June 15, 2024 • 9 mins
This week on the Sunday Panel, Broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina Shrimpton and resident economist at Opes Partners Ed McKnight joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more!
Is it ethically fair and reasonable to outsource the risks of mining to other countries, while benefiting from the modern technologies those minerals make possible. Are we having a broad enough discussion about mining?
It's been revealed 23 MPs across Parliament are claiming the allowance of between $34,000 and $53,000 a year to stay in their own Wellington homes. Does the accommodation allowance for MPs need to be overhauled?
Married At First Sight NZ is back to join Kiwi audiences together for a communal viewing experience - what do we think? What does it say about us that we're gravitating to this sort of entertainment?
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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 Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks EDB all the highs and lows talking
the big issues of the week. The panel on the Sunday.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Session Yes and joining me on the panel today we
have broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina Shrimpton. Good morning, Willemina, good morning,
have you Sunday? And we've got Ed McKnight, resident economist
at Now, how do I sw this?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Ed?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Opis opis partners OPI one Opea's partners. Let's get that correct.
Great to have you with us, Ed. Let's start with mining.
We had a conversation this morning with a geologist who said, really,
if we are going to benefit from all the wonderful
things that critical minerals give us in our lives, we
really should do our share of the mining. What's your
(00:52):
thoughts on this, Willemina.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Oh, I tend to agree, and I want to preface
this by saying, look, I'm not pro mining, but I
also completely agree and say that I don't really think
that it's fair to cack up a stink about mining
and then happily consume minerals that have been mined offshore. Well,
I kind of feel like that stamping our feet and
going look out of sight, out of mind, it's not
as long as it's not in our backyard has a
bit of an air of hypocrisy, and I think we
(01:15):
kind of need to ask ourselves, would we rather do
things in a more sustainable way on our own shores
or alternatively forfeit the use of those minerals all together.
I don't think we can actually say no, it's not
going to happen here and then continue using those ones
from overseas. I just don't think it's a fair stance
to take.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
At least it's a good it's good to broaden the
conversation ed right from just mining as good or mining
as bad.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Well, I think there is a bit of a misperception
that mining is anti planet, But in many ways, mining
these specific mirrorerals is going to make the planet better
because we need them to aid our transition to a
more sustainable planet. You know, you think your phones, your laptops,
your electric cars, all of these things require these minerals
(02:02):
that we need to dig out of the ground. And
so actually going and getting the minerals out and using them,
that's going to be pro planet because it helps us
in that eco energy transition.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
I tend to think we have to pitch in and
do our bit. And it's also fantastic for areas of
the country who have relied on mining for a long
period of time. But I'd also like to think willhemina
that we're putting gold standard practices of mining in place.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
One hundred percent, and I don't think that things would
continue the way that they have historically. And it's painted
in this really awful light that it's completely evil, and
I think we need to check to look at it
as a necessary evil. It's not actually even completely evil
because as practices develop and they evolve, obviously we are
so much more conscious of the planet and nothing can
be done without having some impact on the environmental footprint
(02:49):
and our carbon footprint. But of course mining practices will
be implementing greener protocols to try and offset that impact.
I think ultimately as well, we need to look at
the benefit to our economy. And you look at Australia
right like they are a mining country. Mining is a
huge part contributing parts to their economy and the standard
(03:10):
of living.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Look, obviously it's really tough.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
It's tough everywhere, but I know that things are a
lot cheaper over there. The cost of food is so
much cheaper. To live day to day is a lot easier.
And I wonder whether we implement these practices, whether you
know that we jobs pumping more into our economy. The
fact is that people are really struggling at the moment,
and I just don't think that we can sit by
(03:32):
and not implement something that's going to help us in
the long term. And also with those greener kind of
standards that we were talking about, you know, evs and
the like, so ed.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
The question then is how do you balance the economic
benefits the ethical environmental concerns.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Well, I think the main thing is you've got to
do it right. So if we go in and get
these minerals out and we dig up you know, rocks
and grass and ground, we've got to put it back
the way it was when we got there. So it's
really important that if we are going to dig up
the minerals over here in New Zealand, that we replace
the trees and the natural environment back to the standard
that it was. That's how you do mining the right way.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Okay, guys, let's move on to the MPs and the
accommodation allowance, that little story that just will not go
away because more and more people seem to be coming
out of the woodworkers as doing nothing wrong. Let's be fair.
