October 17, 2024 • 32 mins
Local government minister Simeon Brown is awaiting advice on whether to intervene at Wellington City Council - but is it actually necessary?
Also, a year on from the election, how has the government performed?
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk said B dissecting the week sublime and ridiculous.
Friday Fasarf with Quinovic Property Management, a better rental experience
for all Call oh eight hundred Quinovic Thursday A dozen
(00:27):
starts Friday.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Don't you have to Friday? Face lawless? Potty do a
mayor I Needa Faker, Good morning, Anita, Good morning. I've
got your mic on. Can you get become a bit closer?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah, your micro's on? Yeah, there you go, there you go.
How you doing?
Speaker 4 (00:50):
I'm really well, thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
It's how's Putty do.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Doing really well? I have to say October feast alive
and going.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Good on you. I love Putty. It's one of my
favorite parts, specially Titay e Bay. I love Titay Bay
and I love Linden and Tawer all the pottydo base
in places and an assistant secretary flur Fit Simon's what
does that mean you're still the union lady?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Absolutely right? Good morning, Mack.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
How are you doing very well?
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
What's up? What's going on?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Well, I've just got back from a month overseas, so
I'm sort of just finding my feet, and.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
We could have told that's when we asked you to
join the show. You can't give us any information.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I'm going to be hopeless. Sorry, but you've got Aneta
and she's very onto it.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, I know what's going to fire you up. We'll
start with the biggest story of the week. Local government
Minister Simeon Brown are seeking advice on whether to bring
government intervention or whether government intervention is needed in Wantington
City Council. Now up to six hundred million dollars in
cuts need to be found after the airport plan was
voted down, but the council council says that intervention is
(01:53):
not needed. It need to Baker, I want to start
with you on the you deal with Wellington a little bit.
I mean your sister city, well close city and to us,
so you deal with us a bit. Is there a
problem in Warnington City Council and his intervention the or
it is all getting blown up out of nothing?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
What's another metro for us? So I see politics happening
around that council table and that's take bloody politics out
and they might do stuff for their right payers, but
clearly they've got big budget problems which they have to
sort so please, they've finally come together and they're going
to agree obviously support water. If anything was going to happen,
I think it was probably an observer, but it's democracy happening.
(02:30):
But they do need to just get on for their
rate payers and their residents. And that's why I see
amalgamation with the four of us because actually were connected
everywhere and we've got a coherent council and Pottydoer they
could learn a lot from us.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
What are you hearing of the other councils like Lhutt
and Upper Heart Are they all okay as well?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Yeah, they're doing really well.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Why have we got such a problem? Willing to then?
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Because I do think it's all down to politics. You
have red Blues and Greens and pottydo we have two reds?
We put politics at the door, We get in the room,
we have a discussion what's right for Pottyder, Then we
leave the room, we go out and have coffee or
lunch at a poty doo eatery and get on.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
What do you mean we've got two reds?
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Well, I have two labor elected counselors. But you wouldn't
know that they play the game in the sense that
we're there for the residents, not our colors.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So you say you've got a blue counsel and potty
to it. Now, I would have thought that would have.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Been well, not not saying we've got a blue council.
We work with the Chief of Governments in so whatever's
right for potty to it and what's right for our residents.
So it depends what's happening is in to what we're
voting on. But we all agree around the table.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Flur Fit Simons, you've been away, but you've been picking
up and reading stuff and you'll be having textas and
people will be emailing you're an ex long term counselor,
you were a long term counselor?
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Are you with just five years but it felt like
a lot longer.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Well, five years is still a long term counselor and
this day and age, isn't it, So you'd know what's
going on. What have you made of the whole fiasco,
the whole airport sales, scaer sales, the whole vibe, what
have you made of it?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Well? I think it has been a bit of an
own goal. It was really clear back in June that
the numbers were not there to support the sale of
the Wellington Airport, and I really want to acknowledge Council
Nuridin Abdurrahman, who led the objection to the sale of
the airport, and he did so in a humble and
principled way and got the majority of councilors on side
to support it. However, this could have all been avoided
(04:20):
because the numbers were also there in June, but they
were stopped from having a vote on it. At this time,
I think the councilors have been let down. I don't
believe the six hundred million dollar figure of savings that
is required that has changed from three hundred million, four
hundred million, six hundred million. I simply do not accept
that is the right figure. I think that there's no
way the government should intervene. If you imagine that if
(04:42):
we were talking about the government having somebody come in
and override them, they'd be outrage And it's the same
from the council's perspective. They need to be left to
get along and make decisions in the interest of the
city and I've got confidence that they'll be able to
do that.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
How big an issue well, how big an obstacle is
Barbara Macro the CEO.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Look, I think that there is a culture in that
council of not properly respecting the democratically elected councilors and
mayor and it has been a problem for many, many years,
well before Barbara Maciro was the chief executive.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
So you what you're saying, and I just want to
make this so listeners can understand it. You're saying that
the CEO thinks that they're running the city rather than
the councilors.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
I think there is not just the CEO, but I
think for a long time in Wellington there has been
a very undemocratic approach to decision making. We are counselors
and in the mayor in some instances are kept out
of important decisions and not given the right information. And
that's undemocratic and that culture needs to substantially shift.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Would it be an easy way for the government to
put an observer in to make sure that doesn't happen.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Look, I don't think an observer will solve the issues.
It's the deep cultural problems. I don't support an observer,
But if they were going to do anything, that would
be the logical.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yeah, the low rungs thing. We don't want to take
it over. There will be no election. I told listeners
all that all the time, and they say in the
street to me that I'm crazy if they brought the
commissioner and there'd be no election next year, would.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
They No, that's right. The I think an observer or
an early election are the genuine options in front of
the minister. But actually I don't think either of them necessary.
They should let the council get on make a decision
and look if that doesn't happen, and if there are problems,
they can decide later on to do something. But at
the moment, all we've had is a very controversial, high
profile discussion about the sale of a strategics set where
(06:31):
the mayor didn't get her way, and now they need
to revisit some other decisions. That's politics, that's democracy, that
doesn't really need government intervention.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Anita, you are mayor of PoID. If you had the
same situation, how would you fix it?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
All?
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Very good question. I wouldn't have it. I've got an
excellent CEE, in an excellent relationship. We get all the
information we require. I think that's the difference. I meet
weekly daily sometimes with my CE, and the access to
the staff, the reports is there for our counselors, so
I think that's probably the difference. So it just wouldn't happen.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Are you Are you on the same area as your counselors,
so counselors can talk to you at any stage and
are you in the same office space.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
My CE and I are on the same floor. We
both have offices, My doors always open, I answer my phone,
my emails, everything. The counselors have access to both of us.
They just send an email and we reply, so we're
always connected.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Flir, When you were in council, did you have access
to the mayor at any time?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
It was just in Lester, yes, when it was Andy
Foster less, so he locked his office off from counselors.
The mayor and the chief executive are on different floors
in Wellington City Council, which I think an interesting distinction, Anita,
And there isn't that kind of everyday interaction between counselors
and in the mayor.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Would it surprise you to hear that Tory far now
locks her office off for more counselors.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Well, Andy Foster did as well. You said it is surprising,
but given some of the dynamics on that council, in
some ways, I don't blame her.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Okay, have you spoken to her since you got back?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
No?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Do you have a relationship, Not.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Really, We've We've got mutual friends and I have known
who for many years, but not a close relationship.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Do you think we'll get through to the end of
the election term.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I think they will keep making decisions.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
They have to. They absolutely have to, so I think
they will.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Well, how much confidence do you have in that? I mean,
you're dealing with the mayor, You're dealing without you know
how much confidence? And I wish there's a camera on
your face right now because you didn't give me too
much Coue, the counsel.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Is and the mayor. You know, it's turning up to
things being seen actually making those decisions, and they are
tough decisions and they have to agree to disagree and
do the right thing for Wellington, not themselves.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Can I ask you both this question, and I'll ask
you individually, how much of this big you know, fiasco,
let's call it a fiasco or problem issue, call it
whatever you want. It is it down to Tory Faro.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
The mayor well, yeah, the mayor leads the region, so
it comes back to the mayor, and if that was me,
it's on my head as well. So you have to
lead from the front, and I think struggling because she
hasn't got her counsel behind her, and that's always tough.
