February 12, 2025 • 22 mins
David Seymour has been under fire this week after it was revealed he wrote a letter supporting Philip Polkinghorne before he was charged with murder, and before Seymour was a Minister.
The controversy continued on Monday as Seymour attempted to drive a Land Rover up Parliament's steps, before being yelled at by a Parliamentary security guard.
How have both of these stories reflected on the government, and do Seymour and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have a good relationship?
Also, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says a conversation on the future of superannuation is inevitable. Is it time we means tested the pension?
To answer those questions, Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and National's Otaki MP Tim Costley joined Nick Mills for Politics Thursday.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
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 focusing in on the issues
that matter politics Thursday on Wellington Mornings, news Talk said
bils Shine, can you make a decision of us.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Joining us for our politics Thursday slot this week is
Labour's police spokesperson, Jinny Andson. Been a while, Jenny, good morning,
How are you great? Thanks being a while? How are
you doing what you get up to? You're right, yeah,
I'm so.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I'm all right. Bet you had a good break over Christmas.
That was some good weather and got up to wife
hungry that was because and then back into our second
week of parliament.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
So we'll go welcome back and National O Tachy, MPM Costly,
Good morning, Tim, good morning. Great to be with you.
Great to have you here with us. Let's start with
the latest polls. The Taxpayers Union Caurier poll and the
One News pole both had the Left forming a government
slight margin. Oh yes, slight margin. I want to keep
(01:17):
it real. The coalition would be out. Tim. I want
to start with you on this one. Explain to me
why when you're driving home to Otaki, driving home to
the Capity Coast, one day when you hear all this
information and you start thinking about it, because that's the
time you think about things. Why are this government so unpopular? Oh, look,
(01:42):
I don't.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
See it that way, but I understand it's tough at there,
right I understand the frustration that people will have that
life has been tough for a number of years, and
the things that we are doing are showing the demonstrating
that they make a difference. But it takes time. And
of course everyone is anxious to see the cost of
living improved, to see our economy grow, to see more
opportunity for families, and that's really important, so they should be.
(02:05):
But I am confident that, you know, seeing what we're
seeing with inflation under control, with mortgage rates coming down,
and as people refix their mortgage, is they get a
few more dollars, a few more options for their family.
At the end of the week, I'm confident that by
the election twenty twenty six, we'll see something very different.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Ginny, Oppositions don't win elections, government loses them. This is
the result, you know, probably hasn't been reflective of your own,
your labour's performance, but just about how badly people are
perceiving that their dreams or aspirations were going to be
under national.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
I think the reflects that this government has made the
wrong choices. They prioritized cuts to across a range of
jobs in Wellington, as well as providing tax cuts to
tobacco and to and so that really that really has
crippled the Wellington economy. And I'd just like to acknowledge
(03:02):
you Nick. You know you personally felt this with your
own business, along with so many other local businesses that
have had to shut their doors because there is no
money in the local Wellington economy and that directly reflects
upon the poor choices this government has taken.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
I'm glad you mentioned that because the back page of
the Post yesterday and I just looked flicked through the Post,
was a whole page of companies being wound up by
their iod. Now that's a government department saying everyone, we're
telling yes, say yes, say yes, do deals. But it's
really the same no get out of town, No.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
No Wellington Yes Wellington. Wellington feels that it's been absolutely
ground into the dirt by this government and people won't
forget that in Wellington. Chris Bushop talked up about being
a voice in the Hut and Nichola Willis talks about
being a well proud Wellingtonian. Both their hands are all
over the demise of our city and people won't forget that.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Now, Look what we need is we need people to
have money to go and spend, be able to make
choices to spend money in these businesses. We need businesses.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
You need the businesses to survive, though you need makes.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
The difference for that is interest rates, the ability to borrow.
And we saw those interest rates rates up. We saw
the costs that every business face that race up. And
what's bringing that under control is the work we've done.
And yes that has involve some tough decisions around the
number of people this government can afford to be able
to employ. But we haven't even come down anywhere near
(04:29):
what it was before labor got in. But even with
that small reduction, we are seeing inflation come down, interest
rates come down, and that makes a business more affordable.
That gives Kiwis more option and it's the right and
responsible thing to do. It takes time, and of course
it's tough. It's tough for you, it's tough for so
many people. But we have to do this. We have
to be responsible and fix up the mess.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I think you should say yes a bit more. I
think you should stick to it.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
We should.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
I think you should. I think that you should be
get on after this. You should get onto your department
and say say yes to Nick, try and do a deal.