They're sticking to the rules. They're taking what they're entitled to.
Sometimes politics comes down to perception, doesn't it. Ed you're
(04:34):
a property investor, what would you do. Would you make
the most of the rules or would you be thinking
about perception?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Well, personally, I'd be thinking about perception. But the funny
thing is that even if you say that you're not
allowed to use this allowance to rent your own home,
it's not going to save the taxpayer any money because
then what I'd do in this case is just go
rent somewhere else and rent my own property out. But
what's interesting is when you think about the perception side.
I was reading through the comments in the New Zealand
(05:02):
Herald website today, it seems like there are a lot
of people out there who are of a similar view
where you just say, but if you take this away,
they're just going to go use taxpayer money to rent
somebody else's house, and the house they're currently staying and
they'll just rent out to someone else.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
It's a bit of a tricky one, doesn't it. What
I mean, oh one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Look, politics is a perception game. The whole premise of
it is about optics, right, That's why people vote for politicians,
because it's how they're perceived in the public. And look,
obviously there will be a massaging of whatever happens if
the rules do change. But down the track it's just
going to come to light that they've managed to find
(05:40):
some kind of loophole and we're going to be going
through this entire conversation all over again. I just think
forty two thousand dollars for a year is a lot.
I was thinking about it this morning and going, you know,
that's a thousand bucks a week. And I kind of
think about the price that I was paying for a
three bedroom home that I had in Sandringham that I
(06:01):
was renting up until very recently, and that was nine
hundred bucks a week, and I mean, it would be
great to go. I can pay my nine hundred bucks
a week, have one hundred bucks left over for supermarket shopping,
and you know, that would cover all of my necessities.
So I just I don't know. I've been the general
public doesn't get all of their living accommodation costs paid
for as part of their I guess work perks. I
(06:25):
just don't really think that in this particular time, in
the middle of a cost of living crisis, I just
don't think it's a good thing.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Do you think when the election rolls around, though, ed,
that this is going to be in the forefront of
people's minds. I mean, obviously it's a perception thing, but
do you think it's that voters will actually change their
mind on who they vote for depending on this. I
have a funny, very little kind of just be done
and dealt with and sort of sweet under the carpet.
There'll be more, there'll be other things that voters actually
(06:52):
a thinking about as opposed to this.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Yeah, I tend to agree with you. I think this
is going to be a story that's around for a
week maybe, and then it'll go away and in a
couple of years it will come back. But the thing is,
you really want some sort of accommodation supplement in the
af for MPs who don't live in Wellington, because let's
say you take it away, then only really rich people
or people with a lot of money are able to
become MPs and actually get down to Wellington and do
(07:17):
the job. And so it's really important that there is
some sort of accommodation allowance so that anybody can become
an MP. And it's not just for the rich.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
All right, you two. Apparently a lot of Keiwis are
caught up in the communal viewing experience that is married
at first sight in New Zealand. There are people are
now writing articles about why we're turning to this media
and what it says about us as a culture and
things like that. I can honestly say I can't do it.
I don't have a problem with dating shows. I'm going
to put my hand up right now and say love
(07:49):
Love Island UK. But I can't do maths because I
don't feel like it's got the participant's best interests at heart.
So I don't jump on board this. Are you on
board Wilhelmina?
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Look, I have to admit I did try to watch
the Australian one and I gave up halfway through because
I just couldn't donate that much of my life to
the cause, because I think it's something like an hour
episode for four or five nights. I know I'm kind
of I'm unsubscribing from this unsubscribing from this chat just
(08:20):
because it's too much time. And to be honest, I
think the New Zealand one's just a little low budget,
and I like you say, I mean you kind of
get the just that there's maybe one legit couple and
the rest of them are there for show and there
for drama.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I love that, Willemina. It's just not high quality enough
for me. What about you, Ed?
Speaker 4 (08:39):
You are what gulty pleasure? I absolutely love it. And
the thing is it's terrible, right Like, it's nothing like
the UK or the Australian one. It is a bit
low budget and it's really cringe. But I think that's
why we love it because you either know somebody on
there or you could know somebody on there. There's people
from Kitty Kitty or Hamilton and Auckland and christ Church
(09:01):
and you think that could be me, Well, that could
be someone I know. And I think that's why you
kind of look that as a bit of voyeurism.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Oh, I love it. You can buy ed, you can
come back, love you to have you on your first panel.
