September 21, 2024 • 8 mins
This week on the Sunday Panel, Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills and Partner at Freebairn and Hehir lawyers Liam Hehir joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more!
This morning on Q&A, Wellington mayor Tory Whanau has said she may not have sold her car just to help pay the bills - contradicting her earlier appearance on Wellington Mornings. What do we make of this?
The Government is looking to have a referendum to determine whether to add an extra year on to our political terms. Do we need this change?
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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.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
EDB joining me on the panel. This morning, we have
Liam here, partner at Freebahn and Hair Lawyers. Good morning, Liam,
Good morning, and we're also joined by a z to
B Wellington morning host Nick Mills. Welcome, Nick.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Morning, Right, Nikki did some.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Good work this week. We're going to celebrate that. We're
going to play a little bit of an interview you
did with Tory Farno this week.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Do you feel I mean, you get your salary, and
you get your car, and you get all the purpose.
I mean, that's fine, and that's great and you deserve it.
I'm not time to take anything away from that, but
do you actually feel what we as Wellington is a
feeling right now?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (00:44):
Like I don't want to downplay the privilege that I have,
right so, I am the mayor of the city. I
have a house and I'm very I'm very thankful for that. However,
I've just sold my car recently to kind of help
pay the bills, and I walk to work again, and
my mortgage rates have doubled in the last in the
(01:06):
last few years, so I'm feeling the crunch as well.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Gentleman, bear with me. Here is the Wellington mayor on
Q and A this morning.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Did you actually sell your car to pay the bill?
Speaker 5 (01:19):
I think that whole thing has been well canvassed.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Over the last few days.
Speaker 5 (01:24):
It is a distraction. We should be focusing on Wellington city.
Speaker 6 (01:28):
Okay, I will, but just just be totally clear with us,
just so we understand it and then we'll move on.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Because a lot of people look at them were like, oh,
toy Fano is one hundred and ninety grand, does she
really need to sell her card? I mean, did you
need to actually sell a car to pay the bills?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
No?
Speaker 5 (01:42):
I actually didn't. It's a shame because it was taken
out of context. There was an hour long interview. You
get a bit relaxed. I mean the main reason actually
was because it's a walkable city.
Speaker 6 (01:53):
Nick.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Was it taken out of context?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I asked her if she knew how tough we were
doing it. We are doing it tough and well into
and that was her answer. But I think I almost
got thrown under the bus this morning, didn't I. I mean
it was an hour long interview and we got relaxed.
I mean come on. I asked the question. I said,
do you know how tart it is? And that was
her response.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I don't think you got thrown onto the bus. I
think she threw herself under the bus.
Speaker 6 (02:17):
Lean yeah, I mean Nick Kennedy dead to rights and
still does. And actually, at the end of the Q
and A interview, Jack Tame read out a statement from
the Meryoral Office where they said that after all, in
the end, she didn't sell a car in part to
help with mortgage payments. So there's there's three versions of
(02:38):
the story now, and it's it's incredible. It's bizarre. I mean,
this is somebody who won one point three million dollars
or more than that in two thousand and three and
goes on a big salary and can't get a story
straight about whether or not she owned, whether or not
she sold a car because she ends meat. It's bizarre.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Feel about it, Mack.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I think it's well documented that Valentonians voted voted her
and voted to orient. She had a big majority. But
I think they are now reeling that that maybe they've
made a mistake. I think, you know, I think there's
definitely an underground or an on ground feeling that we've
got a problem in Wellington and our council as a whole.
(03:21):
I mean, she's one person and the mayor. We've got
a problem and I think it's been well documented. Also
spoke to Chrystal A Luxean during a week on the show.