So you need your counselors, all of them in behind you,
not just your Greens or your reds. So everyone has
to respect her position until she's no longer the mayor.
(09:17):
Now they may not like that, but they just have
to suck it up and all get on you were the.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Long term plan is the mayor's long term plan. She
didn't have a majority of support for the sale of
the airport. She's made unpopular calls on that. On reading cinemas,
I do think that she needs to be able to
read the room better. That's the most important thing in politics.
Understand where the numbers are and then lead from that.
Or she hasn't done that.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
She has to change your mind on the Golden Mile.
She can't say that project is there because that's what
she wants. It's actually what the council wants, not what
she wants.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Well, she said that's unconditional.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
She can't say that because they've got to have a
vote on it.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I think she's likely to have the numbers on that
to be fair to going ahead. Yeah, that's right, But
what she needed to do, no, I don't think so.
When she started, she should have looked yet, where are
the numbers? Labor and the Greens both said they didn't
want sale of strategic assets. She also committed to no sale.
So why on earth would you press ahead with the
sale of the airport. She burned through so much good
will she had with her counselors that were otherwise on
(10:15):
her side. It's such a shame. But she needs to
learn from it and move on, and she is pretty
good at doing that. She's a very resilient woman from
my perspective of how she's coped with many many challenges.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
As tom Anita Baker, you said yes very quickly, Whether
when would suggestion that the Golden Mile doesn't go ahead
or I see, I don't want it not to go
ahead either. I just want to make that clear. I
wanted to see it stalled for a few years just
to get people.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
Back on their feet exactly what I mean. They do
need to stall it, rethink it. Some of these cycle
ways are not working. Even the cyclists aren't using the
damn things. So actually put it on hold for a
little while. Bring your budgets in.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Why aren't they doing that?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Well? To be fair, I actually think they should carry
on with it. And there's no guarantee that government money
would be available.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
But hold on, I've always said, and I asked her
that too. Why doesn't she least go to government and say, hey,
can we have that money in five years time inflationary,
you know adjusted.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
She's lucky to have it now. If the government had
had the ability to take it away, they would have.
She needs to get on with it. She's got a
majority of support on her council for it. She got
elected on that basis. She needs to actually do something
positive for Wellington. And I think at the end of
the day, people will say this is uplifted a dire
damaged area of Wellington, and people will well.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Will there be any businesses left?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yeah, that's exactly the question. I mean, we've seen what's
happened in Thornton. You're seeing you know, there won't be
People aren't resigning their leases, you know. The other day
Wednesday I was offered a building someone ramiosity. Obviously don't
know my financial state. Would you like to buy this
building now? I remember that building, small building on Courtney
Place was worth three and a half million dollars that
(11:50):
now you can buy that building for one point five million.
It's half the value. Who's going to be there at
the end of the build of the Golden Mile.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Well, she needs to work with businesses and I've already
seen some indications in media that she is willing to
think about how to support businesses. And to me that
looked like the same sort of thing that Auckland Council
did in kadung Ahappy Road. They supported businesses through direct
cash injections and she needs to be open that needs.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
That only a good example. Sorry for you, because so
many week is not.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Going to keep a business going and it's too late
when they're all shut.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah. Amalgamation, I mean it's almost like an ugly word
that no one really It's like the ugly auntie or
not the ugly anti the grumpy auntie. You go and
visit and she doesn't make your scones and she doesn't
make your lemonade, and you have to go there. This
amalgamation is a bit like that. Flurfit Simon's is it
time we brought the old amalgamation and we're talking potty
(12:44):
to upp Huton Wellington.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
It's not any time, but it's longer over jew. If
you think about the issues facing the region, water, infrastructure, housing, transport,
resilience and climate change, they are regional issues. It does
not make any sense to have the region broken down
into the current structure. I think that the only reason
it failed last time was because of a poor choice
of language when it came to to a Lord mayor
(13:07):
that just did not feel like a modern solution. We
need to see amalgamation in the Wellington region and actually,
with what's going on at Wellington City Council and the
current government's attitude and the experience that we had in Auckland,
now is the perfect time for the government to work
with the local councils and the communities to amalgamate Wellington councils.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Do you reckon that they might be looking at that?
Do you reckon that they might be know do you
think they could be thinking that could be the way
to present it well?
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I think Anita will have more insight into that, but
if they're smart, they will.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Be Anita's been very cagy on this topic. Anita has
that conversation being had.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
We've had that conversation at the Merial Forum before. And amalgamation.
I believe like flur is the only option going forward,
especially with water. It could be that we're only the
four for water, So amalgamation makes sense when one metro
is doing badly or abound Wellington and the rest of
it brings the rest of us down. We're actually all one,
all our waterways, everything joins. We're all fifteen minutes now
(14:04):
with all our motorways. So for me, there's the option
going forward, and I do agree with it.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
How do we make it happen?
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Well, you need for me is to agree to make
it happen. At the moment, it's only a couple of
us on.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Okay, let's let's break that down. See, Wayne Guppy tells
me that he's for it, but he won't go public
on that. Is that what you're hearing.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
I'm hearing that, yeah, and I are hearing that we're on.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Board, Yeah, Campbell and you are on board him.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Taking this to our council. So this is just mayors
being on board.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
But that's talking.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
We've spoken to our councils. I've spoken to my counsels.
People are up for the discussion, and then it has
to be rate payers that actually choose. But somebody has
to actually make it happen. None of us have the
money to make it happen, or to sit in a
little com by our circle and pretend that we're all
on the same page, because not everybody is. So I
agree someone needs to help us.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Maybe I give you a little suggestion as an entrepreneur,
maybe a little email to Simmey and Brown when you
finish the show saying Simeon, I've just come off news
Stalks and b we discussed the fact that Wellington Mornings
with Nick Mills, by the way, just put that plug
in there, and we just discussed again that the amalgamation
might be the way out of all these issues. What
(15:14):
will Toy say to that, Will she sign of for
it or would we need the government to sign of it.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Oh, I'm not sure you'd have to ask both of them.
I'm still pushing ahead with what we think is right
for the region. So I'm sure samym Brown is thinking
about things. I'm sure Tory is thinking about things, but
at the moment they're just trying to do their long
term plan, so us throwing them on story amalgamation. It's
she's not against it, but imagine trying to get her
counsel on board. So it's all very well to have
(15:40):
one mayor saying it, but you need a counsel.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
But also we need somebody and it probably is somebody
in government to present it as a visionary plan. Yes,
get people behind it.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
And it is a visionary plan, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
If you try and talk about it for years and years,
you'll just keep having the same discussions. What we need
is leadership and vision and for the advantage of it
to be sold in Ideally it's a bipartisan approach.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Is sam and Brown experienced enough, how awful enough?