Say yes. How much how much of this doubt, Jenny,
I'm jesting and I'm trying to make light of a
very very tough situation for me and my family. Yeah,
I can't mention, Ginny, how much of this is down
(05:12):
to actual actually Christopher Luckxon's performance as Prime minister. How
much of it is that? See? I keep saying, and
I could be completely wrong, Ginny. I'd love to get
your opinion on it. He's the puppeteer. He's trying to
control two guys, one guy on each side of him,
and it's a bloody difficult job.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
He's in a really tough position because David Seymour is
hogging the media. He's doing some pretty stupid things and
it's directly causing this government pain. And for lax And
who talked it up about being the business guy, the
big CEO in charge of the boardroom, he's powerless to
really do anything to stop David Seymour, and that directly
reflects upon New Zealanders looking at their prime minister not
(05:52):
being in control of a situation.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
What do you think, Tim, I mean, do you think
he I mean, we all know he's a good guy.
I mean, there's no problem. I mean, I like it.
I like him when he's a good guy. But it's
trying to keep everything together all the time rather than
actually being you know, going out there and leading, isn't it. Oh?
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Look absolutely one of his jobs is keeping the coalition together.
And I think what we're actually seeing if we reflect
back on twenty eighteen twenty nineteen, is doing a very
good job. It's the first time we've had three parties
in a coalition and from where I sat, he's doing
a fantastic job.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
But he's also deluded. He's not been able to be that,
you know, the leader. He's always got to have everything
he does. He has to put his front row down
with him. It's no solo scrum. There's always but you don't.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Win a scrum on your own, right, You win it
in a type pack that win with the cap that
we have of course, and we've got a great captain,
but we don't have Ridgie mccordy. Hey, mccaord didn't do
everything on design. He had a great team around them,
but he was a great leader. And so is Christopher Luxon.
And what we've seen is the focus he brings and
things like quarterly plans. The reason that inflation is in
the target band a year ahead of when it was forecast.
(06:59):
The reason interest rates are coming down is because Chris
Luxon brings focus, and he brings competence, and he brings
a great team to the table.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
But Nick, you've got the upcoming Deputy Prime Minister of
New Zealand who's intervened in a murder investigation, who is
called the real problems around Parliament.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Jenny, can I bring because you're segueing beautifully into my
next question, So can I just ask you my next
question and get the context about it. David Seymour, you're
trying to bring him up before I get the chance
to ask you. He's been hogging the headlines this week
after it was revealed he wrote a letter supporting Philip
Pokemon and then when the police were actually investigating him,
(07:42):
and then he tried to drive this old craddy, old
land drover up Parliament steps even got back and forth
with the media with the Prime Minister this week. I mean, really,
how much damage is David Seymour causing the coalition popularity? Jenny,
Because I know you want to come in on it,
I'll let you go on.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
It's caused immense problems for this government and for the
Prime Minister because he's absolutely won't take action. And yes,
look we've had old you put my hand out in
the past. We've had ministers that didn't do what they
should have done or a misstepped and they got sacked
as a result. And so you've got lux in in
there with someone who's continually causing him problems, but he
(08:22):
can't take that leadership and take action, and that is
not a good look for this government when New Zealanders
expect more from their politicians than the sort of behavior
and to be honest, like intervening in a murder investigation.
That is seriously questionable for an upcoming, deeply prime minister
(08:43):
to be doing that sort of thing without the Prime
Minister giving him some sort of punishment for their behavior.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Jenny, what was worse? What Stuart Nash did well, David
Seymour did well.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
It's on a par really because and Stuart Nashwood lost
his job as a result of it. So there seems
to be no repercussions for David Seymour for intervening in
a murder investigation.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Tim, you must admit that he's causing some scratching of
your head for National David Seymour.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
Is Look, I am scratching my head because I can't
believe this is day four of you guys wanted to
make this the headline. I'm out in the community every day.
People are not talking about this. People are talking about
the fact that it is hard to pay their bills.
I had, you know, a woman in the office this week,
struggling told me how tough life has been the last
four years. That is what people are focused on. That
is what our government is focused on. That's what we
(09:35):
are delivering. And so, you know, it just shows how
out of touch Jenny and Labor have Bekinn, can I just.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Tell you that we did we did a bit of
a story about this. I really want to talk about this,
and I had three headlines of major papers saying Seymour Seymour,
and Ethan said to me, pulled up another one and said,
you missed the fourth one. So don't tell us that
people aren't talking about what David Seymour's up to. There
(10:02):
was four headlines in twenty four hours of major papers.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
And I don't dispute that, but that's the point, right,
that's not the thing that most key wes want. That
might be what makes the headline, and that might sell
in newspaper and that's fantastic, But actually the things that
matter and the things that we're focused on, are about
about growing our economy, reducing the cost of living, making
life a bit easier for keys and giving them some
more choices.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
But the headlines are about a coalition of chaos. It's
an absolute disarray. Yes, there's always a bit of political
rgibarji that's accepted, but the level of absolute circus behavior
we've seen from this government grabs media attention and grabs
people's attention because it's so out of the park.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Jenny, Yes or no. Should David Seymour have been fired
for his actions over the last twenty four forty eight
seventy two hours.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
I think he should have been. He intervened in a
murder investigation, and even the Minister of Police, Mark Mitchell
has the that's not okay. It's the IPA, the Independent
Police Complaints Authority, that is appropriate face for that to
go and see more should have known that.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
No, and that's and that's I mean they're writing a
letter is something that the Prime Minister has been very
clear in our position on. But that happened before he
was a minister. That's not something the Prime Minister actually
has responsibility for. And look, there were pretty the ministers
in the last Labor government, some of them you're accused of,
you know, bullying, harassment or toxic culture, still sitting on
the Labor Party front bench. So you know, it's a
(11:31):
bit it's a bit rough trying to claim the moral
highground now.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Politics Thursday with Tim Costly and of course Ginny Anderson superannuation,
I want to talk some super annuation. Finance Minister Nicholas Willis.
