Today on Politics Friday John MacDonald was joined in studio by National’s Matt Doocey and Labour’s Tracey McLellan.
They discussed yesterday’s supermarket announcement: does the Government really believe another player will enter the scene, or is it all just talk?
Why has some mental health funding been redistributed when New Zealand continues to suffer through a mental health crisis?
A bit closer to home, the price for our police to hire helicopters is blowing out each year, will Christchurch ever get its chopper?
And is a pie really a healthy option for a school lunch?
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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 Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's not has been served to school kids today, Matt,
do you see Welcome to politics Friday. Good morning, John,
Tracy McClellan. Welcome to politics Friday morning, both of you.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Matt, John, Yeah, Happy Valentine's Day.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
No, thank you, Matt, thank you.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
We can hardly move in here because of all the flowers.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yes, and the sneezing is going through the roof.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I feel with romance coming on, well, it's.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
A one way trust me. That's a rejection. We got
to be upfront about the stuff, don't you. I can't
lead you, lead you along thinking, oh, you know, the
bromance is happening.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Yeah, but I still felt good for We're you A
happy Valentine's Day.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Thank you very much. Happy Valentine's Dadia, and happy Valentine's data. Tracy.
Three dollar pies for school kids today. What do you
reckon of that?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Matt? Yeah, look fit to say. It's pretty disappointing. But
I suppose the reason we've been given is for the
contractor of the school lunch program to catch up on
capacity issues. The end of the day, kids having a
one off pies not the end of the world. Many
will know. I'm a big fan of the pie myself,
(01:21):
but yeah, I mean pretty disappointing. We want to make
sure that contract delivers, so going forward, will want to
make sure this doesn't happen very often.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
When you say you're a big fan of the pie,
how often would you have a pie?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well, I try and restrict it to once a week.
It's not always easy. I really came to light when
I actually moved overseas and lived in London to realize
in fact, a lot of countries don't get into the
good pies. No, So you know the corners past time,
(01:54):
I know, but that's nothing on the good old ki
We pies. So you know, when I used to come
back to visit Mum and Dad, I always sort of
made sure I had a good pie and a packet
of jet planes and some green onion chips, good old key.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I just hope that that the school kids are given
clear instructions to blow on the pie today.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Tracy, hopefully. I just want to pick up on something
Matt said about catching up and I do think it's disappointing,
but I do understand that sometimes you've got to have
a reset and try and catch up because it has
been let's be honest, it's been less than ideal. It's
been a bit of a debacle. But catching up on
a Friday with a pie hopefully signals that come Monday
(02:34):
everything will be tipped Topah.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I think they're dreaming myself.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I think so too. Look that I don't want to
malign the pie because I had a pie on Tuesday.
I got old potato top pie.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
But would you pay for that?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
I'm going to say seven dollars?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
You see, I want to find out what David Seaman
was getting his pies. Three bucks.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, but that'll be a wholesale price you buy and
buy in bulk.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
One hundred and thirteen million, one hundred and thirty thousand
pies or whatever the hell it is.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
But it's a once off, isn't it. Well, it's a
once every now and again anyway.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
So maybe the problem with the lunch has not been
delivered on time is that the state of the rights
we're talking about that this morning, Halls will Junction Roads,
the local Council of THEIRS had a guts full people
been calling in left, right and center with other roads
in different parts of town. Matt Doocy, I think we've
lost our ability to repair roads considering what we were
(03:23):
able to do with civilians infrastructure in the past.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Yeah, many of your listeners will have similar experiences where
you drive down a road that's under repair and think
they're only doing this a few months ago. Why are
they ripping it up again, and at a time when
actually councils are supposed to be tightening their abouts and
actually looking at increasing rates for many hard working Cantabrian.
(03:49):
You'd have to scratch your head and say, well, surely
there's some saving there. Why can they not be more coordinated?