He seemed very reluctant to even bring an observer. And
I think people at Wellington right now are pretty clear
that they want something done. And I think the interview
today that was supposed to clear everything up and make
(03:41):
everything like crystal clear, has made it more muddy than
a mud pull and rode a ruin right now.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, I mean, I really don't care why she sold
a car, she sold a car, or what's going on there,
But it's about performance and about consistency, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Liam Well I mean, look, put the pay. It's not
the first time in history that a politician has embellished
a story perhaps or trying to make out that they
are you have more fellow feeling or going through the
same things as the voters. It's it's happened before. It's
happened with with Green m Peace and politicians before politicians
(04:16):
of all parties. I guess the thing is is that
if you don't want to say it's an issue, don't
make it an issue, right, Don't make it an issue
by bringing it into the story and then having multiple
versions of the explanation for why. So it's like it's
just a massive own goal. And you know, to complain
about a distraction is pretty it's pretty lame when you've
(04:40):
caused the distraction.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Really. The other thing is too that, you know what
when she told me, you know, I actually felt for
her because I probably earned more than what the average
person does. But I'm doing it really tough, really tough,
and so if she is, I don't care what she's
any I don't care what she's one on what. I
don't care. She's doing it tough. She's doing it tough
(05:03):
and fear Why why can't a mayor be doing it tough?
But keep changing it? You know, it's okay, you know,
I'm all right. But by the way, welling tones, I'm okay,
Well we're not.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Now something. We started off the show this morning by
talking about the Prime Minister mentioning on Friday that the
Coalition government plan to propose a referendum for four year
terms in twenty twenty six. Something which we could also
apply to local council as well. It's an interesting one
because you have a referendum. It might seem at first
(05:34):
like it's a pretty easy yes and no ligam. But
then after sort of talking to constitutional law expert this morning,
Graham EDGLA, it's actually not quite as black and white
as you think it will be, and it is a
little bit of a question of how much power you
prepared to hand over, how many chicks and balances do
we have in place, How will that impact kind of voting,
(05:56):
the laws that we can do. It's a lot murkier
than I thought it would be this topic.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
Yeah, it's a bad idea in a country like New Zealand.
To me, that's pretty clear. You have to remember a
couple of things that New Zealand it's a small country
where a unitary state, which means we only have one
level of government, one Parliament, and where a Westminster system,
which means that the government has a lot of control
over what happens. And so most countries you have multiple
(06:22):
checks and balances. And the Lower House, which is what
we call the House of Representatives, does tend to have
short terms. In the United States, it's two years. For example,
Australia is three years. And the route here is that
if we were to if we extend the term of
government in the term of parliament, what we are doing
is we are giving our politicians more power to do
(06:45):
things without checks and balances and a system where they
have pretty much the most unlimited power of any parliament
in the world. And so it's one of those things
that seems like an easy Yes, it's like, I don't know,
I sound rude, but I often think it's a dumb
person's idea of a smart idea. But you've got to
(07:05):
I think is actually pretty nigue and unless we actually
have more TuS and balance against the Parliament's in there,
we are actually going to create the most powerful allegislature
in the whole world.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And that's where it gets complicated them because you could
put more checks and balances and but then you're really
messing with the system. Then there's a lot more work
to be done on it.
Speaker 6 (07:23):
Right, Well, do we need to have a Senate?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Then?
Speaker 6 (07:27):
You know, how do we elect the Senate? You know, like,
you know, you know, we actually are pretty well governed
country all things considered, and you know, you look at
other countries in the world which you have longer terms
the UK parliaments five years. Do they really make better
long term decisions than we do? Is the term of
government really the difference between the good government and a
(07:47):
bad government?
Speaker 2 (07:47):
I don't think so next three or four years, what
do you reckon?
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I think trilliant and let it go to a referendum,
don't have I don't have a problem with people speaking.
But I'll tell you what, There'll be a two hundred
and fifty thousand people in the Wellington area that would
be definitely saying three years is long enough, Thank you
very much. But I just think I just think that
we're a small population small three years is fine, and
if you're doing a good job, even if you put
the plans in place and you're starting a good job,
(08:13):
you're going to get voted back in. So that's six years,
you know, I think referreing them okay, that's fine. If
the people speak and want four years, let them have it.