Willis came out Nichola Willis came out on this station
on Monday and said we will need to have a
conversation about how we can make super annuation more affordable.
I mean, it was a bit of a slip of
(11:55):
the tub. At least she was interviewing and someone said
to her, you know what about superannuation. We can't afford
to keep a guy, and she sort of said, we
need to keep looking at it. Tim first question, can
we forward to keep super annuation settings exactly how they
are right now?
Speaker 4 (12:11):
Well, I think as population grows and people live longer,
there's challenges there. Right, there's no surprise in that we've
talked about this for many years. We don't have a
current position on this, but this has been in previous elections.
We had a policy back in the previous National government
around this, but we have to make sure it's sustainable
for the future as well as supporting keys. Now that's
why we've put super up by almost five percent last year,
(12:32):
because we need to help people with the current cost
of living crisis as we work to improve that.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Jilly, what was your stand on it? What was your
government stand on it? When the talk of means testing
keep coming up, I mean it's been up, It's been
coming up for as long as I can ever remember walking.
You know, is it time that we don't give the
super rich, you know, superannuation? What are your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Our policy at the last election was not to raise
the age and not to means test, and I think
National's policy was to raise it to sixty seven, and
I think need a party now have has announced policies
as we're both looking through that.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
But hold on a minute, Jenny, I believe that your
policy for twenty twenty four was to look at it.
For sorry, twenty fourteen was to look at it.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
I'll have to go back and do. But for my recollection,
we need propose main testing.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Okay, what about looking at the age we kept.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
At last election? It was sixty five to keep it
as it was.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Do you think we should still keep it at sixty five? Now?
You know when those dates were, Just to give you
some context on it. When those dates were, sixty five
was set, I think the age of living was something
like sixty seven for men and seventy two for women
or something stupidly low slow. Now it's eighty for both,
So surely we should look at it again too. Yeah,
(13:56):
and look, it used to be sexty kicked now sixty five.
So hold on, Jinny, I'll just get Tom and then
I'll come back to you.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
So, I mean, that's why we proposed taking up to
sixty seven. We're going about ten years now, and it
was well down the track. It's people my age and
younger and I'm pretty young, Nick, that we're going to
be impacted by this, and I thought at the time,
look fair enough, it makes it makes sense. We're going
to run it for a lot longer. It's not fear
on those that have worked hard all their life, and
particularly in pretty manual labor if they can't expect it now.
(14:23):
So I understand why Nichola is saying, Look, we have
to have a mature conversation about this. We've never supported
like in twenty fourteen when labour on a mean testing
that wasn't our policy. Ours was about raising the age
just to sixty seven. But we are going to have
to have that conversation as we move forward.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Ginny, surely you've got to look at it. I mean,
I know that you're the people of the workers, and
the workers at sixty five or a hell of a
lot more beat up than people that have made a
lot of money on yachts. But I mean, sixty seven
is obvious now, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
The problem?
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I haven't I have constituents with this is someone who
is sixty one or sixty two and they've worked on
like a road gang, or they've done you know, menual
physical labor needs are pretty quick to give out around
that age. Your hips and needs are things that can't
keep going, and so those are people who can't do
the work that they're trained in, they're not eligible for superannuation,
(15:20):
and they can't find alternative employments. There's a real problem
there with working people. And the other group of people
that it affects badly is those who don't lives long.
And we know MARII on average live eight years shorter,
and so that's an unfair disadvantage for those who are
not being able to collect that money. So there's a
problem there that definitely needs to be addressed in terms
(15:41):
of how those people have an income when they won't
their whole lives in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Hard I want to ask you both about the Cook
Island situation. Prime Minister Mark Brown is currently in China
talking up a big partnership deal this week, despite the
Cook Island's being obligated to tell us New Zealand who
they use, our passports, our money, what they're up to. Tom,
how worried should we be? Obviously Winston's pretty upset by it.
