August 27, 2025 • 20 mins
On Politics Thursday this week, National's Tim Costley and Labour's Ginny Andersen debated whether the Government's latest supermarket announcements will genuinely open the door to a third player.
They also discussed the new visa to attract business investors to New Zealand, the debate within the National Party about house values, and the repairs needed to the Transmission Gully motorway.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk said B.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Politics Thursday with Nationals, O Techy Mpe, Tim Costley. Good mornington.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
In minds it.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
How you doing.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
I'm good. I'm good, as you know. We've had such
a great week up here on the coast. It's been
blue skies. There's just you know, cloud today. It's a
bit unusual up here, but we're we're doing okay.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I just don't want to be I don't want to
be the bearer of bad news. But we've had beautiful
weather and Warrington as well.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
You know. Yeah, but it's so it's always two degrees
better on the moves to studio pre I reckon that
should be.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Hey, Ginny Anderson beats both of us. Good morning, Jinny
because it's labors please and jobs and income spokesbors and
Ginny Anderson? Where are you, Ginny?
Speaker 4 (00:58):
I'm in Fiji at the Pacific Islands Parliament Group leshanks
p I TG.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
So you beat Termit Kapity coast and Nick and in Wellington,
don't you.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Well, we've had it. There's been some fun, but there's
also been a lot of rain. So but I wouldn't
know too much about it because I'm in an air
conditioned room sitting in roads and for most of the day.
So yes, it seems like it's warm outside.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Okay, well, nice to be nice to be somewhere like
that with a bit of temperature. Great, great news. Economic
Development Minister Nikola Willis has introduced fast track consenting to
try and get a new supermarket player into the market
to create better competition. Ginny, I want to start with
you because you guys were a lot of hot air
on this. These guys are a lot of hot air
(01:49):
on this. What do you think will really work?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Well, it does seem like this is still more announcements
about announcements when it's not going to have any real
difference on the fact brothers ten bucks send people can't
afford to pay for their weekly shop. It does. National
was kind of tinkering around the eaches with an announcement
that won't immediately eats across of bloving.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Tim, I mean, what are we waiting for?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Well, we're waiting for about a month, well a couple
of months November the legislation will come in. So yeah,
Labor did talk about it a lot, and that's all
they did, and you know, listen to their spokesperson on
the radio this morning, really had nothing to say, had
no policy ideas, had nothing different, didn't know if they
supported this or opposed it. You've got labor MPs out
there actively opposing new supermarkets and places like christ Church,
(02:42):
and here we are with legislation that will be before
Parliament and pass by the end of the year. And
I really hope, I genuinely really hope that label would
just say, do you know what everyone wants to see,
decent competitions, groceries, people getting the best possible price. Let's
just all move it through without the games and the
string and the drag out.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Hold on, hold on, I'm not going to let you
do a Nicoler and just wipe all over this because
the problem we've got as no one wants to come here.
Forget about no one wants to come here.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
That's not true. You've seen Costco open a store and
they have welcomed this news. And imagine the difference it
would make if you had a Costco in the hut
where you know, you've maybe in Chris Bishop's patch. How
good would that be? That would just bring a few
more options for people. And we still at Costco. I
think had better for under six dollars. So you know
you can't complain on the one hand, and then.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Till you're away again. If Costco opens and lower heart
within the next two years, I'll walk mood down down
the main street. It's not going to happen.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
You've just put them off right. No one wants to
see that.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, I mean I don't want more tools. I do
not want to make I just don't want.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
More to You might be going down the street note
in a wheelchair at the rate of government's delivering, because
almost two years after talking about cost of living changes,
Nikola Willis is deathering over options to make grocery bills
cheaper and a big deal we're going to part legislation.
Is it actually going to make a look at difference
when people go through the toils? I don't think so, Tim.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Your problem is that even the big boys don't want
to call Nikola back.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Well, I don't think that's the case. I said, yeah,
but you've had But Costco, on the other hand, have
said someone here is so what's the other option? We
do nothing because imagine what you'd be saying. Then we'd
be saying what we said about labors last six years
where nothing changed and things just got worse. Do you
reckon you have to do something. We've got to try something.