In fact that as the current government, we gave christ
City Council an extra ninety million dollars to fix roads,
and it's really concerning to think that maybe that hasn't
been used wisely.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Tracy, I mean, I mean, you guys oversaw this for
a number of years, and I think you oversaw the
decline in our roads during your time in government.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
I'm not sure about that, ah you say, But one
thing that did spark my interest listening earlier on was
that they're not ash felting it because it's not apparently
strong enough to do so, which kind of speaks to
me about the fact that the groundwork, so to speak,
excuse the pun, hasn't been done over a number of
years because people are looking for the cheap option so
(04:36):
they don't increase rates instead of just doing it right
to start with. You know, robbing Peter to pay Paul
always has a price somewhere down the line. So it
would be interesting to see what the history of Hallswell
Junction Road is.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
So let's look at your area, Matt, because why make
at any council's crowing this week that they've got rates
increase down to four and a half percent as opposed
to you know what christ Church is talking about and
all the smoke and mirrors christ Church is using to
try and get that increase lower. What are the roads
that you're council is responsible for, Like.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Oh, I think they're pretty good. I mean, we do
have the opportunity of high growth and the increased rates
that brings to local councils as well. But I think
all councils seriously need to think about how much they're
increasing their rates. And I think just because you're saying
that you're the lowest in the country doesn't necessarily stop
(05:30):
you being put under the spotlight to actually say can
we do more? I think actually we need to have
a bit of a conversation about e CAN because when
you look at the significant rates increases that they're proposing,
you really got to wonder is that the best model
forward on of the view we should explore a unitary
authority and whether that would actually bring down rates collectively
(05:54):
across territorial authorities such as councils and regionals.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
So you're to merging, so why Maxcelwyn Christian City and
he can.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Well not merging those councils, but potentially whether Canterbury councils
become unitary authorities to get rid of he can in itself,
and whether that would bring down rates?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Tracy, what do you reckon short short term view?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
I think it is a short term view, and I
think there's probably more people talking about amalgamating those councils
rather than necessarily the other way around. But you know,
it's it's one of those things no one likes to
pay rates, but everybody likes what the rates money pays for,
and it's just striking that balance. And you know, I
think most people, most people can accept rates as long
(06:39):
as they know the value for money and there's not waste,
and that's the part gets That's.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
My point about CAN. I don't think many people would
see it as value for money. And when they're.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Proposing on a second no one looks at a count
any council and thing's all those value for money. No
one thinks that, So I think that's pushing it a bit. Well.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
I think I'd challenge you to go and talk to
people on the street and the top of their list
would be e CAN and the double digit rate increase.
I just point to other parts of the country. Nelson,
for example, have a unitary model and I think it's
worth exploring whether it will bring rates down across those
two authorities.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You think so old? Does the government think so?
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Well?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
That's my personal view.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Before we move off this topic, though, John, I just
want to give a shout out to good old Andre
because he has done a really good job in advocating
for the people of Hallswell. I've had a couple of
people come to me about Hallswell Junction Road and they've
mentioned it in passing about other things, but I know
that Andre's really been the one that's been collecting all
the all of the complaints and all of the there's
(07:43):
been cracked windows, there's been people, you know, just feeling
really quite on edge about the shaking, you know where
they're not that long post earthquake people are stalled kind
of cognizant of that sort of stuff. So any of
all of those disruptions have been really upsetting.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Who's justin a copen'spy a dollar forty, Matt, I don't
know if I believe that.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Well dollar forty nowhere I'm going after the show.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Yeah, maybe we're still actually maybe the romances on. We
could both go for a pie a pie Dayton Coopland's
said romance is dead, exactly, it just takes. It's just
a slow burn eighteen.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
We could even move on for a cream bun.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
We could do right moving along. What's happening with your
medical center in Rongy Order and why are you getting
so upset about it? Now?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Well, the problem nothing has happened, John, and that's the issue.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Just give us a bit of background. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Look, in twenty nineteen, I organized a petition in public
meeting with Sandy and David MacLean, local residents who are
calling for and after ours facility and sadly Sandy's passed
away in that time and we'll never see that facility
come to fruition. At the time, caroly and Gullery from
Cannery District Health Board came out and announced that we
(08:57):
were now at a population level that are required and
after ours and in twenty twenty the then Health Minister
signed off the contract. Look, it's a smart contract. There's
no cost to rate power or taxpayer. The developer gets
a long term contract and in return builds a facility themselves.
The problem is that the developer, in my view, has
(09:20):
distalled the whole time, has not fronted the community. The
consensor in place. The first announcement it was to open
in twenty twenty one. Look, COVID did happen.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
When you said the developer, you mean the medical people
behind it? Yeah, who got the contract and they are
medical people who already operate in the areas.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Yeah it's SouthLink Health who have GP practices across the country,
but they already have some practices in wymarcad Eddi. The
last we heard was twenty twenty four it was going
to open. Like I say, the consensor in place, no
action and the community deserves shovels in the ground. So
Michael yesterday was either builder or back out. Let someone
(10:01):
else come in, who will build it?
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Trocy McClellan. So this was signed under your government with
Labor Health Minister. Do you think that this sort of
thing you can areas growing, like why make Ready is.
Do you think it's a bit ritual, a bit much
to expect them getting these types types of facilities dependent
on the will of private operators.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Well, I think what Matt said. I think it was
a good contract at the time, and I remember your
campaign and there was clearly therefore someone that put their
hand up and said, hey, this is the area that
we want to service. And it was a contract. Obviously
there's mutual benefit. And so if someone says they're going
to do it and the business case stapped up at
the time enough to get consents in place and all
(10:47):
that sort of stuff, what's changed, you know? So I
agree with Matt, I'd be I think the community deserved
to know what's going on and whether there's something behind
the scenes that means that people are just trying to
get a little bit more out of it than what
was originally agreed to. What do you mean, well maybe
the I mean, I don't think the circumstances have changed.