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Absolutely he is really great to deal with. I trust
Sama and Brown. If anyone can make it happen, that
government can. They have said they stood up at local
government conference and said they want less of us. So
here's the chance.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I think if Simmyon Brown's the answer to amalgamation, we've
got a long road.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Up then No, I don't.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
I don't think Simmyon's the one, but it does need
broad support.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
Minister has it Christ Ship's already said are sorry no,
Chris Hipkins, sorry, I said yes, you know we've heard
the Prime Minister say yes, so it.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Could be a very unifying thing. And yes it would
be good to have the mayors and the councils on board,
but actually it just needs to be presented as a
realistic proposal visionary for Wellington because actually when you look
at it, all of the problems that are facing this
region are deep seated problems that need structural and radical
change and amalgamation would be a good step.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Could I just quickly ask you both, could it be
as done as quickly as the next election? Or am
I dreaming?
Speaker 4 (17:04):
No it's too quick, you wouldn't get it done. I
don't think with us doing long term plan and order.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
I think you you could take the steps before the
next election. And what we saw in Oakland led by
Rodney Hyde, and actually I was on the Union side
of it when we're amalgamating all of the staff and
all of the different councils, and I have to say,
surprised me. Rodney Hyde excellent to deal with on that issue,
including expecting the workers who worked in the different councils
and we were actually able to do that relatively quickly,
(17:31):
but I do think a year is a bit of it.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
It might be a bit quick. You could push an
election out a year and say right next year.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Yeah, I'm going to start with you on this one.
It's a year since the election and the latest pole
results show the government would still have a majority of
the election was held today. Do you think that the
government has performed as well so far as you thought
they were, or worse than expected.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Well, I had pretty low expectations, but they've even been
worse than I thought. And if you just look at
the cuts to the public sector to fund their tax
windfall for landlords and their tax cuts, they've taken the
most irresponsible slash and burn approach to getting rid of
valued public services and places like.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
They had them.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
They really didn't, and they promised no frontline cuts. Yet
we've lost customs officers from Timaru, we've lost dog training
handlers from Auckland Airport. New Zealand's sec border security is
less because this government decided to fund tax cuts for
landlords and tax relief that was unaffordable. They've been a shambles.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Really, do you really believe they've been a shambles. Our
interest rates are coming down, your mortgage rates are going
to come down. I mean we're feeling like in business
that we're getting better and need to baker, what do
you think.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
I think they've performed as expected. Sure, cutting government spending
and jobs is terrible and we don't like that, but
our spending was out of control. And remember Wellington had
a big problem before the public sector cuts. Was the
only council in New Zealand that didn't see a population
growth in the last census. So that's a real can
area in the coal mine for me. Also, we've had
(19:00):
good changes in the police and education and Chris Bishop's
infrastructure fund to me is absolutely fantastic. So I'm really
pleased for those sorts of things. But you never want
to see people lose their jobs. But inflation, as you said,
is coming down and things are starting to write themselves.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
And realistically, i mean we all live in the same city.
I'm a bit concerned, Flir that you haven't noticed that
over the last five years we were getting too many
people working for the government. I mean everyone was leaving
there their other jobs and going and working for the government.
During COVID nineteen or employing lots of people surely had
to lose their jobs sooner or later.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Thank goodness they did, because actually New Zealand was able
to weather the storm of COVID nineteen and protect lives
and there wasn't a huge number of people employed in
the public sector in New Zealand during that period relative
to other OECD countries. I don't accept that at all,
and I just want to pick up on Anita's comment
read the police. There's been slash and burning the police
(19:56):
as well. Dis government kad no, no, this government headny.
This government said that they wouldn't do any cuts that
impacted on the front line. There have been that have
impacted on the front line in police, including some more
announced today, and the Police Association have rightly called the
government out on that and I totally support them in
doing so. But it goes further than that. This government
(20:18):
has having the most divisive discussion around the Treaty Principal's
Bill that act is trying to get through. It's not
it's going to be awful, it's going to be nasty,
and this government is appealing to people's worst aspects in
emboldening racists. It's not a modern national party. It's not
one that John Key would have done. It's not stuff
(20:39):
that John Key would have done. It's not stuff that
bil English would have done. They showed that they were
genuinely committed to a better relationship with Martin. Now I
don't agree with everything they did, but Chris Luxen appeals
to people's worst demons. He emboldens racists and it's damaging
for New Zealand internationally and in the long term.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
Anita, I think that's act actually that are doing this.
But National should just have killed that bill. I mean,
wouldn't know. They have been the first step, that's the problem.
I think they should have just buried it. Unfortunately, what
happens when you get three parties running a government.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
But you're running a city. You can see whether we're
heading in the right direction or the wrong direction. You
get it every day. You get it from your constituents,
you get it from your businesses. What are they telling
you you do?
Speaker 4 (21:20):
And Putty to a we are there's a lot more
businesses moving in, probably thanks to Willington. I've got lots
of moana, seafoods coming out. All kinds of new businesses
have arrived. And Putty to a and places are doing well.
Things are quieter in the streets. I have to admit,
the cafes and things are still doing business, but people
are ordering less. So things are tough for people. But
things are also looking better and brighter people are. People
(21:42):
seem happier. And that's not the government. But I think
we're through the worst.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
You think it's it's daylight saving two. It's we all
feel better when we come into summer. I mean, I
sat outside on my balcony and had a cup of
tea yesterday afternoon, and holy hell, I'm still just as broken.
I'm still just as tired, but the sun shining and
I feel a bit better.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
Well, I think it's all of us. It's not just
the councils or the government. But you know, you've got
insurance going up, and the bank rates and at all
these things. So it's a combination of everything. We can't
put that all on one government.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Okay, talking about one government, the government agency ACC, the
government agency is facing a seven point two billion dollar deficit.
They say it's because of increase injuries and longer rehabilitation times.
Flurfit Simon's is ACC a good model and does it
need to be reformed.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
It is a world leading model. It's a world leading
model that involves no fault accident compensation, and it's the
envy of many other countries. I've just come back from
some time overseas, including some time in the United States.
When you drive along the highway there there is billboard
after billboard advertising lawyers if you have a car accident,
ring me if I'll help you get compensation. And it
(22:50):
creates a hideous society, a litigious society where people are
pitted against each other. Acc stops that. But I think
it's interesting when you look at some of the problems
with funding. It is longer rehabilitation times, and that is
because of the pressures on our health system. And what's
the government doing forcing more cuts on our health system
which is desperately crying out for more investment, not less.
(23:13):
So I think we have to make acc work properly.
It is a world leading scheme that is the envy
of many other countries. But we do need to fund
it properly.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Anita, do you think we need to pay more levies?
Speaker 4 (23:23):
Well, the problem with that. I think it is a
great system.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
It probably needs some tweaks. I don't want.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
We haven't looked at it really heavy.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
But I don't want to pay more. I'm paying two
and a half thousand a year for ACC because i'm
class as a contract or, as a mayor. I don't
really want that going up, thank you very much, But
I do think it needs to be looked at some way.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Quite a dangerous job, your job being mere, or you
make a mistake, people have protests outside. I reckon, do
it our grand it's pretty cheap.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
I reckon it's pretty cheap.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
I don't think so. I don't claim on it. So,
but it's a fantastic system and I support it. You
need it absolutely, and I.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Agree it's either of you think we need to readjust it.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
Well, we probably do. We need to relook at it.
But it's doing a great job.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
We need to make sure it's funded properly.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
Yeah, and I think you don't think it's funded properly.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Will clearly not.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Well that one year and then the previous year they
made a billion dollars or nine hundred you know, nine
hundred million.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
We need to fund it to succeed for New Zealanders
and to be there when they need it. And actually
two and a half thousand for a relatively high paid
person is pretty small.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
I would have thought, doesn't feel like it.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Thanks, you haven't had to sell your car?
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Have you?
Speaker 3 (24:32):
No driver?
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Council? Kar and Peter use it?
Speaker 2 (24:36):
There you go. The Green Party has voted to boot
out Darling Tanna after the walker jumping law. It's only
taken seven months since the first allegations of her being
aware of migrant exploitation came to light. I suppose I
better start with you, Anita. Does it look like she's
finally gone? Is it good? Riddans? Or do you feel
(24:56):
for it?
