Afghanistani.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I'm not saying it's like that. I'm saying that we're
heading that way if we were having a labor for
another six years.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
Three years, yes, And to suggest, to suggest that it's
in the coalition agreement and to get the country back
on track, you have to utterly undo fifty years of
progress on treaty issues and redressing the wrongs that the
Crown has done. To Mary, that says something about this government.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
We're absolutely not undoing anything with the treaty. This is
a discussion. I don't think that Maori, is that delicate
that just having a discussion about it is going to
undo the work that we've done. Anything that's been passed
in any treaty, settlements that have been settled absolutely sacriscin nothing,
there's no changing anything like that. And we have no
plans to rewrite, change or do anything with the Treaty
(09:56):
of White Hungy. This is talking about the principles of
the Treaty of White Hungy, that's all. It's not Actually
people shouldn't be that done.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
What happens. What happens. Then, if, as David Seymour says,
public sentiment and public opinion says yes, the overwhelming majority
want what David Seymour wants to do, he seems to
think that that will then get national cross the line
to support it.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Absolutely will not.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
And you're saying that on behalf of yourself or the party.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
The Prime Minister says that, and I agree.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Does he say that?
Speaker 3 (10:24):
He does say that, He said it consistently and he
will not change course on that.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Why do you make duncan of the Prime Minister telling
councils the other day day. If we say that the
parties are over, the gravy trains over, can't you spend
and focus on the basics, poking central government, poking snows
in rich shouldn't?
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Well there's two things in there right. Firstly, the government
came went to the election saying we're going to evolve
power to local councils to choose what they do and
wagging the Prime ministerial finger is the opposite of that.
And the other is you know, we're shaving the money
were to do all this stuff, but where's the money
(11:05):
going to come from. They've got the water problems, they've
got all kinds of issues, and there's this talk about
funding and finance, but it's fundamentally a loser.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
It's pretty hard for you to criticize, though, because that's
exactly what you guys wanted to do with Three Waters.
Wellington knows best.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Absolutely. Three Waters was government saying this is how we
think water should be done.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Are you're not saying we don't think councils you're up
to it, You don't think you're capable.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
We think that there was we need an absolutely new
structure to deliver water and to lower the costs into
lower rate payers rates. I totally accept that. But we
didn't go to the election saying we're going to devolve
everything to you. We went to the election saying we
think we've sorted out water. We think we've done the
most cost effect of the most effective water reform. And
now what we're seeing is government saying, well, we're still
(11:52):
going to tell you what to do, but we're not
going to give you any any cash to do it.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
So Vanessa, you know as well as the next person
that people on Bank Supercia at times don't like CHRISTI
at City telling them what to do, but they've been
meged together. They've got nothing they can do about. What
makes you think the people around the country will appreciate
the government telling their local council what to do well.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I think having priorities for council is important. I think
to making sure that they're doing the basics like picking
up the rubbish and fixing potholes and taking care of
the pipes is important. I think it was a really
ironic thing that they were standing in that convention center
that costs one hundred and eighty million dollars in Wellington
when their pipes are bursting all over the place. That's
(12:33):
the kind of thing that when you look at it,
you think, hey, actually, are they making good decisions?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
In the previous national government decided that a convention center
was essential for christ Jurdge.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
We certainly didn't. Isn't it wonderful three.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
Hundred and fifty million dollars that cost and it doesn't
turn a profit and that's but that's okay because if
you go down on Victoria Square and you see people
streaming out of it and enjoying the fantastic place that
christ Ue is, that's the kind of benefits we need.
And that's what's civic assets, not private civic assets. That's
what they're fort But.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
We talk about people flooding out of the Convention Center.
Of course when they do, they can't miss the cathedral.
Why were you playing the World's smallest violin this week
about the cathedral being put on ice?
Speaker 4 (13:13):
And I think this is the first thing we don't
want is division, and so I think it's something a
bit late. Well no, no, no, no, it's not because
and I'm going to give actually Nicky Wagner a shout
out here because she did a great job in late
twenty seventeen before the election bringing people together and putting
a deal together that saw that thing progress. Now I
(13:33):
accept that the government said there's no cash there, but
bringing people together and working through something is leadership and
I think that's what the government should be doing.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Vanessa, Yeah, that's great, exactly what we're doing. And the
thing we're not got a fund, We're not going to
fund the cathedral though, and Labour wouldn't have done it either,
And so.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Well let's just check that would Labor have given the
sixty five mil?
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Well, we still en government, We knew that there was
a funding short.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Would you have would you have advocated for it?