(11:08):
The need won't have changed. The population would have increased
if anything, So it can't be that the demands change.
So what's the profitability or what's the what's the favorability
of this project? You know, it must still stack up,
So they do need to front up and more important
than they need to give certainty of the community.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
And that's right. It would have been a competitive process
at the time and they were selected as a preferred provider.
It would have stacked up back in twenty nineteen. That's
why it was announced it would open in twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Do you know, Matt, whether there's there have been conversations
going on between the previous health mins has shown recu
or the current health Minister.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
No, because my understanding is that actually the consents are
all in place, there's nothing prohibiting this developer to go
on and build, and actually the community deserves someone to
front up and tell them what's happening. Even the local
media and why marked EDI are telling me the develop
(12:09):
has refused to return their calls and emails to actually
explain to them what's happening. And I don't think that's
fair enough. Look, things could change, Things do change in life.
Nothing's perfect. But I just think there's a bit of
personal responsibility there where. If you've had the contract since
twenty twenty five years now, two dates have been missed
(12:29):
for an opening, consensor in place, no shovels in the ground,
and no one's fronting the community. That's my role as
a local elected representative is to call that out in
town to front up.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Are they your doctor?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Are they myself? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
This practice they're not. Maybe should try to get in
and then get an appointment. They're going about the table,
Matt just all about well, all about solutions here.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
No I know what to talk for Tracy, but but
I'd say it's probably reflective across both of us. When
we do go to our local GPS, sometimes the conversation
came morph into why our health issues.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Can I can imagine that's once you get out of
the waiting room. Met before we talking about pollie helicopters. Yeah,
were you saying something?
Speaker 4 (13:09):
It's just it's just talking about licking the top of
a pie. So no one would steal it from him. Sorry.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I did go to an all boys secondary school that
happened to me for me once coming coming out of
the touch shop. Yes, and then and a guy so
called Mate said I'll look over there, and I looked
over then he stuck his finger in the pie preventive metal.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
I remember it vividly. You would line up and lines
at the touch shop at St Bede's and once he
got your pie. And what were the drinks back then?
Double a? You had a bottle of double a?
Speaker 2 (13:40):
What the hell is that?
Speaker 3 (13:41):
And it was a locally brewed fizzy places in prist
Church And as you walk back down the line, everyone
tried to bite the pie out of your out of
your hand.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
It's some beads a wed place.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Yeah, well it just shows how popular pies were.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Brilliant, good old days. You share anything, Some beads share anything.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Old mints and cheese.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Can I ask you why was it last year the
money that was eremarked for frontline mental health services? Why
was it that you move that sideways to pay for
the Mental Health Innovation Fund or you put it in
the Mental Health Innovation Fund? Was that a bit rich?
Given the criticism that National laid Labour's feet of not
(14:22):
delivering on mental health services.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
No, I mean exactly the opposite. I was a bit
confused by that story that was written because the money
was sitting in Wellington, right And if you go back
and read the comments from both myself and the Prime
Minister when we announced the Innovation Fund you're referring to
on the fore court of Parliament before the election. The
(14:44):
Innovation Fund is the vehicle to get money out of
Wellington that was stuck there to the front line. So
just to finish off John, the money from the Innovation
Fund has gone to Saint John Kerwin's Mighty Me so
that's school based education programs. It's gone to the Mental
Health Foundation, it's gone to Youth Line, it's gone to
Mate and Constructions. So quite the opposite to Mike King.
(15:04):
Where you, Mike King, know that the Innovation Fund money
with the Ham so the way it very proudly gave
twenty four million dollars to Mike King fifteen thousand young people,
some of them seen within twenty four hours. But back
to the Innovation Fund. So that was delivering on a
promise to get money stuck in Wellington to the frontline
of grassroots mental services.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
And I'm quite proud of that fund, all right, let's
look at police helicopters. Because before the before the last election,
a candidate in christ Church, Dale Stevens, it was said
that National's policy was provided a police helicopter for christ Church.
But figures released a news talks there be show that
police spent just under sixteen million dollars on private helicopters
(15:47):
in the last financial year, almost four million more than
the twenty nineteen to twenty year. So there are three
Egle helicopters or based in christ Church, one was trialed,
all based in Auckland, one was trialed in christ Church.
Matt Ducy, do you think the time has come for
us to have a police helicopter in christ Church?
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Well, the first thing I'd say is, as you would expect,
it's an operational issue for police. But what I would
say is that what about as a local Impcha notice
that that's what I'm going to say. As a greater
christ Church MP. Clearly christ Church has growing now right,
greater christ Church towns of Rolliston Ring, you're a while
of a seenor part of christ Church. So as we
(16:25):
move out over our geography, clearly the police need all
the tools they need and whether that be drones or helicopters.