Speaker 1 (24:56):
No?
Speaker 4 (24:57):
She needs to bloody walk now. I mean, why has
it taken seven or eight months to make this decision?
The party should have made the decision a long time ago.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
How do you feel about her thoughts? Because I've actually
been a bit supportive of it. She helped put those
numbers in there, she campaigned, she was part of the party,
she was a profile piece of it. Suddenly her husband
does something wrong and you know, and she's involved in
the business and she gets kicked out.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Yeah, but she wasn't actually elected, she was on the list,
So she's killing help on that. Yeah, but you could
say they all have on that list. But you know,
if something happens, you have to walk the plank. When
your time comes.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
We all do ah flir, and you need tell me
what you're thinking.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
I think it's a really sad demise for her. Is
a is a woman MP, and I'm I'm sorry that
it's happened to her, and I'm sorry that it's happened
to the Green Party. But I think everyone just needs
to give her some time to move.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
I think she'll come back with the Mary Party. I
think she's actually quite a good politician. I actually quite
I think she's quite smart.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
Or she should have switched right in the beginning and
stopped all this.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Well, yes she could have. Could she have stayed in Parliament?
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Then no?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Under the Walker drumping note no no, So she was
always going.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
To go yeah, but the Greens have just taken so
long to make the decision. You know, I feel sorry
from that point of view.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Okay, another quick question I want to ask you. You
won't know much about it, probably either of you won't
know a lot about this, But there's been frustration with
a new cycleway on Molesworth Street that's reduced the road
to one lane traffic, which is now backing up along
Lambton Key during peak times. I walked up on Wednesday,
got a hell of a fright. Some idiot yelled at
me as I was walking up the street. But I
walked up the street. I've never seen anything like it,
(26:31):
and either have you heard about it?
Speaker 4 (26:32):
You know I've seen it, and I just think they
need to put a hold on these I mean, the
cyclists are saying they're not in the right places. Either,
stop them when you're backing the queues of traffic up.
I know you want a walkable city, and I don't
hate bikes, but they're not working. Take them off the
main streets and run them elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Do you have bike lanes and potted it?
Speaker 4 (26:50):
No, we have one that's around the outer city.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
But no, we might need you as our replacement mayor. No, no, no, okay,
all right, Well what's some other one tried it?
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Than that? Was it?
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Nick Leggett tried to come from poor Ruda. WELLI it
didn't quite work. What do you think, Fleur about the
Moles Street? Have he's driven up there since you've been back?
Speaker 3 (27:08):
I haven't actually seen it, but what I would say
is that Tory Farner got an elector on a platform
of accelerating cycle away infrastructure around Wellington, so Wellingtonians knew
what they were voting for. She was very clear about that,
and good on her for committing to doing anything.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Are you're saying, we're all the idiots, which I agree with.
I totally agree with it, which she is there democratically
voted in. So I agree that Wellington's and I tell
people when they rang up, I say to them, you
voted her in. It's your decision. You made that decision.
We can't blame anyone else, can we.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
No, and I don't think we should. I think the
Council hasn't always done the right approach when it comes
to how you design cycle away infrastructure. But what I
would say is all of us in the future need
to be less reliant on cars. That is the reality
of our future here in Wellington, and so that feels uncomfortable.
It is difficult, it's a hard transition. The Council hasn't
always done it right. But in the end of the day,
(27:59):
and I'm guilty of this, as you're never I really
struggle riding a bike and I know that's got to
change now. I've got to take more active transport. Public
transport is a better available option. And look, having just
been in London, oh my god, nobody has a car.
Everybody takes public transport all the time because it's regular.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
It's talking about a population as a whole in New
Zealand within a square mirb.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
This is our future. We have to have reliable, regular,
affordable public transfer available change.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Now my next topic. You'll be really across right, Anita
won't have a clue, but you'll be really really a close.
Reclining seats on planes now are going to be really quick.
I thought that we should actually have a rule that
they don't have reclining seats on planes. Are they a
plane in the backside. You've just traveled around the world.
Did you have problems with reclining seats?
Speaker 3 (28:44):
No?
Speaker 2 (28:44):
And to be fair, with sitting, do you go business class?
Speaker 3 (28:47):
No?
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Goodness.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
I was sitting in front of my partner who was
in the road behind, so I didn't really have any problems.
But lots of the people in front of me consulted
with me and said, look, do you mind if I recline?
And of course I'm going to say yes, I think
it's fine you recline. The next person reclines and you
have to on some of those long haul flights.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
I hate them.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
They should be taken out in the domestic one. Internationally.
I understand why, but I can't stand them.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Yeah, I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
The Friday Faidet.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
We having a little bit of fun in the studio.
I need the Baker's be on fire today, doesn't she flir?
She's been kicking us, she's been going giving us all
these ideas, right, hots and knots, Flurford Simon's you just
come back from overseas. You're going to say rich, but
I won't. What's your hots and knots?
Speaker 3 (29:35):
My hot is Camilla Balich leading the charge on the
Wage Theft bill that was Ibrahimomas. That's got through to
its next reading in Parliament with the support of New
Zealand First. And this is about a situation where employers
unlawfully take money and she's really made that, made that
her own and got that through the next stage in Parliament.
So I think that's great for New Zealand workers. Yes,
(29:56):
on the not so hot, I've got the government letting
Uber decide the law after the Court of Appeal delivered
a great outcome for Uber drivers in New Zealand to
have employment rights, and what we're seeing at the moment
is the government bringing Uber in and basically allowing them
to write the laws that will protect their business in
the future at the expense of New Zealand workers and
Uber drivers. And that's just not the way we want
(30:17):
to go as a country.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Okay, great Aneita Baker, your hots and knots please Tokeman
and were.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
Queen's tonight at Treppohr Arena against the y they're playing tonight.
Pop down and kaitai and have some food. My knots
are these damned road cones that are similar to sticks
that they sit sit up and they're popping up all
over our cities and I can't stand them. And if
we put them in we should in't form our community
before we.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Do it, right, what are we going to see? And
then just before we gocause, I've got one quick minute,
But what are we going to see from Sam and
Brown over the next month? Quickly? One line from each owie?
Are we going to see anything or nothing?
Speaker 4 (30:51):
I hope?
Speaker 2 (30:52):
So that was a quick line.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
I think the government will want to do something. They've
talked so much. Presumably they want to follow that through
with action.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
But do you think they will do something. I don't
think they'll do anything.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
I don't think they necessarily will do anything around Wellington
City Council. But amalgamation, it's a perfect opportunity, as we've
just been discussing.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Yeah, I think we're not. I think Anita is not
telling us what everything she knows. She's got very caty.
When I mentioned at Malgama, she's we're bright red and
looking to me look the other way. It's like she
wanted to get out of She might have political.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Aspirations to be the mayor of the not political or
the new mayor for the region.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
I would put on top of Campbell. Nice young person.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Why do we why do we hate the idea of
super city? I love the idea of super city because
why do we not want to use that.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Terminal because it brings back the old one when they
tried to do it when I was first selected to council,
and it just brings back all those things of different councils,
whereas this time we're talking for we're not talking hate,
and it's not just.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
About a city, it's about a region.
Speaker 4 (31:42):
Yeah, she's having the.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
Same rules she does seem to know a little bit
more than she's She's already got a candidate. She's the
Dawson Campbell Berry for the mayor of the region region
that hasn't yet been created. She's already got a runner.
It's amazing.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
I'm going with youth.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Oh good both. Thank you very very much for covering it.