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Would I have advocated for it? Look, I would always
advocate for finding money.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
But I do think I know this is politics right there,
but don't play politics. Would you have advocated for the
government giving sixty five mil to the.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
Church and philanthropists without money?
Speaker 2 (14:17):
So you said you would have said, no, it's unlikely that.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
The government and so that's that's why. So we need
to collaborate on this and find a solution. And I
tend to agree that coming money coming from government should
is not the answer.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Right, answer that question, brilliant. What happens at bottle stores
and supermarkets at the moment is they can sell grog
up until their closing time. It's been suggested by one
community board member in christ Church that would do the
same thing that city council does the same thing that
they've just done in Auckland and put a close off
time of nine o'clock. Vanessa, do you think that should
happen here.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Oh, I mean, ultimately that's a decision for the council.
Come on, you've got to think about the actual practicalities
of things. I think that there's if they've got a
different time for selling alcohol compared to their closing time,
it does make it operationally difficult in those stores. And
sometimes you've got to be practical and pragmatic about how
you do things.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
All right, take all the polite bid out. As a
medical professional, what do you.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Think as a medical professional, there's no safe amount of
alcohol that is safe for humans to consume.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
So does that carry your view on whether or not
there should be a limit on the hours of bottle
stores and super markes can sell ELK?
Speaker 3 (15:31):
So as a medical professional, you know, I don't really
have a huge thought process about how much people are
allowed to access it other than it should be less
so as far as I'm concerned, as a medical professional,
don't drink alcohol? Do you drink every now and then?
(15:53):
Less than this is recommended?
Speaker 2 (15:55):
What is recommended?
Speaker 3 (15:56):
So again zero is perfect, but less than four standard
drinks in anyone session for a woman or six for
a man, and no more than twenty four in a week.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
It's not bad. I think it's going to be much
more tough on me.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
You've got to know what a standard drink though is.
You got to be actually curate around that. Is a
pint A standard drink is slightly more than a standard.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
It depends what it is as well. Yeah, absolutely above
standard or blow standards markers two standard drinks?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
All right, All right, now I've got a bit distracted there.
It's not Friday night just yet. Duncle. Where do you
think there should be limits on when alcohol can be
sold in bottle stores and supermarkets?
Speaker 4 (16:37):
Yeah? I do, Actually I'm going to I'm just can
be absolutely clear, and as Vanessa said, it is ultimately
for the local licensing authority. But in terms of my
position and what's going on in christ Hute City, I
think part of the contribution of that is people accessing
alcohol when they've had a few drinks already, I think
let's get some more, and they're not making great decisions.
(16:58):
And so when we see really problematic behavior on our streets,
one of the ways to limit that is to limit
the time and worch the window and which people can
get alcohol. I think Paul McMahon's spoken out well on this,
and we need to have a really good, tough discussion
about this.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
If you're at the supermarket after nine o'clock at night
and you see down the end of the aisle a
red swan dry, I suggested to do a double check. Follow it,
go right down the aisle and if it's Duncan, just
remind me of what he's just said. I see Duncan.
Thank you, brilliant you Duncan. Web and Vanessa Winning, Thank.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
You for more from Category Mornings with John McDonald. Listen
live to news talks It'd be christ Church from nine
am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Canterbury Morning's podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's a time for politics right in the Labor's Duncan
Web Morning Labor. I'm Morning Duncan. Good to be here
at Nationals. Vanessa Wedding Morning, Vanessa Morning. Have you ever
had a cheeseburger pie?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Mate? No, I have never had a cheeseburger pie.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I have just had a cheeseburger pie and sent into
me very kindly from the people at the Sheffield Pie Shot.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
I have had a Sheffield pie more than one, and
very good pies and they're doing very well. Presumably they're paying.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
For the slot. No, they're not. An invoice will be
on the way. Like the guy that called up before
on Talkback at Power Prices and then snuck in a
promotion for the chicken when your sale tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
So it was charitable.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
So he's getting an invoice as well ritery, so yes,
so they'll be getting an invoice. And the Sheffeld Pie
Shop thank you very much for sending that pie. And guys,
this was a pie especially made to celebrate the release
of the movie Bookworm. And apparently what I gather what
happened is the Sheffield Pie Shop. This is old what's
the name? Movie's what's his name, Jess? What's her name?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
It Liesa would he'd say the same thing about me.