You've got to pull some levers and try and try
(04:41):
and get a bit more competition going. And there are
good examples. There are lots of towns around you, Plymouth.
I could name a whole bunch of suburbs in Wellington
where there's only one brand of supermarket and actually stopping
you know, people being able to block new supermarkets going
in fast tracking consents. That's a good thing. It might
even just get more of existing brands competing with each
(05:02):
other in different areas around New Zealand where there's only
one option.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Okay, Jenny, do you reckon they'll pull the nuclear lever
and split them up if they don't get anyone coming in.
Do you reckon that anyone's brave enough to do that?
Any government is.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Definitely not this not. I mean we see, you know,
decisions around the banking sector, for example, favoring big business
and those bigging into town. So you know, we know
who these guys are made for us. And I tell
you what it's not looking kiwis who want to pay
less with their go through.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I mean, can you see it happening? Tim?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Well, Well, I think what we're looking at this stage
is how do we increase competition? And just tell us question.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
The question was, can you see your government actually pulling
the lever that says they're going to split food down up,
they're going to split it up? Do you reckon that
can happen.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Food stuff? Look, I don't know that that's necessarily the
answer right now. Is that actually gonna you know, is
that going to be the thing that changes a structural
or form, the thing that actually loves prices that make
it harder for the suppliers to get through. I think
competition is the answer. That's why I think this is
great to see. And again, you know this is all
(06:14):
about getting projects under fast track, which Labor have opposed
the whole way through. This could be the time they
turn around and say, actually they'll support it, or perhaps
they've Jenny's got one policy and one idea that we
could do that label would be bringing to lower grocery
prices for kiwis there's your opportunity, Jennet.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
So when Labor was in government that the previous time
we did do structural separation for Tellic Communications, and that
made a significant difference to the price of cell phone calling.
New Zealand was one of the few countries in the
world that had mobile termination charges twenty four cents every
time you hang up the phone. That was because we
had a due opoly operating for we did structural separation.
(06:54):
We've got a third player into the market that was
two degrees and we finally got cheaper phone called 'sual.
She had the guts to do something as weld, as
we've done in the past. But you know that they're
made the business and it's unlikely about what.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Label would actually do. Is labor committing to that.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
I'm not making policy up now on the radio, Tim No,
but I've gave you a clear excis.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
And there we go. Right, there's nothing.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
Where Labored did take action where there was no competition
in an area and how it did have a good
outcome for consumers in the end run, because when there's
adeopoly operating, it's really difficult for competition to take place.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Right, let's move on, the Government's introduced yet another investor
visa to attract business people to our shores. A new
business investor visa will give foreign business people and their
families a pathway to residency if they either invest one
million dollars or two million dollars to an existing New
Zealand company. Ginny, what did you think when you first
(07:49):
heard this idea?
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Well, it's too late for one hundred and seventy seven
Wellington businesses that have shut shops since the government came in,
in the ten thousand public sector jobs that have gone
as well. So I would say it's too little too
late for this government to start looking at opportunities for
getting business goings.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Tim Well, I don't know why she calls them from Fiji.
She's going to bring out rhetoric about ten thousand public
secty jobs, which is complete fabrication, that's not even true.
But this is a great thing, like well done here
atk of Stanford. This is about saying there's one hundred
and eighty five businesses on the market in New Zealand
that at the moment that could qualify for us. Think
of the you know, the local builder that's worked hard
(08:28):
their whole life, build up a small team and deserves
a bit of value back at the end of the road,
we've got people that want to bring their business acumen,
their skills, their experience and their family to New Zealand.
And here we have, you know, potentially a few hundred
million coming in each year. Do you explain to me
how you're creating jobs.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Sorry to interrupt, but I've got to get my question
and then can you tell me how you've got this
one hundred and seventy five New Zealand businesses they have
they registered with you.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
No, that's there as as I understand, that's come from
the Minister's office through her officials, of the number of
businesses that are on the market in New Zealand at
the moment that could potentially qualify. I think the bigger
point is right, this is about getting investment into New Zealand.