(16:08):
Should we be concerned that Mark Brown's in China trying
to sign a big deal that we don't even know
anything about.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Well, I guess that's the point, right, We don't know
the detail, so it's really hard to say what our
position is. I'm always pretty weary to be fear of
launching into foreign affairs. I think that's more a department
for the Prime Minister and our Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
I think there must be talked. Is the talk in
parliament amongst your teammates. Gosh, it's a bit nerve wracking
that China or getting this relationship with one of our
own Cook Islands.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
We have a long standing relationship with the with the
Cook Islands and that's always been built on that sort
of level of transparency and cooperation, particularly when it comes
to security and defense. And that's why I think, you know,
it's really hard without knowing the detail of this or
what it involves, because as you say, in New Zealand
and the Cooklans have such a close relationship, it would
be you know, it's really hard to comment without knowing
(17:00):
what the detail of what we're actually talking about here.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Jenny, Let's cut it to the chase. Let's cut to
the chase. How harmful would it be for us in
New Zealand to have a big Chinese presence in the
Pacific and what can we should, we could we do
to prevent it.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
It's really concerning and I think I thought sort Peter
had done actually came out recently raising concerns about what
it means, and it is a real unknown because we
just don't know what's in that agreement. But in terms
of our national security, in terms of understanding what's happening
in our own backyard, the Pacific Islands have always been
critical to that. So it's essential that we maintain those
(17:41):
relationships and understand the nature of the deal they've done
with China, so the sooner we can understand that the
stronger will have a position to be able to know
how we respond to it.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Let's talk about the Golden visas for international investors who
want to come into New Zealand and invest, but they
still won't be able to buy a house. Jinny, what
multi millionaire based overseas would want to and live in
New Zealand and invests risk, do everything in New Zealand
but not be able to buy a home.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
I just think they've made the wrong choices here. Going
back to the Wellington Region five hundred jobs gone between Callahan,
gen Sniwa. You know, these are innovation, these are our
bright people. If we want productivity and to be smart
and have a great economy, we do not invest in
our brightest minds. So yep, we're selling the doors and
saying come on in. But right here in Wellington we've
(18:36):
laid off five hundred research scientists, people that have a
huge ability to increase productivity in our economy. So for me,
wrong choices, just round the wrong way, totally crazy.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
So I want to ask you almost the same question,
because you know, it's ridiculous to think that someone's going
to take an almighty big risk move probably halfway around
the world. They'll come from America or they'll come from
Europe with a big pot of money to invest and risk,
but you can't buy.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
And I think if we had a look, I think
this is a great policy to start with. This is
actually about bringing investment into New Zealand. That's how we
grow our economy, right, That's one of the pieces of
the puzzle. So you can't just try and conflate every
issue that you've suddenly drawn out of your Bingo cards
today and try and make them all the same. But
actually this is a great step forward. And if we
were to go all the way out and say fine,
(19:28):
you can come and have residency on day one and
you can buy a house, there would also be an outcry.
So I think actually this shows some balance. It is
about saying we need to make them feel more welcome.
In twenty twenty two, labor change the setting settings that
work in really well two billion dollars of investment in
the years letting up to that. It's dropped to seventy
seventy six I think million in the last three years. Right, woeful.
(19:49):
We've actually got to get people coming again. And I
can tell you it's popular. I was having a chat
with the Minister just earlier today and the phones have
been off the hook. There is a lot of interest
in this scheme because it strikes the right balance and
it entices people in. You know, it entices them to
come and learn more about New Zealand and get involved
in us. And we think over time, as they do
that we'll see a deeper investment to the point that
(20:09):
they might go for residency and buy a house. But
in the meantime, let's get them to come and build
houses and develop property. And invest in kere We companies.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Do you think it's the I suppose the love affair
of living in New Zealand might have something to do.
I know that talking to last week, I was talking
to a residential person that used to bring people in
from overseas to get big jobs in New Zealand. He
said his phone's been running off the hook because they
want to get away from Trump.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Well in New Zealand is a great place to be.
It's the best country on earth and we should be
attracting these people. And because they bring opportunity with them.
It's not just money they bring, they bring skills, they
bring connections around the world. And these are people that
are people of the world right. They don't want to
live here necessarily the whole time, but they can bring
opportunity here and connect us more to the world. That's
part of our story of economic growth. That's what we're
(20:57):
focused on.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah, I just I like to just say something there,
but they do. There is an ability to buy a
resident So allowing people to buy residence by parting your
money in passive investments such as property not going to
generate jobs. It's not going to generate You've got to
be building properly.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
You can't just go and buy existing houses, do we?
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Venture capitalists lobby the government and they are looking for
investment opportunities. Can we venture capitalists urge the government to
keep Labour's rules in place and not to open up
to passive investments because they know that it stifled growth
in New Zealand. And so it's just I don't know.
I ring and I put my head in my hands.
A focus on wealthy visitors in New Zealand. And the
(21:40):
same week the government has figures showing can we unemployment
as record highs is just crazy.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
At the high time they were forecast on the Labor
Thank you both so much for joining the show today.