I've enjoyed it. I've really enjoyed it. I've been controlled
totally by my two learned friends this morning. Thank you
very much, and Neat Baker and Flirford Simons.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk said B dissecting the week sublime and ridiculous.
Friday Fasarf with Quinovic Property Management, a better rental experience
for all Call oh eight hundred Quinovic Thursday A dozen
(00:27):
starts Friday.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Don't you have to Friday? Face lawless? Potty do a
mayor I Needa Faker, Good morning, Anita, Good morning. I've
got your mic on. Can you get become a bit closer?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah, your micro's on? Yeah, there you go, there you go.
How you doing?
Speaker 4 (00:50):
I'm really well, thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
It's how's Putty do.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Doing really well? I have to say October feast alive
and going.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Good on you. I love Putty. It's one of my
favorite parts, specially Titay e Bay. I love Titay Bay
and I love Linden and Tawer all the pottydo base
in places and an assistant secretary flur Fit Simon's what
does that mean you're still the union lady?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Absolutely right? Good morning, Mack.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
How are you doing very well?
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
What's up? What's going on?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Well, I've just got back from a month overseas, so
I'm sort of just finding my feet, and.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
We could have told that's when we asked you to
join the show. You can't give us any information.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I'm going to be hopeless. Sorry, but you've got Aneta
and she's very onto it.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, I know what's going to fire you up. We'll
start with the biggest story of the week. Local government
Minister Simeon Brown are seeking advice on whether to bring
government intervention or whether government intervention is needed in Wantington
City Council. Now up to six hundred million dollars in
cuts need to be found after the airport plan was
voted down, but the council council says that intervention is
(01:53):
not needed. It need to Baker, I want to start
with you on the you deal with Wellington a little bit.
I mean your sister city, well close city and to us,
so you deal with us a bit. Is there a
problem in Warnington City Council and his intervention the or
it is all getting blown up out of nothing?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
What's another metro for us? So I see politics happening
around that council table and that's take bloody politics out
and they might do stuff for their right payers, but
clearly they've got big budget problems which they have to
sort so please, they've finally come together and they're going
to agree obviously support water. If anything was going to happen,
I think it was probably an observer, but it's democracy happening.
(02:30):
But they do need to just get on for their
rate payers and their residents. And that's why I see
amalgamation with the four of us because actually were connected
everywhere and we've got a coherent council and Pottydoer they
could learn a lot from us.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
What are you hearing of the other councils like Lhutt
and Upper Heart Are they all okay as well?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Yeah, they're doing really well.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Why have we got such a problem? Willing to then?
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Because I do think it's all down to politics. You
have red Blues and Greens and pottydo we have two reds?
We put politics at the door, We get in the room,
we have a discussion what's right for Pottyder, Then we
leave the room, we go out and have coffee or
lunch at a poty doo eatery and get on.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
What do you mean we've got two reds?
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Well, I have two labor elected counselors. But you wouldn't
know that they play the game in the sense that
we're there for the residents, not our colors.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So you say you've got a blue counsel and potty
to it. Now, I would have thought that would have.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Been well, not not saying we've got a blue council.
We work with the Chief of Governments in so whatever's
right for potty to it and what's right for our residents.
So it depends what's happening is in to what we're
voting on. But we all agree around the table.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Flur Fit Simons, you've been away, but you've been picking
up and reading stuff and you'll be having textas and
people will be emailing you're an ex long term counselor,
you were a long term counselor?
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Are you with just five years but it felt like
a lot longer.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Well, five years is still a long term counselor and
this day and age, isn't it, So you'd know what's
going on. What have you made of the whole fiasco,
the whole airport sales, scaer sales, the whole vibe, what
have you made of it?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Well? I think it has been a bit of an
own goal. It was really clear back in June that
the numbers were not there to support the sale of
the Wellington Airport, and I really want to acknowledge Council
Nuridin Abdurrahman, who led the objection to the sale of
the airport, and he did so in a humble and
principled way and got the majority of councilors on side
to support it. However, this could have all been avoided
(04:20):
because the numbers were also there in June, but they
were stopped from having a vote on it. At this time,
I think the councilors have been let down. I don't
believe the six hundred million dollar figure of savings that
is required that has changed from three hundred million, four
hundred million, six hundred million. I simply do not accept
that is the right figure. I think that there's no
way the government should intervene. If you imagine that if
(04:42):
we were talking about the government having somebody come in
and override them, they'd be outrage And it's the same
from the council's perspective. They need to be left to
get along and make decisions in the interest of the
city and I've got confidence that they'll be able to
do that.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
How big an issue well, how big an obstacle is
Barbara Macro the CEO.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Look, I think that there is a culture in that
council of not properly respecting the democratically elected councilors and
mayor and it has been a problem for many, many years,
well before Barbara Maciro was the chief executive.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
So you what you're saying, and I just want to
make this so listeners can understand it. You're saying that
the CEO thinks that they're running the city rather than
the councilors.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
I think there is not just the CEO, but I
think for a long time in Wellington there has been
a very undemocratic approach to decision making. We are counselors
and in the mayor in some instances are kept out
of important decisions and not given the right information. And
that's undemocratic and that culture needs to substantially shift.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Would it be an easy way for the government to
put an observer in to make sure that doesn't happen.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Look, I don't think an observer will solve the issues.
It's the deep cultural problems. I don't support an observer,
But if they were going to do anything, that would
be the logical.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yeah, the low rungs thing. We don't want to take
it over. There will be no election. I told listeners
all that all the time, and they say in the
street to me that I'm crazy if they brought the
commissioner and there'd be no election next year, would.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
They No, that's right. The I think an observer or
an early election are the genuine options in front of
the minister. But actually I don't think either of them necessary.
They should let the council get on make a decision
and look if that doesn't happen, and if there are problems,
they can decide later on to do something. But at
the moment, all we've had is a very controversial, high
profile discussion about the sale of a strategics set where
(06:31):
the mayor didn't get her way, and now they need
to revisit some other decisions. That's politics, that's democracy, that
doesn't really need government intervention.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Anita, you are mayor of PoID. If you had the
same situation, how would you fix it?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
All?
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Very good question. I wouldn't have it. I've got an
excellent CEE, in an excellent relationship. We get all the
information we require. I think that's the difference. I meet
weekly daily sometimes with my CE, and the access to
the staff, the reports is there for our counselors, so
I think that's probably the difference. So it just wouldn't happen.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Are you Are you on the same area as your counselors,
so counselors can talk to you at any stage and
are you in the same office space.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
My CE and I are on the same floor. We
both have offices, My doors always open, I answer my phone,
my emails, everything. The counselors have access to both of us.
They just send an email and we reply, so we're
always connected.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Flir, When you were in council, did you have access
to the mayor at any time?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
It was just in Lester, yes, when it was Andy
Foster less, so he locked his office off from counselors.
The mayor and the chief executive are on different floors
in Wellington City Council, which I think an interesting distinction, Anita,
And there isn't that kind of everyday interaction between counselors
and in the mayor.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Would it surprise you to hear that Tory far now
locks her office off for more counselors.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Well, Andy Foster did as well. You said it is surprising,
but given some of the dynamics on that council, in
some ways, I don't blame her.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Okay, have you spoken to her since you got back?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
No?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Do you have a relationship, Not.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Really, We've We've got mutual friends and I have known
who for many years, but not a close relationship.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Do you think we'll get through to the end of
the election term.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I think they will keep making decisions.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
They have to. They absolutely have to, so I think
they will.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Well, how much confidence do you have in that? I mean,
you're dealing with the mayor, You're dealing without you know
how much confidence? And I wish there's a camera on
your face right now because you didn't give me too
much Coue, the counsel.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Is and the mayor. You know, it's turning up to
things being seen actually making those decisions, and they are
tough decisions and they have to agree to disagree and
do the right thing for Wellington, not themselves.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Can I ask you both this question, and I'll ask
you individually, how much of this big you know, fiasco,
let's call it a fiasco or problem issue, call it
whatever you want. It is it down to Tory Faro.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
The mayor well, yeah, the mayor leads the region, so
it comes back to the mayor, and if that was me,
it's on my head as well. So you have to
lead from the front, and I think struggling because she
hasn't got her counsel behind her, and that's always tough.