It's creating jobs. You know, if you look at the
conditions around it, they have to actually increase the number
of employees before they get that residence residency. So this
(09:22):
is about creating jobs. It's about bringing a direct cash
investment into New Zealand. These are the things we need
right now. I like this idea, is this selling New
Zealand out well?
Speaker 4 (09:33):
I would like the governments to come up with some
ideas that actually grew New Zealand, not just relied on
direct foreign investment to try and fix some of our problems.
But you know, there's sixteen thousand unemployed in the past
year in New Zealand, Like, is this really going to
make a difference to the number of people who just
transind work right now? So, yep, it's great. There's one
hundred and seventy five businesses that might be for sale,
(09:55):
but there's one hundred and seventy seven that have gone
under in Willington alone, So I mean it's ye good,
good on them for trying something, But I don't think
this is going anywhere near trying to fix the e
teen thousand construction workers who have left New Zealand for
Australia and other places.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
What about Genny? What about the companies that are struggling
along that with a bit of investment could employ more people.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
If that helps those companies, that's good. But I would
like to see initiatives that actually invest in key wee
skills in training that we upskill our own people and
give them opportunities right here in New Zealand, and there's
nothing in the past budget that actually invests in our
own workforce and does workforce planning so that we can
get higher skills that those businesses more money and get
(10:42):
them into new market and.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Tim Costley, this is going to appeal to very few.
I mean I heard Erica say one hundred and fifty
or something. It's not big deal, is it. It's not
going to bring a whole lot of people in a
whole lot of money.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Oh look one hundred and fifty times one or two
million as a significant investment coming into our local communities.
You know, Genny is saying, we neither have you know,
and jobs for Kiwis and we need to see growth
in New Zealand. Well guess what. Guess how you get
growth and local businesses and you create jobs. That's exactly
(11:16):
what this FEASA does. It brings in cash investments of
at least a million dollars into a local business. They
have to create more jobs over the period to qualify.
This is exactly the things that everyone's asking for. I think,
you know, sheez, Hopefully it'll get a bit funnier over
there and everyone will cheer up because this is a
good thing that we should be celebrating.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
You know what another good thing would be that we
could be celebrating is that your tough talk on banks
would let banks make banks lend to small businesses in
New Zealand, banks lent. You know, if banks or businesses,
we wouldn't need to bring overseas money and we'd be
working as an economy. It's Politics Thursday with National Zo Taki,
MP Tim Costley and Labors, Police and Jobs an Income
(11:56):
spokesperson Ginny Anderson. Ginny, I want to start with you
on this. The Public Service Commissioner, Sir Brian Roach is
considering a major shakeup of several government agents agencies, including
Ministries for women, Ministries for specific people, and ministries for
disabled people. I tend to agree with them. We do
have too many ministries, don't we.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Well, when I looked at that, it did really make
me think whether this was the Prime Minister or whether
it was David Seymour or just having another go at
getting votes for his side. I mean, here's some real concerns.
The disability community community has been really badly affected by
this government those cuts. I mean, I get people in
the heart coming to me who have no respite here.
(12:41):
So there is a concern that those groups in our
community that are already doing it tough and underrepresented are
being further marginalized by this government, and it seems that
it's David Seymour who's continuing to campaign on pretty outdated
rhetoric that divides people.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
But these agencies, these departments, these head offices will be
put into other groups of people, so they're not going
to miss out. I mean, do you really believe we
need and this is a really interesting question to ask you,
do you believe that we need a ministry for women
right now?
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Well?
Speaker 4 (13:15):
I would say more than ever after this government's just
scrapped dirty Tree pay equity claims and that very ministry
who meant to advocate for women to fear pay we
shut out of giving any advice to the minister. We
found that out they had secret messages going that they
cut out officials who providing advice. So at a time
and age where women who have been underpaid for decades
(13:37):
are fighting to be paid fairly, of course, we need
a ministry for women.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Okay, I know a lot of women that think that
we don't. But let's ask Tim Costly. Tim, would it
be a good move to absorb them into other ministries
and cut down the number of ministries. I just think
it's a no brainer. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I mean, look, the public Service Commission is obviously independent
of government, right, and we have to respect that. He
hasn't brought any proposals to cabinet yet. That's what would
happen and then they would consider it. So it's way
too early to talk about individual ministries. But I kind
of feel like he's asking the right question. When you
look at twenty cabinet ministers and there's I don't know,
is there seventy something individual ministries or areas of responsibility.