I would support that. What I don't have is the
full information to tell you whether the sixteen million dollars
for private helicopter hire is a better use in investing
(16:45):
in one itself as well. I think it's probably a
logical next step to explore that. But like I say,
that's for police to operationally decide what tools they need
to enforce the law.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Right, So so it's a logical next step to explore it.
But also are you're also saying you think there is
a need for it.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Well, clearly there is need for it because they're currently
hiring private helicopters. Whether that gets over a threshold of
investing and police's own one here, I do not have
the information to make that assessment, but clearly they are
using helicopters at the moment, and for me it does
seem a logical next step when we see the growth
(17:26):
of Greater christ Urt, it's more an expensive area, and
if we do need to crack down on criminals, clearly
the use of helicopters at certain times, as Auckland is proven,
is clearly beneficial.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Tracy mccillan, Labour's police spokesperson, Ginny Anderson is saying that
the government shall look into this. This seems to be
a change of heart on Labour's part.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
No, I don't think it's a change of heart. But
what the interesting figure there was that the cost that's
increased in extra four million dollars. So I think that
what Matt says is correct. And so far as you know,
there's clearly a need, well potentially a need, but that
whatever that is, it's growing. So the most important thing
here is that the South Island shouldn't miss out. We've
been missing out on all sorts of things. So if
(18:07):
there needs to be some study, some cost benefit analysis,
or a decent, decent sort of look at this, even
if it's an operational measure, then I'm sick of the
South Island getting the rough end of the deal, and
I think that if it's warranted, that's what we want.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
What's your gut feeling.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
My gut feeling is that when the trial was on,
people didn't like the helicopter. But as Matt said, greater
christ Church is bigger, we're spending more money on it.
It feels as if it's a The feels as if
its time has come, and if it's useful and it
works in other places, then the South Island doesn't want
(18:44):
to miss out.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Matt, do you say, I'm not sure if you're aware
that Jerry Brown is dead against a police helicopter because
he says that it is the sound of it is
traumatic for people post earthquake.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Well, I think the speaker has allowed his views and
I respect his views, and I think what you're highlighting,
and Tracy's alluded to it as well, is there is
a difference of opinion within the community itself. Like you say,
there was a trial in twenty twenty. My understanding there
was some positive feedback but also some critical feedback. People
(19:16):
did not like the buzzing round. But it comes down
to whether we can give the police the tools to
make sure they enforce the law and a rapidly growing
city maybe it might be time to look at that,
But that is for the police to decide.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
But I would be interested to know what that cost
is because sixteen million seems like an awful.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Lot of The speaker also doesn't like landrovers, but that's
for another day. Just to wind it up, Nichola Willis
announced the government's going to open the door for overseas
supermarkets to come and operate here, Tracey McClellan, Is it
going to make any difference.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
Well, it's not as simple as that. And look, at
the end of the day, we had started the work
by looking at the covenants, by interesting a grocery commissioner,
by making sure that there was mandatory access to wholesale market.
But all we need this government to do is pick
the ball up and run with it. And she announced
almost I think it was vague. Everybody said, we need specifics,
(20:10):
real a proper plan. There's plenty of things to be
done because people are paying far too much for their
groceries and it is outrageous, and there's lots of things, honestly,
a lot of things that can be done because.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
You guys, you guys made all sorts of.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Study. We did the market study, and we had started.
It's a new government now they just need to pick
up that ball and run with it. By fourteen months
of doing nothing.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
I think we all do a market study every week
we go to the supermarket and we know the answer
to that. Matt Doocy, what what chances is.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Going to work?
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Is right, there is a new government. That's why we've
announced brom Street last week. We've delivered it in our
first year. That is a new government delivering. But to
your point, what's very clear is Labour's approach of just
being very reactionary as seeing what's popping up is not
going to work. Nicola Willis made it very clear she's
(21:06):
inviting supermarket companies. We will work with them and give
them a bespoke plan of bringing them into the country
because what we need is a disruptor like Aldi was
in Australia to break up the duopoly, and you just
can't standardize the plan. We're going to work with a
new entrance and give them a bespoke plan.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I'm going to wind this up. But honestly, what you've
done there is it sounds like you're going to sell
the idea to them because it's going to be good
for New Zealand consumers. If I'm operating an overseas supermarket
in some respects, I don't give a damn about that.