So you need your counselors, all of them in behind you,
not just your Greens or your reds. So everyone has
to respect her position until she's no longer the mayor.
(09:17):
Now they may not like that, but they just have
to suck it up and all get on you were the.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Long term plan is the mayor's long term plan. She
didn't have a majority of support for the sale of
the airport. She's made unpopular calls on that. On reading cinemas,
I do think that she needs to be able to
read the room better. That's the most important thing in politics.
Understand where the numbers are and then lead from that.
Or she hasn't done that.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
She has to change your mind on the Golden Mile.
She can't say that project is there because that's what
she wants. It's actually what the council wants, not what
she wants.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Well, she said that's unconditional.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
She can't say that because they've got to have a
vote on it.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I think she's likely to have the numbers on that
to be fair to going ahead. Yeah, that's right, But
what she needed to do, no, I don't think so.
When she started, she should have looked yet, where are
the numbers? Labor and the Greens both said they didn't
want sale of strategic assets. She also committed to no sale.
So why on earth would you press ahead with the
sale of the airport. She burned through so much good
will she had with her counselors that were otherwise on
(10:15):
her side. It's such a shame. But she needs to
learn from it and move on, and she is pretty
good at doing that. She's a very resilient woman from
my perspective of how she's coped with many many challenges.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
As tom Anita Baker, you said yes very quickly, Whether
when would suggestion that the Golden Mile doesn't go ahead
or I see, I don't want it not to go
ahead either. I just want to make that clear. I
wanted to see it stalled for a few years just
to get people.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
Back on their feet exactly what I mean. They do
need to stall it, rethink it. Some of these cycle
ways are not working. Even the cyclists aren't using the
damn things. So actually put it on hold for a
little while. Bring your budgets in.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Why aren't they doing that?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Well? To be fair, I actually think they should carry
on with it. And there's no guarantee that government money
would be available.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
But hold on, I've always said, and I asked her
that too. Why doesn't she least go to government and say, hey,
can we have that money in five years time inflationary,
you know adjusted.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
She's lucky to have it now. If the government had
had the ability to take it away, they would have.
She needs to get on with it. She's got a
majority of support on her council for it. She got
elected on that basis. She needs to actually do something
positive for Wellington. And I think at the end of
the day, people will say this is uplifted a dire
damaged area of Wellington, and people will well.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Will there be any businesses left?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yeah, that's exactly the question. I mean, we've seen what's
happened in Thornton. You're seeing you know, there won't be
People aren't resigning their leases, you know. The other day
Wednesday I was offered a building someone ramiosity. Obviously don't
know my financial state. Would you like to buy this
building now? I remember that building, small building on Courtney
Place was worth three and a half million dollars that
(11:50):
now you can buy that building for one point five million.
It's half the value. Who's going to be there at
the end of the build of the Golden Mile.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Well, she needs to work with businesses and I've already
seen some indications in media that she is willing to
think about how to support businesses. And to me that
looked like the same sort of thing that Auckland Council
did in kadung Ahappy Road. They supported businesses through direct
cash injections and she needs to be open that needs.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
That only a good example. Sorry for you, because so
many week is not.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Going to keep a business going and it's too late
when they're all shut.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah. Amalgamation, I mean it's almost like an ugly word
that no one really It's like the ugly auntie or
not the ugly anti the grumpy auntie. You go and
visit and she doesn't make your scones and she doesn't
make your lemonade, and you have to go there. This
amalgamation is a bit like that. Flurfit Simon's is it
time we brought the old amalgamation and we're talking potty
(12:44):
to upp Huton Wellington.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
It's not any time, but it's longer over jew. If
you think about the issues facing the region, water, infrastructure, housing, transport,
resilience and climate change, they are regional issues. It does
not make any sense to have the region broken down
into the current structure. I think that the only reason
it failed last time was because of a poor choice
of language when it came to to a Lord mayor
(13:07):
that just did not feel like a modern solution. We
need to see amalgamation in the Wellington region and actually,
with what's going on at Wellington City Council and the
current government's attitude and the experience that we had in Auckland,
now is the perfect time for the government to work
with the local councils and the communities to amalgamate Wellington councils.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Do you reckon that they might be looking at that?
Do you reckon that they might be know do you
think they could be thinking that could be the way
to present it well?
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I think Anita will have more insight into that, but
if they're smart, they will.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Be Anita's been very cagy on this topic. Anita has
that conversation being had.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
We've had that conversation at the Merial Forum before. And amalgamation.
I believe like flur is the only option going forward,
especially with water. It could be that we're only the
four for water, So amalgamation makes sense when one metro
is doing badly or abound Wellington and the rest of
it brings the rest of us down. We're actually all one,
all our waterways, everything joins. We're all fifteen minutes now
(14:04):
with all our motorways. So for me, there's the option
going forward, and I do agree with it.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
How do we make it happen?
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Well, you need for me is to agree to make
it happen. At the moment, it's only a couple of
us on.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Okay, let's let's break that down. See, Wayne Guppy tells
me that he's for it, but he won't go public
on that. Is that what you're hearing.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
I'm hearing that, yeah, and I are hearing that we're on.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Board, Yeah, Campbell and you are on board him.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Taking this to our council. So this is just mayors
being on board.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
But that's talking.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
We've spoken to our councils. I've spoken to my counsels.
People are up for the discussion, and then it has
to be rate payers that actually choose. But somebody has
to actually make it happen. None of us have the
money to make it happen, or to sit in a
little com by our circle and pretend that we're all
on the same page, because not everybody is. So I
agree someone needs to help us.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Maybe I give you a little suggestion as an entrepreneur,
maybe a little email to Simmey and Brown when you
finish the show saying Simeon, I've just come off news
Stalks and b we discussed the fact that Wellington Mornings
with Nick Mills, by the way, just put that plug
in there, and we just discussed again that the amalgamation
might be the way out of all these issues. What
(15:14):
will Toy say to that, Will she sign of for
it or would we need the government to sign of it.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Oh, I'm not sure you'd have to ask both of them.
I'm still pushing ahead with what we think is right
for the region. So I'm sure samym Brown is thinking
about things. I'm sure Tory is thinking about things, but
at the moment they're just trying to do their long
term plan, so us throwing them on story amalgamation. It's
she's not against it, but imagine trying to get her
counsel on board. So it's all very well to have
(15:40):
one mayor saying it, but you need a counsel.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
But also we need somebody and it probably is somebody
in government to present it as a visionary plan. Yes,
get people behind it.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
And it is a visionary plan, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
If you try and talk about it for years and years,
you'll just keep having the same discussions. What we need
is leadership and vision and for the advantage of it
to be sold in Ideally it's a bipartisan approach.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Is sam and Brown experienced enough, how awful enough?
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Absolutely he is really great to deal with. I trust
Sama and Brown. If anyone can make it happen, that
government can. They have said they stood up at local
government conference and said they want less of us. So
here's the chance.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I think if Simmyon Brown's the answer to amalgamation, we've
got a long road.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Up then No, I don't.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
I don't think Simmyon's the one, but it does need
broad support.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
Minister has it Christ Ship's already said are sorry no,
Chris Hipkins, sorry, I said yes, you know we've heard
the Prime Minister say yes, so it.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Could be a very unifying thing. And yes it would
be good to have the mayors and the councils on board,
but actually it just needs to be presented as a
realistic proposal visionary for Wellington because actually when you look
at it, all of the problems that are facing this
region are deep seated problems that need structural and radical
change and amalgamation would be a good step.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Could I just quickly ask you both, could it be
as done as quickly as the next election? Or am
I dreaming?