(14:19):
You can understand why people might ask that, and we
obviously want to have an efficient and effective public service.
But I've just got it. I've just got to pick
up the thing that Jenny said, because we can't just
have these you mistruths going out there. Disability sector and
extra billion dollars last year from in the budget, and
another billion dollars on top of that this year, so
(14:41):
you know, we can't just start throwing numbers around it
aren't true. We're absolutely still committed to delivering outcomes. Our
government is focused on outcomes that will improve the lives
and livelihoods of kiwis, whether that's in health, housing, education,
law and order, or the disability sector. We're absolutely focused
on that. But the answer doesn't necessarily have to mean
(15:01):
the same number of ministries to achieve that.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Why are they're not happy.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
To I would say that they're not happy because Christopher
Luxon promised to make things better than New Zealander and
it's actually just made things worse. And the disability community
knows that well and good. And I challenged him to
come out to the hut and meet some of the
groups in the huts who do no longer have access
to the services they had under labor and their lives
(15:24):
are materially loose because they are not supported with their
disability in the community. And I want to live in
a community where people do have accessibility and do have
the right to live their life fully, and this government
has made cuts to frontline services that's taken that away
and decrease the quality of life to disabled people.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Right, I want to ask you what side of the
fence you said on this one? Excuse me, Christopher Luckxin
wants to see howse prices rise, but as Housing Minister
Chris Bishop said that he's onto a good things when
they're dropping. For goodness more kiwis can afford how homes Jenny,
what side of the of the fence, the picket fence,
do you sit up?
Speaker 4 (16:06):
So we just go through it. So Christopher luck And
said houses should be more expensive, Chris Bishop said no,
it actually should be cheaper, and then Nichola has gone,
oh yeah, I think this is right. I think they
should be cheaper. So for a start, Nationals to sort
out what they're saying to New Zealantics, because it sounds
like they're speaking to some wealthy people who want their
property prices to increase, but they're also trying to talk
to the average woking kiweed who actually wants to be
(16:28):
able to afford their first times. So I think National
needs to sort out its key messages on that one
because it's getting pretty confused.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Come on, Tim Costly, don't sit on the pecket feeds
because you'll get a sore bum. What side do you
sit on?
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Yeah, you know, I'm not going to sit there. Look,
we can't put up with these astronomical house rises, house
price rises that we saw in labor right up to
thirty percent, you know, increases over the course of a year.
That's outrageous. We need to make the cost of building
new houses directly cheaper, and housing needs to become more
(17:03):
affordable and that's why we're doing things like strict for
big developments. But that's why we've changed. So you are
on the feet and consent. You are how we're making
housing more affordable and and and getting the cost building
new houses down.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Should go up down? So how I just want to
get an answer? Should prices go up or down?
Speaker 3 (17:27):
So we've got to make it cheapment of build new houses?
I'm sorry changing the rules?
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Okay, so I'm sorry if I'm not making myself clear enough.
Do you want to see prices keep going up or
keep going down? Very simple question.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I want to see houses become more affordable.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
And there's no you can't argue with me on that.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
You're not getting a five second answer because this is
a big issue for kiwis right.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Well, what you minister says they want to go up?
What are your minister says they want to go down?
Then your finance minister says she wants them to go
down as well. What do you want?
Speaker 3 (18:07):
So let me answer one. I think what I think
the state we need to get to is where it's
much cheaper to building new house in New Zealand, where
incomes and businesses through our direct investment are growing so
that people can afford more. And I think house prices
should trickle up over time, your low long line of inflation.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
So you're going to stick with the Prime minister. So
we finally got it out it you're on the prime
minister side. Do you want them to trickle up? So
they go up?