I don't believe that it would. I think it would
be another case of a new flag. I've really honestly
believed that it would be an overwhelming majority that would
say three years is long enough.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Let's keep it Nick Mills, Liam here. Thanks so much
for being on the panel this morning. Nice to catch
up with the two of you.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to news Talks there'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
EDB joining me on the panel. This morning, we have
Liam here, partner at Freebahn and Hair Lawyers. Good morning, Liam,
Good morning, and we're also joined by a z to
B Wellington morning host Nick Mills. Welcome, Nick.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Morning, Right, Nikki did some.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Good work this week. We're going to celebrate that. We're
going to play a little bit of an interview you
did with Tory Farno this week.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Do you feel I mean, you get your salary, and
you get your car, and you get all the purpose.
I mean, that's fine, and that's great and you deserve it.
I'm not time to take anything away from that, but
do you actually feel what we as Wellington is a
feeling right now?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (00:44):
Like I don't want to downplay the privilege that I have,
right so, I am the mayor of the city. I
have a house and I'm very I'm very thankful for that. However,
I've just sold my car recently to kind of help
pay the bills, and I walk to work again, and
my mortgage rates have doubled in the last in the
(01:06):
last few years, so I'm feeling the crunch as well.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Gentleman, bear with me. Here is the Wellington mayor on
Q and A this morning.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Did you actually sell your car to pay the bill?
Speaker 5 (01:19):
I think that whole thing has been well canvassed.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Over the last few days.
Speaker 5 (01:24):
It is a distraction. We should be focusing on Wellington city.
Speaker 6 (01:28):
Okay, I will, but just just be totally clear with us,
just so we understand it and then we'll move on.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Because a lot of people look at them were like, oh,
toy Fano is one hundred and ninety grand, does she
really need to sell her card? I mean, did you
need to actually sell a car to pay the bills?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
No?
Speaker 5 (01:42):
I actually didn't. It's a shame because it was taken
out of context. There was an hour long interview. You
get a bit relaxed. I mean the main reason actually
was because it's a walkable city.
Speaker 6 (01:53):
Nick.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Was it taken out of context?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I asked her if she knew how tough we were
doing it. We are doing it tough and well into
and that was her answer. But I think I almost
got thrown under the bus this morning, didn't I. I mean
it was an hour long interview and we got relaxed.
I mean come on. I asked the question. I said,
do you know how tart it is? And that was
her response.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I don't think you got thrown onto the bus. I
think she threw herself under the bus.
Speaker 6 (02:17):
Lean yeah, I mean Nick Kennedy dead to rights and
still does. And actually, at the end of the Q
and A interview, Jack Tame read out a statement from
the Meryoral Office where they said that after all, in
the end, she didn't sell a car in part to
help with mortgage payments. So there's there's three versions of
(02:38):
the story now, and it's it's incredible. It's bizarre. I mean,
this is somebody who won one point three million dollars
or more than that in two thousand and three and
goes on a big salary and can't get a story
straight about whether or not she owned, whether or not
she sold a car because she ends meat. It's bizarre.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Feel about it, Mack.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I think it's well documented that Valentonians voted voted her
and voted to orient. She had a big majority. But
I think they are now reeling that that maybe they've
made a mistake. I think, you know, I think there's
definitely an underground or an on ground feeling that we've
got a problem in Wellington and our council as a whole.
(03:21):
I mean, she's one person and the mayor. We've got
a problem and I think it's been well documented. Also
spoke to Chrystal A Luxean during a week on the show.