Labor Police spokesperson Jenny Anderson and Nationals O Techi MP
Tim Costly, have a great rest of the week. Last well,
you know you're out of there today, you're out of
Parliament today, you go home on fide as. You have
the long weekend and you worked the four days. You
guys work the four day working week like I think
(22:08):
we should hold in New Zealand. Should That's another story
for another day. Twenty eight minutes to twelve. Thank you both.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Searletter see letter. 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 focusing in on the issues
that matter politics Thursday on Wellington Mornings, news Talk said
bils Shine, can you make a decision of us.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Joining us for our politics Thursday slot this week is
Labour's police spokesperson, Jinny Andson. Been a while, Jenny, good morning,
How are you great? Thanks being a while? How are
you doing what you get up to? You're right, yeah,
I'm so.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I'm all right. Bet you had a good break over Christmas.
That was some good weather and got up to wife
hungry that was because and then back into our second
week of parliament.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
So we'll go welcome back and National O Tachy, MPM Costly,
Good morning, Tim, good morning. Great to be with you.
Great to have you here with us. Let's start with
the latest polls. The Taxpayers Union Caurier poll and the
One News pole both had the Left forming a government
slight margin. Oh yes, slight margin. I want to keep
(01:17):
it real. The coalition would be out. Tim. I want
to start with you on this one. Explain to me
why when you're driving home to Otaki, driving home to
the Capity Coast, one day when you hear all this
information and you start thinking about it, because that's the
time you think about things. Why are this government so unpopular? Oh, look,
(01:42):
I don't.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
See it that way, but I understand it's tough at there,
right I understand the frustration that people will have that
life has been tough for a number of years, and
the things that we are doing are showing the demonstrating
that they make a difference. But it takes time. And
of course everyone is anxious to see the cost of
living improved, to see our economy grow, to see more
opportunity for families, and that's really important, so they should be.
(02:05):
But I am confident that, you know, seeing what we're
seeing with inflation under control, with mortgage rates coming down,
and as people refix their mortgage, is they get a
few more dollars, a few more options for their family.
At the end of the week, I'm confident that by
the election twenty twenty six, we'll see something very different.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Ginny, Oppositions don't win elections, government loses them. This is
the result, you know, probably hasn't been reflective of your own,
your labour's performance, but just about how badly people are
perceiving that their dreams or aspirations were going to be
under national.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
I think the reflects that this government has made the
wrong choices. They prioritized cuts to across a range of
jobs in Wellington, as well as providing tax cuts to
tobacco and to and so that really that really has
crippled the Wellington economy. And I'd just like to acknowledge
(03:02):
you Nick. You know you personally felt this with your
own business, along with so many other local businesses that
have had to shut their doors because there is no
money in the local Wellington economy and that directly reflects
upon the poor choices this government has taken.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
I'm glad you mentioned that because the back page of
the Post yesterday and I just looked flicked through the Post,
was a whole page of companies being wound up by
their iod. Now that's a government department saying everyone, we're
telling yes, say yes, say yes, do deals. But it's
really the same no get out of town, No.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
No Wellington Yes Wellington. Wellington feels that it's been absolutely
ground into the dirt by this government and people won't
forget that in Wellington. Chris Bushop talked up about being
a voice in the Hut and Nichola Willis talks about
being a well proud Wellingtonian. Both their hands are all
over the demise of our city and people won't forget that.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Now, Look what we need is we need people to
have money to go and spend, be able to make
choices to spend money in these businesses. We need businesses.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
You need the businesses to survive, though you need makes.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
The difference for that is interest rates, the ability to borrow.
And we saw those interest rates rates up. We saw
the costs that every business face that race up. And
what's bringing that under control is the work we've done.
And yes that has involve some tough decisions around the
number of people this government can afford to be able
to employ. But we haven't even come down anywhere near
(04:29):
what it was before labor got in. But even with
that small reduction, we are seeing inflation come down, interest
rates come down, and that makes a business more affordable.
That gives Kiwis more option and it's the right and
responsible thing to do. It takes time, and of course
it's tough. It's tough for you, it's tough for so
many people. But we have to do this. We have
to be responsible and fix up the mess.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I think you should say yes a bit more. I
think you should stick to it.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
We should.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
I think you should. I think that you should be
get on after this. You should get onto your department
and say say yes to Nick, try and do a deal.
Say yes. How much how much of this doubt, Jenny,
I'm jesting and I'm trying to make light of a
very very tough situation for me and my family. Yeah,
I can't mention, Ginny, how much of this is down
(05:12):
to actual actually Christopher Luckxon's performance as Prime minister. How
much of it is that? See? I keep saying, and
I could be completely wrong, Ginny. I'd love to get
your opinion on it. He's the puppeteer. He's trying to
control two guys, one guy on each side of him,
and it's a bloody difficult job.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
He's in a really tough position because David Seymour is
hogging the media. He's doing some pretty stupid things and
it's directly causing this government pain. And for lax And
who talked it up about being the business guy, the
big CEO in charge of the boardroom, he's powerless to
really do anything to stop David Seymour, and that directly
reflects upon New Zealanders looking at their prime minister not
(05:52):
being in control of a situation.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
What do you think, Tim, I mean, do you think
he I mean, we all know he's a good guy.