How are you going to sell the prospect to these
companies that it's going to be worth their while coming here.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Well, the problem is at the moment the barriers make
it too cost prohibitive and so by freeing up those
boundaries through the Overseas Investment Office, for example, the Resource
Management Act, ensuring that they can get access to land,
that the duopoly has land banked, predatory pricing. It's all
of those things, but we will give them those.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Amounts. Not just talked about you.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Then before we go.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
Broad Street was paid for and was done under the
previous government. All they did was uncanceled their cancelation.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Tess left, right and center and I see both Happy
Valentine's Day and Matt Doucie, thanks John, Happy Valentine's Day, Tracy,
the Piet couplands Piet Cooplan's dollar forty can't beat it.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
For more from Category Mornings with John McDonald. Listen live
to news talks He'd be christ Church from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's not has been served to school kids today, Matt,
do you see Welcome to politics Friday. Good morning, John,
Tracy McClellan. Welcome to politics Friday morning, both of you.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Matt, John, Yeah, Happy Valentine's Day.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
No, thank you, Matt, thank you.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
We can hardly move in here because of all the flowers.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yes, and the sneezing is going through the roof.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I feel with romance coming on, well, it's.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
A one way trust me. That's a rejection. We got
to be upfront about the stuff, don't you. I can't
lead you, lead you along thinking, oh, you know, the
bromance is happening.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Yeah, but I still felt good for We're you A
happy Valentine's Day.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Thank you very much. Happy Valentine's Dadia, and happy Valentine's data. Tracy.
Three dollar pies for school kids today. What do you
reckon of that?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Matt? Yeah, look fit to say. It's pretty disappointing. But
I suppose the reason we've been given is for the
contractor of the school lunch program to catch up on
capacity issues. The end of the day, kids having a
one off pies not the end of the world. Many
will know. I'm a big fan of the pie myself,
(01:21):
but yeah, I mean pretty disappointing. We want to make
sure that contract delivers, so going forward, will want to
make sure this doesn't happen very often.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
When you say you're a big fan of the pie,
how often would you have a pie?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well, I try and restrict it to once a week.
It's not always easy. I really came to light when
I actually moved overseas and lived in London to realize
in fact, a lot of countries don't get into the
good pies. No, So you know the corners past time,
(01:54):
I know, but that's nothing on the good old ki
We pies. So you know, when I used to come
back to visit Mum and Dad, I always sort of
made sure I had a good pie and a packet
of jet planes and some green onion chips, good old key.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I just hope that that the school kids are given
clear instructions to blow on the pie today.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Tracy, hopefully. I just want to pick up on something
Matt said about catching up and I do think it's disappointing,
but I do understand that sometimes you've got to have
a reset and try and catch up because it has
been let's be honest, it's been less than ideal. It's
been a bit of a debacle. But catching up on
a Friday with a pie hopefully signals that come Monday
(02:34):
everything will be tipped Topah.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I think they're dreaming myself.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I think so too. Look that I don't want to
malign the pie because I had a pie on Tuesday.
I got old potato top pie.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
But would you pay for that?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
I'm going to say seven dollars?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
You see, I want to find out what David Seaman
was getting his pies. Three bucks.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, but that'll be a wholesale price you buy and
buy in bulk.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
One hundred and thirteen million, one hundred and thirty thousand
pies or whatever the hell it is.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
But it's a once off, isn't it. Well, it's a
once every now and again anyway.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
So maybe the problem with the lunch has not been
delivered on time is that the state of the rights
we're talking about that this morning, Halls will Junction Roads,
the local Council of THEIRS had a guts full people
been calling in left, right and center with other roads
in different parts of town. Matt Doocy, I think we've
lost our ability to repair roads considering what we were
(03:23):
able to do with civilians infrastructure in the past.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Yeah, many of your listeners will have similar experiences where
you drive down a road that's under repair and think
they're only doing this a few months ago. Why are
they ripping it up again, and at a time when
actually councils are supposed to be tightening their abouts and
actually looking at increasing rates for many hard working Cantabrian.
(03:49):
You'd have to scratch your head and say, well, surely
there's some saving there. Why can they not be more coordinated?