Speaker 4 (17:04):
No it's too quick, you wouldn't get it done. I
don't think with us doing long term plan and order.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
I think you you could take the steps before the
next election. And what we saw in Oakland led by
Rodney Hyde, and actually I was on the Union side
of it when we're amalgamating all of the staff and
all of the different councils, and I have to say,
surprised me. Rodney Hyde excellent to deal with on that issue,
including expecting the workers who worked in the different councils
and we were actually able to do that relatively quickly,
(17:31):
but I do think a year is a bit of it.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
It might be a bit quick. You could push an
election out a year and say right next year.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Yeah, I'm going to start with you on this one.
It's a year since the election and the latest pole
results show the government would still have a majority of
the election was held today. Do you think that the
government has performed as well so far as you thought
they were, or worse than expected.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Well, I had pretty low expectations, but they've even been
worse than I thought. And if you just look at
the cuts to the public sector to fund their tax
windfall for landlords and their tax cuts, they've taken the
most irresponsible slash and burn approach to getting rid of
valued public services and places like.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
They had them.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
They really didn't, and they promised no frontline cuts. Yet
we've lost customs officers from Timaru, we've lost dog training
handlers from Auckland Airport. New Zealand's sec border security is
less because this government decided to fund tax cuts for
landlords and tax relief that was unaffordable. They've been a shambles.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Really, do you really believe they've been a shambles. Our
interest rates are coming down, your mortgage rates are going
to come down. I mean we're feeling like in business
that we're getting better and need to baker, what do
you think.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
I think they've performed as expected. Sure, cutting government spending
and jobs is terrible and we don't like that, but
our spending was out of control. And remember Wellington had
a big problem before the public sector cuts. Was the
only council in New Zealand that didn't see a population
growth in the last census. So that's a real can
area in the coal mine for me. Also, we've had
(19:00):
good changes in the police and education and Chris Bishop's
infrastructure fund to me is absolutely fantastic. So I'm really
pleased for those sorts of things. But you never want
to see people lose their jobs. But inflation, as you said,
is coming down and things are starting to write themselves.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
And realistically, i mean we all live in the same city.
I'm a bit concerned, Flir that you haven't noticed that
over the last five years we were getting too many
people working for the government. I mean everyone was leaving
there their other jobs and going and working for the government.
During COVID nineteen or employing lots of people surely had
to lose their jobs sooner or later.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Thank goodness they did, because actually New Zealand was able
to weather the storm of COVID nineteen and protect lives
and there wasn't a huge number of people employed in
the public sector in New Zealand during that period relative
to other OECD countries. I don't accept that at all,
and I just want to pick up on Anita's comment
read the police. There's been slash and burning the police
(19:56):
as well. Dis government kad no, no, this government headny.
This government said that they wouldn't do any cuts that
impacted on the front line. There have been that have
impacted on the front line in police, including some more
announced today, and the Police Association have rightly called the
government out on that and I totally support them in
doing so. But it goes further than that. This government
(20:18):
has having the most divisive discussion around the Treaty Principal's
Bill that act is trying to get through. It's not
it's going to be awful, it's going to be nasty,
and this government is appealing to people's worst aspects in
emboldening racists. It's not a modern national party. It's not
one that John Key would have done. It's not stuff
(20:39):
that John Key would have done. It's not stuff that
bil English would have done. They showed that they were
genuinely committed to a better relationship with Martin. Now I
don't agree with everything they did, but Chris Luxen appeals
to people's worst demons. He emboldens racists and it's damaging
for New Zealand internationally and in the long term.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
Anita, I think that's act actually that are doing this.
But National should just have killed that bill. I mean,
wouldn't know. They have been the first step, that's the problem.
I think they should have just buried it. Unfortunately, what
happens when you get three parties running a government.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
But you're running a city. You can see whether we're
heading in the right direction or the wrong direction. You
get it every day. You get it from your constituents,
you get it from your businesses. What are they telling
you you do?
Speaker 4 (21:20):
And Putty to a we are there's a lot more
businesses moving in, probably thanks to Willington. I've got lots
of moana, seafoods coming out. All kinds of new businesses
have arrived. And Putty to a and places are doing well.
Things are quieter in the streets. I have to admit,
the cafes and things are still doing business, but people
are ordering less. So things are tough for people. But
things are also looking better and brighter people are. People
(21:42):
seem happier. And that's not the government. But I think
we're through the worst.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
You think it's it's daylight saving two. It's we all
feel better when we come into summer. I mean, I
sat outside on my balcony and had a cup of
tea yesterday afternoon, and holy hell, I'm still just as broken.
I'm still just as tired, but the sun shining and
I feel a bit better.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
Well, I think it's all of us. It's not just
the councils or the government. But you know, you've got
insurance going up, and the bank rates and at all
these things. So it's a combination of everything. We can't
put that all on one government.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Okay, talking about one government, the government agency ACC, the
government agency is facing a seven point two billion dollar deficit.
They say it's because of increase injuries and longer rehabilitation times.
Flurfit Simon's is ACC a good model and does it
need to be reformed.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
It is a world leading model. It's a world leading
model that involves no fault accident compensation, and it's the
envy of many other countries. I've just come back from
some time overseas, including some time in the United States.
When you drive along the highway there there is billboard
after billboard advertising lawyers if you have a car accident,
ring me if I'll help you get compensation. And it
(22:50):
creates a hideous society, a litigious society where people are
pitted against each other. Acc stops that. But I think
it's interesting when you look at some of the problems
with funding. It is longer rehabilitation times, and that is
because of the pressures on our health system. And what's
the government doing forcing more cuts on our health system
which is desperately crying out for more investment, not less.
(23:13):
So I think we have to make acc work properly.
It is a world leading scheme that is the envy
of many other countries. But we do need to fund
it properly.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Anita, do you think we need to pay more levies?
Speaker 4 (23:23):
Well, the problem with that. I think it is a
great system.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
It probably needs some tweaks. I don't want.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
We haven't looked at it really heavy.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
But I don't want to pay more. I'm paying two
and a half thousand a year for ACC because i'm
class as a contract or, as a mayor. I don't
really want that going up, thank you very much, But
I do think it needs to be looked at some way.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Quite a dangerous job, your job being mere, or you
make a mistake, people have protests outside. I reckon, do
it our grand it's pretty cheap.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
I reckon it's pretty cheap.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
I don't think so. I don't claim on it. So,
but it's a fantastic system and I support it. You
need it absolutely, and I.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Agree it's either of you think we need to readjust it.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
Well, we probably do. We need to relook at it.
But it's doing a great job.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
We need to make sure it's funded properly.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
Yeah, and I think you don't think it's funded properly.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Will clearly not.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Well that one year and then the previous year they
made a billion dollars or nine hundred you know, nine
hundred million.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
We need to fund it to succeed for New Zealanders
and to be there when they need it. And actually
two and a half thousand for a relatively high paid
person is pretty small.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
I would have thought, doesn't feel like it.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Thanks, you haven't had to sell your car?
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Have you?
Speaker 3 (24:32):
No driver?
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Council? Kar and Peter use it?
Speaker 2 (24:36):
There you go. The Green Party has voted to boot
out Darling Tanna after the walker jumping law. It's only
taken seven months since the first allegations of her being
aware of migrant exploitation came to light. I suppose I
better start with you, Anita. Does it look like she's
finally gone? Is it good? Riddans? Or do you feel
(24:56):
for it?