So I don't feel bad about that. But this is
his new movie. We spoke with the director a few
weeks ago and apparently the Sheffield Pie Shop did the
catering for the movie.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Oh there you go, what a what a win.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
So there we are. So they created this pobbit sized
past pie. It's actually I call it a cheeseburger. It's
a Canterbury panther pie. Because the movie actually hold on.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Well you be careful. I've heard some talk back about it,
the culling that goes on in Canterbury.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I wondered that didn't taste especially good. So that was
the the panther Pie. So if you go to the
Sheffield Pie Shop over the weekend, ask about the book
whim Pie the Cannaby panther Pie. Even better get one
for yourself or yourselves anyway. With the politics, let's talk
about power, prices and the tricity crisis. What we've been
talking about in the show so far this morning and
(02:09):
Chris bish A bouncing yesterday further changes or proposed changes
to the Resource Management Deed. And the bit we've been
focusing on is making it easier for any new energy
projects to get consent. Has to be a good thing,
doesn't it, Duncan.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
New energy projects are a good thing. There's already ten
wind farms that are consented ready to be starting to
be built. One of the questions is why the gent
tailors who have those consents haven't built them already. Those
consents have been around for a while.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I can tell you why.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
You know the answer, Well, you know they're tried, and
Shane Jones has made that point that it's not in
their interests to see more generation. So we do need
more generation.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Which is why Vanessa Wennick it has been my contingents
in this morning. It's all very well, I'm making it
easier to get consents, but it's not going to force
the big companies, the big four companies, to get into
more projects. So I think I think structural change of
the electricity system is needed one of your thoughts.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, I think that's possibly right. One of the things
we're doing right now is with the Electricity Authority making
sure that we get weakly updates on basically how much
they're generating, how much they're making from that, what their
margins are, what the what their total revenue is, and
having that published with the Electricity Authority Authority every week
that it's available to the public to look and know.
(03:20):
We want more transparency in the sector.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
But when it comes down to it that they won't
give a damn bell.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
That they will put some pressure on. We're also going
to make it easier for people to move power companies
through the Customer and Data Products Data Rights Bill that's
coming through. Its actually an extra extra excellent bill, and
so that is something that will help as well. So
the more competition there is, the better. I think we
do need to do more, but getting to getting more
(03:50):
energy in the system is what's needed. At the moment.
We've had not enough wind, not enough we haven't got
enough gas and not enough sun and we've had the
driest hydrological year it's ninety ninety two. So look, the
lakes are dry and we don't have enough power. When
things are scarce, it costs more.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So they sat on the news the other night and
in the coming days the government is going to make
another significant announcement. What's that going to be, well, I
can't do nice.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Try is going to be yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Old duncan. What do you what do you suspect the
announcement is going to be.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
What it should be.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
No, no, no, no, no, no, what do you suspect?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Okay, I'm going to dream a dream. It's going to
be solar, domestic solar in storage at people's homes, distributed power.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
We've got roofs No, no, is that what you suspect?
What you hope?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
I suspect that the National Party is going to do
something amazing and they're going to announce that they're going
to they're going to assist people to put solar on
their roofs in batteries, which would give a huge reservoir
of power.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, they're not going to do that. That's what That's
what you would do in your perfect world.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
All right.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
They're going to announce their importing liquified gas are.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Yeah, they're going to announce there's going to spend three
billion on a on a stranded asset in having infrastructure
to put liquified natural grass.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
You're going to be Mars and points.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
More likely to Taranaki with the gas met work already.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Is okay, out of teen and how close is Vanessa.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
I couldn't possibly come in. However, we are going. We
are looking at we are looking at options and like
fied natural gashes one of those. And one of the
problems we have is that the previous government demonized the
exploration of gas and that is a transition energy use
that we need. We absolutely need to have that transition
(05:36):
energy and we need to have that. We agree that
we need to electrify our economy, but we see now
what happens when you don't have the investment.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Vanessa, what do you think of the idea of nationalizing
the energy sector, particularly electricity? So you have like the
old New Zealand Electricity Department and you have the government
being responsible for power generation and also for selling it
to people.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I think generally the government's not the most efficient way
of doing things, but I also don't think that the
system working properly at the moment, so we do need
to look at that. But I believe it right, you know,
the government's not the most efficient.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
What do you think Duncan nationalizing the.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
Well, the government owns half of some of those gentators already.
But I think what we need is to split up
those gentators, because being able to retail and generate gives
perverse incentives to not generate so that you can make
money downstream.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Because who who also does that go on supermarkets?
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Well, yeah, they've got integrated supply chains right through the
supply and we put in that supply code and the
Grocery Commissioner, which actually was pillory by the opposition, but
they're now actually talking about what a good thing it
was and even talking about strengthening it. So that's interesting.
All right.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
We were just talking before about Razer and Leon and Duncan.