I mean, there's no problem. I mean, I like it.
I like him when he's a good guy. But it's
trying to keep everything together all the time rather than
actually being you know, going out there and leading, isn't it. Oh?
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Look absolutely one of his jobs is keeping the coalition together.
And I think what we're actually seeing if we reflect
back on twenty eighteen twenty nineteen, is doing a very
good job. It's the first time we've had three parties
in a coalition and from where I sat, he's doing
a fantastic job.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
But he's also deluded. He's not been able to be that,
you know, the leader. He's always got to have everything
he does. He has to put his front row down
with him. It's no solo scrum. There's always but you don't.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Win a scrum on your own, right, You win it
in a type pack that win with the cap that
we have of course, and we've got a great captain,
but we don't have Ridgie mccordy. Hey, mccaord didn't do
everything on design. He had a great team around them,
but he was a great leader. And so is Christopher Luxon.
And what we've seen is the focus he brings and
things like quarterly plans. The reason that inflation is in
the target band a year ahead of when it was forecast.
(06:59):
The reason interest rates are coming down is because Chris
Luxon brings focus, and he brings competence, and he brings
a great team to the table.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
But Nick, you've got the upcoming Deputy Prime Minister of
New Zealand who's intervened in a murder investigation, who is
called the real problems around Parliament.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Jenny, can I bring because you're segueing beautifully into my
next question, So can I just ask you my next
question and get the context about it. David Seymour, you're
trying to bring him up before I get the chance
to ask you. He's been hogging the headlines this week
after it was revealed he wrote a letter supporting Philip
Pokemon and then when the police were actually investigating him,
(07:42):
and then he tried to drive this old craddy, old
land drover up Parliament steps even got back and forth
with the media with the Prime Minister this week. I mean, really,
how much damage is David Seymour causing the coalition popularity? Jenny,
Because I know you want to come in on it,
I'll let you go on.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
It's caused immense problems for this government and for the
Prime Minister because he's absolutely won't take action. And yes,
look we've had old you put my hand out in
the past. We've had ministers that didn't do what they
should have done or a misstepped and they got sacked
as a result. And so you've got lux in in
there with someone who's continually causing him problems, but he
(08:22):
can't take that leadership and take action, and that is
not a good look for this government when New Zealanders
expect more from their politicians than the sort of behavior
and to be honest, like intervening in a murder investigation.
That is seriously questionable for an upcoming, deeply prime minister
(08:43):
to be doing that sort of thing without the Prime
Minister giving him some sort of punishment for their behavior.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Jenny, what was worse? What Stuart Nash did well, David
Seymour did well.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
It's on a par really because and Stuart Nashwood lost
his job as a result of it. So there seems
to be no repercussions for David Seymour for intervening in
a murder investigation.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Tim, you must admit that he's causing some scratching of
your head for National David Seymour.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
Is Look, I am scratching my head because I can't
believe this is day four of you guys wanted to
make this the headline. I'm out in the community every day.
People are not talking about this. People are talking about
the fact that it is hard to pay their bills.
I had, you know, a woman in the office this week,
struggling told me how tough life has been the last
four years. That is what people are focused on. That
is what our government is focused on. That's what we
(09:35):
are delivering. And so, you know, it just shows how
out of touch Jenny and Labor have Bekinn, can I just.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Tell you that we did we did a bit of
a story about this. I really want to talk about this,
and I had three headlines of major papers saying Seymour Seymour,
and Ethan said to me, pulled up another one and said,
you missed the fourth one. So don't tell us that
people aren't talking about what David Seymour's up to. There
(10:02):
was four headlines in twenty four hours of major papers.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
And I don't dispute that, but that's the point, right,
that's not the thing that most key wes want. That
might be what makes the headline, and that might sell
in newspaper and that's fantastic, But actually the things that
matter and the things that we're focused on, are about
about growing our economy, reducing the cost of living, making
life a bit easier for keys and giving them some
more choices.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
But the headlines are about a coalition of chaos. It's
an absolute disarray. Yes, there's always a bit of political
rgibarji that's accepted, but the level of absolute circus behavior
we've seen from this government grabs media attention and grabs
people's attention because it's so out of the park.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Jenny, Yes or no. Should David Seymour have been fired
for his actions over the last twenty four forty eight
seventy two hours.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
I think he should have been. He intervened in a
murder investigation, and even the Minister of Police, Mark Mitchell
has the that's not okay. It's the IPA, the Independent
Police Complaints Authority, that is appropriate face for that to
go and see more should have known that.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
No, and that's and that's I mean they're writing a
letter is something that the Prime Minister has been very
clear in our position on. But that happened before he
was a minister. That's not something the Prime Minister actually
has responsibility for. And look, there were pretty the ministers
in the last Labor government, some of them you're accused of,
you know, bullying, harassment or toxic culture, still sitting on
the Labor Party front bench. So you know, it's a
(11:31):
bit it's a bit rough trying to claim the moral
highground now.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Politics Thursday with Tim Costly and of course Ginny Anderson superannuation,
I want to talk some super annuation. Finance Minister Nicholas Willis.