In fact that as the current government, we gave christ
City Council an extra ninety million dollars to fix roads,
and it's really concerning to think that maybe that hasn't
been used wisely.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Tracy, I mean, I mean, you guys oversaw this for
a number of years, and I think you oversaw the
decline in our roads during your time in government.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
I'm not sure about that, ah you say, But one
thing that did spark my interest listening earlier on was
that they're not ash felting it because it's not apparently
strong enough to do so, which kind of speaks to
me about the fact that the groundwork, so to speak,
excuse the pun, hasn't been done over a number of
years because people are looking for the cheap option so
(04:36):
they don't increase rates instead of just doing it right
to start with. You know, robbing Peter to pay Paul
always has a price somewhere down the line. So it
would be interesting to see what the history of Hallswell
Junction Road is.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
So let's look at your area, Matt, because why make
at any council's crowing this week that they've got rates
increase down to four and a half percent as opposed
to you know what christ Church is talking about and
all the smoke and mirrors christ Church is using to
try and get that increase lower. What are the roads
that you're council is responsible for, Like.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Oh, I think they're pretty good. I mean, we do
have the opportunity of high growth and the increased rates
that brings to local councils as well. But I think
all councils seriously need to think about how much they're
increasing their rates. And I think just because you're saying
that you're the lowest in the country doesn't necessarily stop
(05:30):
you being put under the spotlight to actually say can
we do more? I think actually we need to have
a bit of a conversation about e CAN because when
you look at the significant rates increases that they're proposing,
you really got to wonder is that the best model
forward on of the view we should explore a unitary
authority and whether that would actually bring down rates collectively
(05:54):
across territorial authorities such as councils and regionals.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
So you're to merging, so why Maxcelwyn Christian City and
he can.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Well not merging those councils, but potentially whether Canterbury councils
become unitary authorities to get rid of he can in itself,
and whether that would bring down rates?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Tracy, what do you reckon short short term view?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
I think it is a short term view, and I
think there's probably more people talking about amalgamating those councils
rather than necessarily the other way around. But you know,
it's it's one of those things no one likes to
pay rates, but everybody likes what the rates money pays for,
and it's just striking that balance. And you know, I
think most people, most people can accept rates as long
(06:39):
as they know the value for money and there's not waste,
and that's the part gets That's.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
My point about CAN. I don't think many people would
see it as value for money. And when they're.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Proposing on a second no one looks at a count
any council and thing's all those value for money. No
one thinks that, So I think that's pushing it a bit. Well.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
I think I'd challenge you to go and talk to
people on the street and the top of their list
would be e CAN and the double digit rate increase.
I just point to other parts of the country. Nelson,
for example, have a unitary model and I think it's
worth exploring whether it will bring rates down across those
two authorities.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You think so old? Does the government think so?
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Well?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
That's my personal view.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Before we move off this topic, though, John, I just
want to give a shout out to good old Andre
because he has done a really good job in advocating
for the people of Hallswell. I've had a couple of
people come to me about Hallswell Junction Road and they've
mentioned it in passing about other things, but I know
that Andre's really been the one that's been collecting all
the all of the complaints and all of the there's
(07:43):
been cracked windows, there's been people, you know, just feeling
really quite on edge about the shaking, you know where
they're not that long post earthquake people are stalled kind
of cognizant of that sort of stuff. So any of
all of those disruptions have been really upsetting.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Who's justin a copen'spy a dollar forty, Matt, I don't
know if I believe that.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Well dollar forty nowhere I'm going after the show.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Yeah, maybe we're still actually maybe the romances on. We
could both go for a pie a pie Dayton Coopland's
said romance is dead, exactly, it just takes. It's just
a slow burn eighteen.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
We could even move on for a cream bun.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
We could do right moving along. What's happening with your
medical center in Rongy Order and why are you getting
so upset about it? Now?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Well, the problem nothing has happened, John, and that's the issue.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Just give us a bit of background. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Look, in twenty nineteen, I organized a petition in public
meeting with Sandy and David MacLean, local residents who are
calling for and after ours facility and sadly Sandy's passed
away in that time and we'll never see that facility
come to fruition. At the time, caroly and Gullery from
Cannery District Health Board came out and announced that we
(08:57):
were now at a population level that are required and
after ours and in twenty twenty the then Health Minister
signed off the contract. Look, it's a smart contract. There's
no cost to rate power or taxpayer. The developer gets
a long term contract and in return builds a facility themselves.
The problem is that the developer, in my view, has
(09:20):
distalled the whole time, has not fronted the community. The
consensor in place. The first announcement it was to open
in twenty twenty one. Look, COVID did happen.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
When you said the developer, you mean the medical people
behind it? Yeah, who got the contract and they are
medical people who already operate in the areas.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Yeah it's SouthLink Health who have GP practices across the country,
but they already have some practices in wymarcad Eddi. The
last we heard was twenty twenty four it was going
to open. Like I say, the consensor in place, no
action and the community deserves shovels in the ground. So
Michael yesterday was either builder or back out. Let someone
(10:01):
else come in, who will build it?
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Trocy McClellan. So this was signed under your government with
Labor Health Minister. Do you think that this sort of
thing you can areas growing, like why make Ready is.
Do you think it's a bit ritual, a bit much
to expect them getting these types types of facilities dependent
on the will of private operators.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Well, I think what Matt said. I think it was
a good contract at the time, and I remember your
campaign and there was clearly therefore someone that put their
hand up and said, hey, this is the area that
we want to service. And it was a contract. Obviously
there's mutual benefit. And so if someone says they're going
to do it and the business case stapped up at
the time enough to get consents in place and all
(10:47):
that sort of stuff, what's changed, you know? So I
agree with Matt, I'd be I think the community deserved
to know what's going on and whether there's something behind
the scenes that means that people are just trying to
get a little bit more out of it than what
was originally agreed to. What do you mean, well maybe
the I mean, I don't think the circumstances have changed.
(11:08):
The need won't have changed. The population would have increased
if anything, So it can't be that the demands change.