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Okay, A patch of trans comes right so they become
more affordable.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
And and that's why do you allowing forest buyers Becket
because when you allow filed byers Decka, we know that
it's going to push up the price of the average
house and it's going to make it harder for people
to keep issues time. So bringing foreign buyers back to
buy up housing stock or push up prices even further,
and that's what the Prime Minister in National want to do.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Can I ask you quickly about transmission guns? Come on,
I'm moving on. I'm moving on. You took too long
to answer, so it's your own fault. A patch of
transmission gully needs to be resurfaced and rebuilt, causing lane
clos in full night closures from March to walked over.
I think this is incredible. You know this was a
one point five one point two five billion dollar project.
(19:16):
We're all so proud of it, and now it needs
doing up tim very quickly. How bad is it because
you drive up every day?
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Yeah, I reckon it's an amazing road. And just last
night was that you know, terrible accident that's left someone
seriously injured and people get forced onto the back roads.
You really appreciate, as I did, just how good that
road is. But look, when you know mc chain naturally
need to keep up. You know that road won't stay
in mint condition forever if they don't do maintenance. So
if they say they've got to do some maintenance, then
(19:46):
they'll do some maintenance.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
It's about the timing, no, jinny. It's a bit soon
after it's been open for the spending that sort of
money and closing it overnight and stuff, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Yeah? I think. I mean it's a real question as
to some of the quality of that work that we
told and we know that the PPP for that dragged
out for a very long time where we're so in
their heads been right up until it opened issues with
the quality of something we talk it was late. So
I think that's a big question for quality of works
that's gone on under that contract.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Thank you both. Jenny, enjoy a cocktail out on Fiji
Beach tonight.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Jim Costley enjoy a cocktail as you wander around the
Kapiti coast and the beautiful weather up there.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Thank you both for joining us this morning, and have
a great rest week, Get ready for get ready for
the week after next when you're back involved.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
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.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Politics Thursday with Nationals, O Techy Mpe, Tim Costley. Good mornington.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
In minds it.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
How you doing.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
I'm good. I'm good, as you know. We've had such
a great week up here on the coast. It's been
blue skies. There's just you know, cloud today. It's a
bit unusual up here, but we're we're doing okay.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I just don't want to be I don't want to
be the bearer of bad news. But we've had beautiful
weather and Warrington as well.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
You know. Yeah, but it's so it's always two degrees
better on the moves to studio pre I reckon that
should be.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Hey, Ginny Anderson beats both of us. Good morning, Jinny
because it's labors please and jobs and income spokesbors and
Ginny Anderson? Where are you, Ginny?
Speaker 4 (00:58):
I'm in Fiji at the Pacific Islands Parliament Group leshanks
p I TG.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
So you beat Termit Kapity coast and Nick and in Wellington,
don't you.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Well, we've had it. There's been some fun, but there's
also been a lot of rain. So but I wouldn't
know too much about it because I'm in an air
conditioned room sitting in roads and for most of the day.
So yes, it seems like it's warm outside.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Okay, well, nice to be nice to be somewhere like
that with a bit of temperature. Great, great news. Economic
Development Minister Nikola Willis has introduced fast track consenting to
try and get a new supermarket player into the market
to create better competition. Ginny, I want to start with
you because you guys were a lot of hot air
on this. These guys are a lot of hot air
(01:49):
on this. What do you think will really work?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Well, it does seem like this is still more announcements
about announcements when it's not going to have any real
difference on the fact brothers ten bucks send people can't
afford to pay for their weekly shop. It does. National
was kind of tinkering around the eaches with an announcement
that won't immediately eats across of bloving.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Tim, I mean, what are we waiting for?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Well, we're waiting for about a month, well a couple
of months November the legislation will come in. So yeah,
Labor did talk about it a lot, and that's all
they did, and you know, listen to their spokesperson on
the radio this morning, really had nothing to say, had
no policy ideas, had nothing different, didn't know if they
supported this or opposed it. You've got labor MPs out
there actively opposing new supermarkets and places like christ Church,
(02:42):
and here we are with legislation that will be before
Parliament and pass by the end of the year. And
I really hope, I genuinely really hope that label would
just say, do you know what everyone wants to see,
decent competitions, groceries, people getting the best possible price. Let's
just all move it through without the games and the
string and the drag out.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Hold on, hold on, I'm not going to let you
do a Nicoler and just wipe all over this because
the problem we've got as no one wants to come here.