Willis came out Nichola Willis came out on this station
on Monday and said we will need to have a
conversation about how we can make super annuation more affordable.
I mean, it was a bit of a slip of
(11:55):
the tub. At least she was interviewing and someone said
to her, you know what about superannuation. We can't afford
to keep a guy, and she sort of said, we
need to keep looking at it. Tim first question, can
we forward to keep super annuation settings exactly how they
are right now?
Speaker 4 (12:11):
Well, I think as population grows and people live longer,
there's challenges there. Right, there's no surprise in that we've
talked about this for many years. We don't have a
current position on this, but this has been in previous elections.
We had a policy back in the previous National government
around this, but we have to make sure it's sustainable
for the future as well as supporting keys. Now that's
why we've put super up by almost five percent last year,
(12:32):
because we need to help people with the current cost
of living crisis as we work to improve that.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Jilly, what was your stand on it? What was your
government stand on it? When the talk of means testing
keep coming up, I mean it's been up, It's been
coming up for as long as I can ever remember walking.
You know, is it time that we don't give the
super rich, you know, superannuation? What are your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Our policy at the last election was not to raise
the age and not to means test, and I think
National's policy was to raise it to sixty seven, and
I think need a party now have has announced policies
as we're both looking through that.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
But hold on a minute, Jenny, I believe that your
policy for twenty twenty four was to look at it.
For sorry, twenty fourteen was to look at it.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
I'll have to go back and do. But for my recollection,
we need propose main testing.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Okay, what about looking at the age we kept.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
At last election? It was sixty five to keep it
as it was.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Do you think we should still keep it at sixty five? Now?
You know when those dates were, Just to give you
some context on it. When those dates were, sixty five
was set, I think the age of living was something
like sixty seven for men and seventy two for women
or something stupidly low slow. Now it's eighty for both,
So surely we should look at it again too. Yeah,
(13:56):
and look, it used to be sexty kicked now sixty five.
So hold on, Jinny, I'll just get Tom and then
I'll come back to you.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
So, I mean, that's why we proposed taking up to
sixty seven. We're going about ten years now, and it
was well down the track. It's people my age and
younger and I'm pretty young, Nick, that we're going to
be impacted by this, and I thought at the time,
look fair enough, it makes it makes sense. We're going
to run it for a lot longer. It's not fear
on those that have worked hard all their life, and
particularly in pretty manual labor if they can't expect it now.
(14:23):
So I understand why Nichola is saying, Look, we have
to have a mature conversation about this. We've never supported
like in twenty fourteen when labour on a mean testing
that wasn't our policy. Ours was about raising the age
just to sixty seven. But we are going to have
to have that conversation as we move forward.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Ginny, surely you've got to look at it. I mean,
I know that you're the people of the workers, and
the workers at sixty five or a hell of a
lot more beat up than people that have made a
lot of money on yachts. But I mean, sixty seven
is obvious now, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
The problem?
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I haven't I have constituents with this is someone who
is sixty one or sixty two and they've worked on
like a road gang, or they've done you know, menual
physical labor needs are pretty quick to give out around
that age. Your hips and needs are things that can't
keep going, and so those are people who can't do
the work that they're trained in, they're not eligible for superannuation,
(15:20):
and they can't find alternative employments. There's a real problem
there with working people. And the other group of people
that it affects badly is those who don't lives long.
And we know MARII on average live eight years shorter,
and so that's an unfair disadvantage for those who are
not being able to collect that money. So there's a
problem there that definitely needs to be addressed in terms
(15:41):
of how those people have an income when they won't
their whole lives in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Hard I want to ask you both about the Cook
Island situation. Prime Minister Mark Brown is currently in China
talking up a big partnership deal this week, despite the
Cook Island's being obligated to tell us New Zealand who
they use, our passports, our money, what they're up to. Tom,
how worried should we be? Obviously Winston's pretty upset by it.