So what's the profitability or what's the what's the favorability
of this project? You know, it must still stack up,
So they do need to front up and more important
than they need to give certainty of the community.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
And that's right. It would have been a competitive process
at the time and they were selected as a preferred provider.
It would have stacked up back in twenty nineteen. That's
why it was announced it would open in twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Do you know, Matt, whether there's there have been conversations
going on between the previous health mins has shown recu
or the current health Minister.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
No, because my understanding is that actually the consents are
all in place, there's nothing prohibiting this developer to go
on and build, and actually the community deserves someone to
front up and tell them what's happening. Even the local
media and why marked EDI are telling me the develop
(12:09):
has refused to return their calls and emails to actually
explain to them what's happening. And I don't think that's
fair enough. Look, things could change, Things do change in life.
Nothing's perfect. But I just think there's a bit of
personal responsibility there where. If you've had the contract since
twenty twenty five years now, two dates have been missed
(12:29):
for an opening, consensor in place, no shovels in the ground,
and no one's fronting the community. That's my role as
a local elected representative is to call that out in
town to front up.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Are they your doctor?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Are they myself? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
This practice they're not. Maybe should try to get in
and then get an appointment. They're going about the table,
Matt just all about well, all about solutions here.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
No I know what to talk for Tracy, but but
I'd say it's probably reflective across both of us. When
we do go to our local GPS, sometimes the conversation
came morph into why our health issues.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Can I can imagine that's once you get out of
the waiting room. Met before we talking about pollie helicopters. Yeah,
were you saying something?
Speaker 4 (13:09):
It's just it's just talking about licking the top of
a pie. So no one would steal it from him. Sorry.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I did go to an all boys secondary school that
happened to me for me once coming coming out of
the touch shop. Yes, and then and a guy so
called Mate said I'll look over there, and I looked
over then he stuck his finger in the pie preventive metal.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
I remember it vividly. You would line up and lines
at the touch shop at St Bede's and once he
got your pie. And what were the drinks back then?
Double a? You had a bottle of double a?
Speaker 2 (13:40):
What the hell is that?
Speaker 3 (13:41):
And it was a locally brewed fizzy places in prist
Church And as you walk back down the line, everyone
tried to bite the pie out of your out of
your hand.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
It's some beads a wed place.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Yeah, well it just shows how popular pies were.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Brilliant, good old days. You share anything, Some beads share anything.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Old mints and cheese.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Can I ask you why was it last year the
money that was eremarked for frontline mental health services? Why
was it that you move that sideways to pay for
the Mental Health Innovation Fund or you put it in
the Mental Health Innovation Fund? Was that a bit rich?
Given the criticism that National laid Labour's feet of not
(14:22):
delivering on mental health services.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
No, I mean exactly the opposite. I was a bit
confused by that story that was written because the money
was sitting in Wellington, right And if you go back
and read the comments from both myself and the Prime
Minister when we announced the Innovation Fund you're referring to
on the fore court of Parliament before the election. The
(14:44):
Innovation Fund is the vehicle to get money out of
Wellington that was stuck there to the front line. So
just to finish off John, the money from the Innovation
Fund has gone to Saint John Kerwin's Mighty Me so
that's school based education programs. It's gone to the Mental
Health Foundation, it's gone to Youth Line, it's gone to
Mate and Constructions. So quite the opposite to Mike King.
(15:04):
Where you, Mike King, know that the Innovation Fund money
with the Ham so the way it very proudly gave
twenty four million dollars to Mike King fifteen thousand young people,
some of them seen within twenty four hours. But back
to the Innovation Fund. So that was delivering on a
promise to get money stuck in Wellington to the frontline
of grassroots mental services.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
And I'm quite proud of that fund, all right, let's
look at police helicopters. Because before the before the last election,
a candidate in christ Church, Dale Stevens, it was said
that National's policy was provided a police helicopter for christ Church.
But figures released a news talks there be show that
police spent just under sixteen million dollars on private helicopters
(15:47):
in the last financial year, almost four million more than
the twenty nineteen to twenty year. So there are three
Egle helicopters or based in christ Church, one was trialed,
all based in Auckland, one was trialed in christ Church.
Matt Ducy, do you think the time has come for
us to have a police helicopter in christ Church?
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Well, the first thing I'd say is, as you would expect,
it's an operational issue for police. But what I would
say is that what about as a local Impcha notice
that that's what I'm going to say. As a greater
christ Church MP. Clearly christ Church has growing now right,
greater christ Church towns of Rolliston Ring, you're a while
of a seenor part of christ Church. So as we
(16:25):
move out over our geography, clearly the police need all
the tools they need and whether that be drones or helicopters.
I would support that. What I don't have is the
full information to tell you whether the sixteen million dollars
for private helicopter hire is a better use in investing
(16:45):
in one itself as well. I think it's probably a
logical next step to explore that. But like I say,
that's for police to operationally decide what tools they need
to enforce the law.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Right, So so it's a logical next step to explore it.