Thank you for your honesty and always great to talk
to you to Wilhelmina Shrimpton, that was the panel hit.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to News Talks it B from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks EDB all the highs and lows talking
the big issues of the week. The panel on the Sunday.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Session Yes and joining me on the panel today we
have broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina Shrimpton. Good morning, Willemina, good morning,
have you Sunday? And we've got Ed McKnight, resident economist
at Now, how do I sw this?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Ed?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Opis opis partners OPI one Opea's partners. Let's get that correct.
Great to have you with us, Ed. Let's start with mining.
We had a conversation this morning with a geologist who said, really,
if we are going to benefit from all the wonderful
things that critical minerals give us in our lives, we
really should do our share of the mining. What's your
(00:52):
thoughts on this, Willemina.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Oh, I tend to agree, and I want to preface
this by saying, look, I'm not pro mining, but I
also completely agree and say that I don't really think
that it's fair to cack up a stink about mining
and then happily consume minerals that have been mined offshore. Well,
I kind of feel like that stamping our feet and
going look out of sight, out of mind, it's not
as long as it's not in our backyard has a
bit of an air of hypocrisy, and I think we
(01:15):
kind of need to ask ourselves, would we rather do
things in a more sustainable way on our own shores
or alternatively forfeit the use of those minerals all together.
I don't think we can actually say no, it's not
going to happen here and then continue using those ones
from overseas. I just don't think it's a fair stance
to take.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
At least it's a good it's good to broaden the
conversation ed right from just mining as good or mining
as bad.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Well, I think there is a bit of a misperception
that mining is anti planet, But in many ways, mining
these specific mirrorerals is going to make the planet better
because we need them to aid our transition to a
more sustainable planet. You know, you think your phones, your laptops,
your electric cars, all of these things require these minerals
(02:02):
that we need to dig out of the ground. And
so actually going and getting the minerals out and using them,
that's going to be pro planet because it helps us
in that eco energy transition.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
I tend to think we have to pitch in and
do our bit. And it's also fantastic for areas of
the country who have relied on mining for a long
period of time. But I'd also like to think willhemina
that we're putting gold standard practices of mining in place.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
One hundred percent, and I don't think that things would
continue the way that they have historically. And it's painted
in this really awful light that it's completely evil, and
I think we need to check to look at it
as a necessary evil. It's not actually even completely evil
because as practices develop and they evolve, obviously we are
so much more conscious of the planet and nothing can
be done without having some impact on the environmental footprint
(02:49):
and our carbon footprint. But of course mining practices will
be implementing greener protocols to try and offset that impact.
I think ultimately as well, we need to look at
the benefit to our economy. And you look at Australia
right like they are a mining country. Mining is a
huge part contributing parts to their economy and the standard
(03:10):
of living.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Look, obviously it's really tough.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
It's tough everywhere, but I know that things are a
lot cheaper over there. The cost of food is so
much cheaper. To live day to day is a lot easier.
And I wonder whether we implement these practices, whether you
know that we jobs pumping more into our economy. The
fact is that people are really struggling at the moment,
and I just don't think that we can sit by
(03:32):
and not implement something that's going to help us in
the long term. And also with those greener kind of
standards that we were talking about, you know, evs and
the like, so ed.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
The question then is how do you balance the economic
benefits the ethical environmental concerns.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Well, I think the main thing is you've got to
do it right. So if we go in and get
these minerals out and we dig up you know, rocks
and grass and ground, we've got to put it back
the way it was when we got there. So it's
really important that if we are going to dig up
the minerals over here in New Zealand, that we replace
the trees and the natural environment back to the standard
that it was. That's how you do mining the right way.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Okay, guys, let's move on to the MPs and the
accommodation allowance, that little story that just will not go
away because more and more people seem to be coming
out of the woodworkers as doing nothing wrong. Let's be fair.
They're sticking to the rules. They're taking what they're entitled to.