You talked about they've had a conscious uncoupling and you
offered that I could use that at some point during
the morning. But I'll tell you what. That's what we
are going to see what the government, aren't we If
David Seymour keeps banging on about the Treaty's Bill and
you've got the other two partners saying no, no, no,
(07:14):
no no, although whence Peter's the other sall no, no, no,
or maybe maybe I mean, well.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
It's outrageous. Look, this bill is one of the most
divisive pieces of legislation I've ever seen. And that's saying
something and we know it's not going to pass, So
we're going to spend ten thousand dollars an hour in Parliament,
which is about what it costs to do something which
is shop front for David Seymour so he can wind
(07:45):
up the populace and divide us. It's outrageous, it should
never be introduced. It's and it's really irresponsible government. If
I can say that to do something that you know
is pure window dressing, I'm.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Appalled, Vanessa. You cringe a bit when you see what's
going on.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Well, we are certainly not going to take it any
further than Select Committee. That we're going to the first
Reading Select Committee. Well, and that'll be as far as
it's supported and no further.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Do you cringe when you say that.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
It's not something that I support. I think it's divisive
and I'll be glad to see the other side of
it as soon as possible.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Do you think it's nuts that your party is going
through this charade ten thousand dollars an Now.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
It's something that we had to do for a coalition agreement.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
The price of power is rending the country apart. That's
the sub total of it.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Vanessa, What do you say to that?
Speaker 3 (08:44):
We had to change the government's course. We had to
get this country back on track. If we had another
six years of labor, we would be a third world country.
It's the economic vandalism. It's been absolutely appalling. We had
to do everything.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
I haven't been I haven't been with a country view.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Yes, Cerril, I was there first six months.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
She's saying just like Afghanistani.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I'm not saying it's like that. I'm saying that we're
heading that way if we were having a labor for
another six years.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
Three years, yes, And to suggest, to suggest that it's
in the coalition agreement and to get the country back
on track, you have to utterly undo fifty years of
progress on treaty issues and redressing the wrongs that the
Crown has done. To Mary, that says something about this government.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
We're absolutely not undoing anything with the treaty. This is
a discussion. I don't think that Maori, is that delicate
that just having a discussion about it is going to
undo the work that we've done. Anything that's been passed
in any treaty, settlements that have been settled absolutely sacriscin nothing,
there's no changing anything like that. And we have no
plans to rewrite, change or do anything with the Treaty
(09:56):
of White Hungy. This is talking about the principles of
the Treaty of White Hungy, that's all. It's not Actually
people shouldn't be that done.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
What happens. What happens. Then, if, as David Seymour says,
public sentiment and public opinion says yes, the overwhelming majority
want what David Seymour wants to do, he seems to
think that that will then get national cross the line
to support it.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Absolutely will not.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
And you're saying that on behalf of yourself or the party.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
The Prime Minister says that, and I agree.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Does he say that?
Speaker 3 (10:24):
He does say that, He said it consistently and he
will not change course on that.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Why do you make duncan of the Prime Minister telling
councils the other day day. If we say that the
parties are over, the gravy trains over, can't you spend
and focus on the basics, poking central government, poking snows
in rich shouldn't?
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Well there's two things in there right. Firstly, the government
came went to the election saying we're going to evolve
power to local councils to choose what they do and
wagging the Prime ministerial finger is the opposite of that.
And the other is you know, we're shaving the money
were to do all this stuff, but where's the money
(11:05):
going to come from. They've got the water problems, they've
got all kinds of issues, and there's this talk about
funding and finance, but it's fundamentally a loser.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
It's pretty hard for you to criticize, though, because that's
exactly what you guys wanted to do with Three Waters.
Wellington knows best.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Absolutely. Three Waters was government saying this is how we
think water should be done.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Are you're not saying we don't think councils you're up
to it, You don't think you're capable.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
We think that there was we need an absolutely new
structure to deliver water and to lower the costs into
lower rate payers rates. I totally accept that. But we
didn't go to the election saying we're going to devolve
everything to you. We went to the election saying we
think we've sorted out water. We think we've done the
most cost effect of the most effective water reform. And
now what we're seeing is government saying, well, we're still
(11:52):
going to tell you what to do, but we're not
going to give you any any cash to do it.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
So Vanessa, you know as well as the next person
that people on Bank Supercia at times don't like CHRISTI
at City telling them what to do, but they've been
meged together. They've got nothing they can do about. What
makes you think the people around the country will appreciate
the government telling their local council what to do well.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I think having priorities for council is important. I think
to making sure that they're doing the basics like picking
up the rubbish and fixing potholes and taking care of
the pipes is important. I think it was a really
ironic thing that they were standing in that convention center
that costs one hundred and eighty million dollars in Wellington
when their pipes are bursting all over the place. That's
(12:33):
the kind of thing that when you look at it,
you think, hey, actually, are they making good decisions?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
In the previous national government decided that a convention center
was essential for christ Jurdge.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
We certainly didn't. Isn't it wonderful three.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
Hundred and fifty million dollars that cost and it doesn't
turn a profit and that's but that's okay because if
you go down on Victoria Square and you see people
streaming out of it and enjoying the fantastic place that
christ Ue is, that's the kind of benefits we need.