But also are you're also saying you think there is
a need for it.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Well, clearly there is need for it because they're currently
hiring private helicopters. Whether that gets over a threshold of
investing and police's own one here, I do not have
the information to make that assessment, but clearly they are
using helicopters at the moment, and for me it does
seem a logical next step when we see the growth
(17:26):
of Greater christ Urt, it's more an expensive area, and
if we do need to crack down on criminals, clearly
the use of helicopters at certain times, as Auckland is proven,
is clearly beneficial.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Tracy mccillan, Labour's police spokesperson, Ginny Anderson is saying that
the government shall look into this. This seems to be
a change of heart on Labour's part.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
No, I don't think it's a change of heart. But
what the interesting figure there was that the cost that's
increased in extra four million dollars. So I think that
what Matt says is correct. And so far as you know,
there's clearly a need, well potentially a need, but that
whatever that is, it's growing. So the most important thing
here is that the South Island shouldn't miss out. We've
been missing out on all sorts of things. So if
(18:07):
there needs to be some study, some cost benefit analysis,
or a decent, decent sort of look at this, even
if it's an operational measure, then I'm sick of the
South Island getting the rough end of the deal, and
I think that if it's warranted, that's what we want.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
What's your gut feeling.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
My gut feeling is that when the trial was on,
people didn't like the helicopter. But as Matt said, greater
christ Church is bigger, we're spending more money on it.
It feels as if it's a The feels as if
its time has come, and if it's useful and it
works in other places, then the South Island doesn't want
(18:44):
to miss out.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Matt, do you say, I'm not sure if you're aware
that Jerry Brown is dead against a police helicopter because
he says that it is the sound of it is
traumatic for people post earthquake.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Well, I think the speaker has allowed his views and
I respect his views, and I think what you're highlighting,
and Tracy's alluded to it as well, is there is
a difference of opinion within the community itself. Like you say,
there was a trial in twenty twenty. My understanding there
was some positive feedback but also some critical feedback. People
(19:16):
did not like the buzzing round. But it comes down
to whether we can give the police the tools to
make sure they enforce the law and a rapidly growing
city maybe it might be time to look at that,
But that is for the police to decide.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
But I would be interested to know what that cost
is because sixteen million seems like an awful.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Lot of The speaker also doesn't like landrovers, but that's
for another day. Just to wind it up, Nichola Willis
announced the government's going to open the door for overseas
supermarkets to come and operate here, Tracey McClellan, Is it
going to make any difference.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
Well, it's not as simple as that. And look, at
the end of the day, we had started the work
by looking at the covenants, by interesting a grocery commissioner,
by making sure that there was mandatory access to wholesale market.
But all we need this government to do is pick
the ball up and run with it. And she announced
almost I think it was vague. Everybody said, we need specifics,
(20:10):
real a proper plan. There's plenty of things to be
done because people are paying far too much for their
groceries and it is outrageous, and there's lots of things, honestly,
a lot of things that can be done because.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
You guys, you guys made all sorts of.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Study. We did the market study, and we had started.
It's a new government now they just need to pick
up that ball and run with it. By fourteen months
of doing nothing.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
I think we all do a market study every week
we go to the supermarket and we know the answer
to that. Matt Doocy, what what chances is.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Going to work?
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Is right, there is a new government. That's why we've
announced brom Street last week. We've delivered it in our
first year. That is a new government delivering. But to
your point, what's very clear is Labour's approach of just
being very reactionary as seeing what's popping up is not
going to work. Nicola Willis made it very clear she's
(21:06):
inviting supermarket companies. We will work with them and give
them a bespoke plan of bringing them into the country
because what we need is a disruptor like Aldi was
in Australia to break up the duopoly, and you just
can't standardize the plan. We're going to work with a
new entrance and give them a bespoke plan.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I'm going to wind this up. But honestly, what you've
done there is it sounds like you're going to sell
the idea to them because it's going to be good
for New Zealand consumers. If I'm operating an overseas supermarket
in some respects, I don't give a damn about that.
How are you going to sell the prospect to these
companies that it's going to be worth their while coming here.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Well, the problem is at the moment the barriers make
it too cost prohibitive and so by freeing up those
boundaries through the Overseas Investment Office, for example, the Resource
Management Act, ensuring that they can get access to land,
that the duopoly has land banked, predatory pricing. It's all
of those things, but we will give them those.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Amounts. Not just talked about you.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Then before we go.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
Broad Street was paid for and was done under the
previous government. All they did was uncanceled their cancelation.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Tess left, right and center and I see both Happy
Valentine's Day and Matt Doucie, thanks John, Happy Valentine's Day, Tracy,
the Piet couplands Piet Cooplan's dollar forty can't beat it.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
For more from Category Mornings with John McDonald. Listen live
to news talks He'd be christ Church from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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