Sometimes politics comes down to perception, doesn't it. Ed you're
(04:34):
a property investor, what would you do. Would you make
the most of the rules or would you be thinking
about perception?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Well, personally, I'd be thinking about perception. But the funny
thing is that even if you say that you're not
allowed to use this allowance to rent your own home,
it's not going to save the taxpayer any money because
then what I'd do in this case is just go
rent somewhere else and rent my own property out. But
what's interesting is when you think about the perception side.
I was reading through the comments in the New Zealand
(05:02):
Herald website today, it seems like there are a lot
of people out there who are of a similar view
where you just say, but if you take this away,
they're just going to go use taxpayer money to rent
somebody else's house, and the house they're currently staying and
they'll just rent out to someone else.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
It's a bit of a tricky one, doesn't it. What
I mean, oh one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Look, politics is a perception game. The whole premise of
it is about optics, right, That's why people vote for politicians,
because it's how they're perceived in the public. And look,
obviously there will be a massaging of whatever happens if
the rules do change. But down the track it's just
going to come to light that they've managed to find
(05:40):
some kind of loophole and we're going to be going
through this entire conversation all over again. I just think
forty two thousand dollars for a year is a lot.
I was thinking about it this morning and going, you know,
that's a thousand bucks a week. And I kind of
think about the price that I was paying for a
three bedroom home that I had in Sandringham that I
(06:01):
was renting up until very recently, and that was nine
hundred bucks a week, and I mean, it would be
great to go. I can pay my nine hundred bucks
a week, have one hundred bucks left over for supermarket shopping,
and you know, that would cover all of my necessities.
So I just I don't know. I've been the general
public doesn't get all of their living accommodation costs paid
for as part of their I guess work perks. I
(06:25):
just don't really think that in this particular time, in
the middle of a cost of living crisis, I just
don't think it's a good thing.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Do you think when the election rolls around, though, ed,
that this is going to be in the forefront of
people's minds. I mean, obviously it's a perception thing, but
do you think it's that voters will actually change their
mind on who they vote for depending on this. I
have a funny, very little kind of just be done
and dealt with and sort of sweet under the carpet.
There'll be more, there'll be other things that voters actually
(06:52):
a thinking about as opposed to this.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Yeah, I tend to agree with you. I think this
is going to be a story that's around for a
week maybe, and then it'll go away and in a
couple of years it will come back. But the thing is,
you really want some sort of accommodation supplement in the
af for MPs who don't live in Wellington, because let's
say you take it away, then only really rich people
or people with a lot of money are able to
become MPs and actually get down to Wellington and do
(07:17):
the job. And so it's really important that there is
some sort of accommodation allowance so that anybody can become
an MP. And it's not just for the rich.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
All right, you two. Apparently a lot of Keiwis are
caught up in the communal viewing experience that is married
at first sight in New Zealand. There are people are
now writing articles about why we're turning to this media
and what it says about us as a culture and
things like that. I can honestly say I can't do it.
I don't have a problem with dating shows. I'm going
to put my hand up right now and say love
(07:49):
Love Island UK. But I can't do maths because I
don't feel like it's got the participant's best interests at heart.
So I don't jump on board this. Are you on
board Wilhelmina?
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Look, I have to admit I did try to watch
the Australian one and I gave up halfway through because
I just couldn't donate that much of my life to
the cause, because I think it's something like an hour
episode for four or five nights. I know I'm kind
of I'm unsubscribing from this unsubscribing from this chat just
(08:20):
because it's too much time. And to be honest, I
think the New Zealand one's just a little low budget,
and I like you say, I mean you kind of
get the just that there's maybe one legit couple and
the rest of them are there for show and there
for drama.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I love that, Willemina. It's just not high quality enough
for me. What about you, Ed?
Speaker 4 (08:39):
You are what gulty pleasure? I absolutely love it. And
the thing is it's terrible, right Like, it's nothing like
the UK or the Australian one. It is a bit
low budget and it's really cringe. But I think that's
why we love it because you either know somebody on
there or you could know somebody on there. There's people
from Kitty Kitty or Hamilton and Auckland and christ Church
(09:01):
and you think that could be me, Well, that could
be someone I know. And I think that's why you
kind of look that as a bit of voyeurism.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Oh, I love it. You can buy ed, you can
come back, love you to have you on your first panel.
Thank you for your honesty and always great to talk
to you to Wilhelmina Shrimpton, that was the panel hit.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to News Talks it B from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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