He seemed very reluctant to even bring an observer. And
I think people at Wellington right now are pretty clear
that they want something done. And I think the interview
today that was supposed to clear everything up and make
(03:41):
everything like crystal clear, has made it more muddy than
a mud pull and rode a ruin right now.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, I mean, I really don't care why she sold
a car, she sold a car, or what's going on there,
But it's about performance and about consistency, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Liam Well I mean, look, put the pay. It's not
the first time in history that a politician has embellished
a story perhaps or trying to make out that they
are you have more fellow feeling or going through the
same things as the voters. It's it's happened before. It's
happened with with Green m Peace and politicians before politicians
(04:16):
of all parties. I guess the thing is is that
if you don't want to say it's an issue, don't
make it an issue, right, Don't make it an issue
by bringing it into the story and then having multiple
versions of the explanation for why. So it's like it's
just a massive own goal. And you know, to complain
about a distraction is pretty it's pretty lame when you've
(04:40):
caused the distraction.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Really. The other thing is too that, you know what
when she told me, you know, I actually felt for
her because I probably earned more than what the average
person does. But I'm doing it really tough, really tough,
and so if she is, I don't care what she's
any I don't care what she's one on what. I
don't care. She's doing it tough. She's doing it tough
(05:03):
and fear Why why can't a mayor be doing it tough?
But keep changing it? You know, it's okay, you know,
I'm all right. But by the way, welling tones, I'm okay,
Well we're not.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Now something. We started off the show this morning by
talking about the Prime Minister mentioning on Friday that the
Coalition government plan to propose a referendum for four year
terms in twenty twenty six. Something which we could also
apply to local council as well. It's an interesting one
because you have a referendum. It might seem at first
(05:34):
like it's a pretty easy yes and no ligam. But
then after sort of talking to constitutional law expert this morning,
Graham EDGLA, it's actually not quite as black and white
as you think it will be, and it is a
little bit of a question of how much power you
prepared to hand over, how many chicks and balances do
we have in place, How will that impact kind of voting,
(05:56):
the laws that we can do. It's a lot murkier
than I thought it would be this topic.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
Yeah, it's a bad idea in a country like New Zealand.
To me, that's pretty clear. You have to remember a
couple of things that New Zealand it's a small country
where a unitary state, which means we only have one
level of government, one Parliament, and where a Westminster system,
which means that the government has a lot of control
over what happens. And so most countries you have multiple
(06:22):
checks and balances. And the Lower House, which is what
we call the House of Representatives, does tend to have
short terms. In the United States, it's two years. For example,
Australia is three years. And the route here is that
if we were to if we extend the term of
government in the term of parliament, what we are doing
is we are giving our politicians more power to do
(06:45):
things without checks and balances and a system where they
have pretty much the most unlimited power of any parliament
in the world. And so it's one of those things
that seems like an easy Yes, it's like, I don't know,
I sound rude, but I often think it's a dumb
person's idea of a smart idea. But you've got to
(07:05):
I think is actually pretty nigue and unless we actually
have more TuS and balance against the Parliament's in there,
we are actually going to create the most powerful allegislature
in the whole world.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And that's where it gets complicated them because you could
put more checks and balances and but then you're really
messing with the system. Then there's a lot more work
to be done on it.
Speaker 6 (07:23):
Right, Well, do we need to have a Senate?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Then?
Speaker 6 (07:27):
You know, how do we elect the Senate? You know, like,
you know, you know, we actually are pretty well governed
country all things considered, and you know, you look at
other countries in the world which you have longer terms
the UK parliaments five years. Do they really make better
long term decisions than we do? Is the term of
government really the difference between the good government and a
(07:47):
bad government?
Speaker 2 (07:47):
I don't think so next three or four years, what
do you reckon?
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I think trilliant and let it go to a referendum,
don't have I don't have a problem with people speaking.
But I'll tell you what, There'll be a two hundred
and fifty thousand people in the Wellington area that would
be definitely saying three years is long enough, Thank you
very much. But I just think I just think that
we're a small population small three years is fine, and
if you're doing a good job, even if you put
the plans in place and you're starting a good job,
(08:13):
you're going to get voted back in. So that's six years,
you know, I think referreing them okay, that's fine. If
the people speak and want four years, let them have it.
I don't believe that it would. I think it would
be another case of a new flag. I've really honestly
believed that it would be an overwhelming majority that would
say three years is long enough.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Let's keep it Nick Mills, Liam here. Thanks so much
for being on the panel this morning. Nice to catch
up with the two of you.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to news Talks there'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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