(16:08):
Should we be concerned that Mark Brown's in China trying
to sign a big deal that we don't even know
anything about.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Well, I guess that's the point, right, We don't know
the detail, so it's really hard to say what our
position is. I'm always pretty weary to be fear of
launching into foreign affairs. I think that's more a department
for the Prime Minister and our Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
I think there must be talked. Is the talk in
parliament amongst your teammates. Gosh, it's a bit nerve wracking
that China or getting this relationship with one of our
own Cook Islands.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
We have a long standing relationship with the with the
Cook Islands and that's always been built on that sort
of level of transparency and cooperation, particularly when it comes
to security and defense. And that's why I think, you know,
it's really hard without knowing the detail of this or
what it involves, because as you say, in New Zealand
and the Cooklans have such a close relationship, it would
be you know, it's really hard to comment without knowing
(17:00):
what the detail of what we're actually talking about here.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Jenny, Let's cut it to the chase. Let's cut to
the chase. How harmful would it be for us in
New Zealand to have a big Chinese presence in the
Pacific and what can we should, we could we do
to prevent it.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
It's really concerning and I think I thought sort Peter
had done actually came out recently raising concerns about what
it means, and it is a real unknown because we
just don't know what's in that agreement. But in terms
of our national security, in terms of understanding what's happening
in our own backyard, the Pacific Islands have always been
critical to that. So it's essential that we maintain those
(17:41):
relationships and understand the nature of the deal they've done
with China, so the sooner we can understand that the
stronger will have a position to be able to know
how we respond to it.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Let's talk about the Golden visas for international investors who
want to come into New Zealand and invest, but they
still won't be able to buy a house. Jinny, what
multi millionaire based overseas would want to and live in
New Zealand and invests risk, do everything in New Zealand
but not be able to buy a home.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
I just think they've made the wrong choices here. Going
back to the Wellington Region five hundred jobs gone between Callahan,
gen Sniwa. You know, these are innovation, these are our
bright people. If we want productivity and to be smart
and have a great economy, we do not invest in
our brightest minds. So yep, we're selling the doors and
saying come on in. But right here in Wellington we've
(18:36):
laid off five hundred research scientists, people that have a
huge ability to increase productivity in our economy. So for me,
wrong choices, just round the wrong way, totally crazy.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
So I want to ask you almost the same question,
because you know, it's ridiculous to think that someone's going
to take an almighty big risk move probably halfway around
the world. They'll come from America or they'll come from
Europe with a big pot of money to invest and risk,
but you can't buy.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
And I think if we had a look, I think
this is a great policy to start with. This is
actually about bringing investment into New Zealand. That's how we
grow our economy, right, That's one of the pieces of
the puzzle. So you can't just try and conflate every
issue that you've suddenly drawn out of your Bingo cards
today and try and make them all the same. But
actually this is a great step forward. And if we
were to go all the way out and say fine,
(19:28):
you can come and have residency on day one and
you can buy a house, there would also be an outcry.
So I think actually this shows some balance. It is
about saying we need to make them feel more welcome.
In twenty twenty two, labor change the setting settings that
work in really well two billion dollars of investment in
the years letting up to that. It's dropped to seventy
seventy six I think million in the last three years. Right, woeful.
(19:49):
We've actually got to get people coming again. And I
can tell you it's popular. I was having a chat
with the Minister just earlier today and the phones have
been off the hook. There is a lot of interest
in this scheme because it strikes the right balance and
it entices people in. You know, it entices them to
come and learn more about New Zealand and get involved
in us. And we think over time, as they do
that we'll see a deeper investment to the point that
(20:09):
they might go for residency and buy a house. But
in the meantime, let's get them to come and build
houses and develop property. And invest in kere We companies.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Do you think it's the I suppose the love affair
of living in New Zealand might have something to do.
I know that talking to last week, I was talking
to a residential person that used to bring people in
from overseas to get big jobs in New Zealand. He
said his phone's been running off the hook because they
want to get away from Trump.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Well in New Zealand is a great place to be.
It's the best country on earth and we should be
attracting these people. And because they bring opportunity with them.
It's not just money they bring, they bring skills, they
bring connections around the world. And these are people that
are people of the world right. They don't want to
live here necessarily the whole time, but they can bring
opportunity here and connect us more to the world. That's
part of our story of economic growth. That's what we're
(20:57):
focused on.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah, I just I like to just say something there,
but they do. There is an ability to buy a
resident So allowing people to buy residence by parting your
money in passive investments such as property not going to
generate jobs. It's not going to generate You've got to
be building properly.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
You can't just go and buy existing houses, do we?
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Venture capitalists lobby the government and they are looking for
investment opportunities. Can we venture capitalists urge the government to
keep Labour's rules in place and not to open up
to passive investments because they know that it stifled growth
in New Zealand. And so it's just I don't know.
I ring and I put my head in my hands.
A focus on wealthy visitors in New Zealand. And the
(21:40):
same week the government has figures showing can we unemployment
as record highs is just crazy.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
At the high time they were forecast on the Labor
Thank you both so much for joining the show today.
Labor Police spokesperson Jenny Anderson and Nationals O Techi MP
Tim Costly, have a great rest of the week. Last well,
you know you're out of there today, you're out of
Parliament today, you go home on fide as. You have
the long weekend and you worked the four days. You
guys work the four day working week like I think
(22:08):
we should hold in New Zealand. Should That's another story
for another day. Twenty eight minutes to twelve. Thank you both.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Searletter see letter. 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
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com