Speaker 1 (24:56):
No?
Speaker 4 (24:57):
She needs to bloody walk now. I mean, why has
it taken seven or eight months to make this decision?
The party should have made the decision a long time ago.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
How do you feel about her thoughts? Because I've actually
been a bit supportive of it. She helped put those
numbers in there, she campaigned, she was part of the party,
she was a profile piece of it. Suddenly her husband
does something wrong and you know, and she's involved in
the business and she gets kicked out.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Yeah, but she wasn't actually elected, she was on the list,
So she's killing help on that. Yeah, but you could
say they all have on that list. But you know,
if something happens, you have to walk the plank. When
your time comes.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
We all do ah flir, and you need tell me
what you're thinking.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
I think it's a really sad demise for her. Is
a is a woman MP, and I'm I'm sorry that
it's happened to her, and I'm sorry that it's happened
to the Green Party. But I think everyone just needs
to give her some time to move.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
I think she'll come back with the Mary Party. I
think she's actually quite a good politician. I actually quite
I think she's quite smart.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
Or she should have switched right in the beginning and
stopped all this.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Well, yes she could have. Could she have stayed in Parliament?
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Then no?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Under the Walker drumping note no no, So she was
always going.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
To go yeah, but the Greens have just taken so
long to make the decision. You know, I feel sorry
from that point of view.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Okay, another quick question I want to ask you. You
won't know much about it, probably either of you won't
know a lot about this, But there's been frustration with
a new cycleway on Molesworth Street that's reduced the road
to one lane traffic, which is now backing up along
Lambton Key during peak times. I walked up on Wednesday,
got a hell of a fright. Some idiot yelled at
me as I was walking up the street. But I
walked up the street. I've never seen anything like it,
(26:31):
and either have you heard about it?
Speaker 4 (26:32):
You know I've seen it, and I just think they
need to put a hold on these I mean, the
cyclists are saying they're not in the right places. Either,
stop them when you're backing the queues of traffic up.
I know you want a walkable city, and I don't
hate bikes, but they're not working. Take them off the
main streets and run them elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Do you have bike lanes and potted it?
Speaker 4 (26:50):
No, we have one that's around the outer city.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
But no, we might need you as our replacement mayor. No, no, no, okay,
all right, Well what's some other one tried it?
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Than that? Was it?
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Nick Leggett tried to come from poor Ruda. WELLI it
didn't quite work. What do you think, Fleur about the
Moles Street? Have he's driven up there since you've been back?
Speaker 3 (27:08):
I haven't actually seen it, but what I would say
is that Tory Farner got an elector on a platform
of accelerating cycle away infrastructure around Wellington, so Wellingtonians knew
what they were voting for. She was very clear about that,
and good on her for committing to doing anything.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Are you're saying, we're all the idiots, which I agree with.
I totally agree with it, which she is there democratically
voted in. So I agree that Wellington's and I tell
people when they rang up, I say to them, you
voted her in. It's your decision. You made that decision.
We can't blame anyone else, can we.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
No, and I don't think we should. I think the
Council hasn't always done the right approach when it comes
to how you design cycle away infrastructure. But what I
would say is all of us in the future need
to be less reliant on cars. That is the reality
of our future here in Wellington, and so that feels uncomfortable.
It is difficult, it's a hard transition. The Council hasn't
always done it right. But in the end of the day,
(27:59):
and I'm guilty of this, as you're never I really
struggle riding a bike and I know that's got to
change now. I've got to take more active transport. Public
transport is a better available option. And look, having just
been in London, oh my god, nobody has a car.
Everybody takes public transport all the time because it's regular.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
It's talking about a population as a whole in New
Zealand within a square mirb.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
This is our future. We have to have reliable, regular,
affordable public transfer available change.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Now my next topic. You'll be really across right, Anita
won't have a clue, but you'll be really really a close.
Reclining seats on planes now are going to be really quick.
I thought that we should actually have a rule that
they don't have reclining seats on planes. Are they a
plane in the backside. You've just traveled around the world.
Did you have problems with reclining seats?
Speaker 3 (28:44):
No?
Speaker 2 (28:44):
And to be fair, with sitting, do you go business class?
Speaker 3 (28:47):
No?
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Goodness.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
I was sitting in front of my partner who was
in the road behind, so I didn't really have any problems.
But lots of the people in front of me consulted
with me and said, look, do you mind if I recline?
And of course I'm going to say yes, I think
it's fine you recline. The next person reclines and you
have to on some of those long haul flights.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
I hate them.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
They should be taken out in the domestic one. Internationally.
I understand why, but I can't stand them.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Yeah, I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
The Friday Faidet.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
We having a little bit of fun in the studio.
I need the Baker's be on fire today, doesn't she flir?
She's been kicking us, she's been going giving us all
these ideas, right, hots and knots, Flurford Simon's you just
come back from overseas. You're going to say rich, but
I won't. What's your hots and knots?
Speaker 3 (29:35):
My hot is Camilla Balich leading the charge on the
Wage Theft bill that was Ibrahimomas. That's got through to
its next reading in Parliament with the support of New
Zealand First. And this is about a situation where employers
unlawfully take money and she's really made that, made that
her own and got that through the next stage in Parliament.
So I think that's great for New Zealand workers. Yes,
(29:56):
on the not so hot, I've got the government letting
Uber decide the law after the Court of Appeal delivered
a great outcome for Uber drivers in New Zealand to
have employment rights, and what we're seeing at the moment
is the government bringing Uber in and basically allowing them
to write the laws that will protect their business in
the future at the expense of New Zealand workers and
Uber drivers. And that's just not the way we want
(30:17):
to go as a country.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Okay, great Aneita Baker, your hots and knots please Tokeman
and were.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
Queen's tonight at Treppohr Arena against the y they're playing tonight.
Pop down and kaitai and have some food. My knots
are these damned road cones that are similar to sticks
that they sit sit up and they're popping up all
over our cities and I can't stand them. And if
we put them in we should in't form our community
before we.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Do it, right, what are we going to see? And
then just before we gocause, I've got one quick minute,
But what are we going to see from Sam and
Brown over the next month? Quickly? One line from each owie?
Are we going to see anything or nothing?
Speaker 4 (30:51):
I hope?
Speaker 2 (30:52):
So that was a quick line.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
I think the government will want to do something. They've
talked so much. Presumably they want to follow that through
with action.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
But do you think they will do something. I don't
think they'll do anything.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
I don't think they necessarily will do anything around Wellington
City Council. But amalgamation, it's a perfect opportunity, as we've
just been discussing.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Yeah, I think we're not. I think Anita is not
telling us what everything she knows. She's got very caty.
When I mentioned at Malgama, she's we're bright red and
looking to me look the other way. It's like she
wanted to get out of She might have political.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Aspirations to be the mayor of the not political or
the new mayor for the region.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
I would put on top of Campbell. Nice young person.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Why do we why do we hate the idea of
super city? I love the idea of super city because
why do we not want to use that.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Terminal because it brings back the old one when they
tried to do it when I was first selected to council,
and it just brings back all those things of different councils,
whereas this time we're talking for we're not talking hate,
and it's not just.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
About a city, it's about a region.
Speaker 4 (31:42):
Yeah, she's having the.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
Same rules she does seem to know a little bit
more than she's She's already got a candidate. She's the
Dawson Campbell Berry for the mayor of the region region
that hasn't yet been created. She's already got a runner.
It's amazing.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
I'm going with youth.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Oh good both. Thank you very very much for covering it.
I've enjoyed it. I've really enjoyed it. I've been controlled
totally by my two learned friends this morning. Thank you
very much, and Neat Baker and Flirford Simons.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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