And that's what's civic assets, not private civic assets. That's
what they're fort But.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
We talk about people flooding out of the Convention Center.
Of course when they do, they can't miss the cathedral.
Why were you playing the World's smallest violin this week
about the cathedral being put on ice?
Speaker 4 (13:13):
And I think this is the first thing we don't
want is division, and so I think it's something a
bit late. Well no, no, no, no, it's not because
and I'm going to give actually Nicky Wagner a shout
out here because she did a great job in late
twenty seventeen before the election bringing people together and putting
a deal together that saw that thing progress. Now I
(13:33):
accept that the government said there's no cash there, but
bringing people together and working through something is leadership and
I think that's what the government should be doing.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Vanessa, Yeah, that's great, exactly what we're doing. And the
thing we're not got a fund, We're not going to
fund the cathedral though, and Labour wouldn't have done it either,
And so.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Well let's just check that would Labor have given the
sixty five mil?
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Well, we still en government, We knew that there was
a funding short.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Would you have would you have advocated for it?
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Would I have advocated for it? Look, I would always
advocate for finding money.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
But I do think I know this is politics right there,
but don't play politics. Would you have advocated for the
government giving sixty five mil to the.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
Church and philanthropists without money?
Speaker 2 (14:17):
So you said you would have said, no, it's unlikely that.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
The government and so that's that's why. So we need
to collaborate on this and find a solution. And I
tend to agree that coming money coming from government should
is not the answer.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Right, answer that question, brilliant. What happens at bottle stores
and supermarkets at the moment is they can sell grog
up until their closing time. It's been suggested by one
community board member in christ Church that would do the
same thing that city council does the same thing that
they've just done in Auckland and put a close off
time of nine o'clock. Vanessa, do you think that should
happen here.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Oh, I mean, ultimately that's a decision for the council.
Come on, you've got to think about the actual practicalities
of things. I think that there's if they've got a
different time for selling alcohol compared to their closing time,
it does make it operationally difficult in those stores. And
sometimes you've got to be practical and pragmatic about how
you do things.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
All right, take all the polite bid out. As a
medical professional, what do you.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Think as a medical professional, there's no safe amount of
alcohol that is safe for humans to consume.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
So does that carry your view on whether or not
there should be a limit on the hours of bottle
stores and super markes can sell ELK?
Speaker 3 (15:31):
So as a medical professional, you know, I don't really
have a huge thought process about how much people are
allowed to access it other than it should be less
so as far as I'm concerned, as a medical professional,
don't drink alcohol? Do you drink every now and then?
(15:53):
Less than this is recommended?
Speaker 2 (15:55):
What is recommended?
Speaker 3 (15:56):
So again zero is perfect, but less than four standard
drinks in anyone session for a woman or six for
a man, and no more than twenty four in a week.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
It's not bad. I think it's going to be much
more tough on me.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
You've got to know what a standard drink though is.
You got to be actually curate around that. Is a
pint A standard drink is slightly more than a standard.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
It depends what it is as well. Yeah, absolutely above
standard or blow standards markers two standard drinks?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
All right, All right, now I've got a bit distracted there.
It's not Friday night just yet. Duncle. Where do you
think there should be limits on when alcohol can be
sold in bottle stores and supermarkets?
Speaker 4 (16:37):
Yeah? I do, Actually I'm going to I'm just can
be absolutely clear, and as Vanessa said, it is ultimately
for the local licensing authority. But in terms of my
position and what's going on in christ Hute City, I
think part of the contribution of that is people accessing
alcohol when they've had a few drinks already, I think
let's get some more, and they're not making great decisions.
(16:58):
And so when we see really problematic behavior on our streets,
one of the ways to limit that is to limit
the time and worch the window and which people can
get alcohol. I think Paul McMahon's spoken out well on this,
and we need to have a really good, tough discussion
about this.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
If you're at the supermarket after nine o'clock at night
and you see down the end of the aisle a
red swan dry, I suggested to do a double check. Follow it,
go right down the aisle and if it's Duncan, just
remind me of what he's just said. I see Duncan.
Thank you, brilliant you Duncan. Web and Vanessa Winning, Thank.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
You for more from Category Mornings with John McDonald. Listen
live to news talks It'd be christ Church from nine
am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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