Forget about no one wants to come here.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
That's not true. You've seen Costco open a store and
they have welcomed this news. And imagine the difference it
would make if you had a Costco in the hut
where you know, you've maybe in Chris Bishop's patch. How
good would that be? That would just bring a few
more options for people. And we still at Costco. I
think had better for under six dollars. So you know
you can't complain on the one hand, and then.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Till you're away again. If Costco opens and lower heart
within the next two years, I'll walk mood down down
the main street. It's not going to happen.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
You've just put them off right. No one wants to
see that.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, I mean I don't want more tools. I do
not want to make I just don't want.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
More to You might be going down the street note
in a wheelchair at the rate of government's delivering, because
almost two years after talking about cost of living changes,
Nikola Willis is deathering over options to make grocery bills
cheaper and a big deal we're going to part legislation.
Is it actually going to make a look at difference
when people go through the toils? I don't think so, Tim.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Your problem is that even the big boys don't want
to call Nikola back.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Well, I don't think that's the case. I said, yeah,
but you've had But Costco, on the other hand, have
said someone here is so what's the other option? We
do nothing because imagine what you'd be saying. Then we'd
be saying what we said about labors last six years
where nothing changed and things just got worse. Do you
reckon you have to do something. We've got to try something.
You've got to pull some levers and try and try
(04:41):
and get a bit more competition going. And there are
good examples. There are lots of towns around you, Plymouth.
I could name a whole bunch of suburbs in Wellington
where there's only one brand of supermarket and actually stopping
you know, people being able to block new supermarkets going
in fast tracking consents. That's a good thing. It might
even just get more of existing brands competing with each
(05:02):
other in different areas around New Zealand where there's only
one option.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Okay, Jenny, do you reckon they'll pull the nuclear lever
and split them up if they don't get anyone coming in.
Do you reckon that anyone's brave enough to do that?
Any government is.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Definitely not this not. I mean we see, you know,
decisions around the banking sector, for example, favoring big business
and those bigging into town. So you know, we know
who these guys are made for us. And I tell
you what it's not looking kiwis who want to pay
less with their go through.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I mean, can you see it happening? Tim?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Well, Well, I think what we're looking at this stage
is how do we increase competition? And just tell us question.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
The question was, can you see your government actually pulling
the lever that says they're going to split food down up,
they're going to split it up? Do you reckon that
can happen.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Food stuff? Look, I don't know that that's necessarily the
answer right now. Is that actually gonna you know, is
that going to be the thing that changes a structural
or form, the thing that actually loves prices that make
it harder for the suppliers to get through. I think
competition is the answer. That's why I think this is
great to see. And again, you know this is all
(06:14):
about getting projects under fast track, which Labor have opposed
the whole way through. This could be the time they
turn around and say, actually they'll support it, or perhaps
they've Jenny's got one policy and one idea that we
could do that label would be bringing to lower grocery
prices for kiwis there's your opportunity, Jennet.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
So when Labor was in government that the previous time
we did do structural separation for Tellic Communications, and that
made a significant difference to the price of cell phone calling.
New Zealand was one of the few countries in the
world that had mobile termination charges twenty four cents every
time you hang up the phone. That was because we
had a due opoly operating for we did structural separation.
(06:54):
We've got a third player into the market that was
two degrees and we finally got cheaper phone called 'sual.
She had the guts to do something as weld, as
we've done in the past. But you know that they're
made the business and it's unlikely about what.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Label would actually do. Is labor committing to that.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
I'm not making policy up now on the radio, Tim No,
but I've gave you a clear excis.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
And there we go. Right, there's nothing.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
Where Labored did take action where there was no competition
in an area and how it did have a good
outcome for consumers in the end run, because when there's
adeopoly operating, it's really difficult for competition to take place.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Right, let's move on, the Government's introduced yet another investor
visa to attract business people to our shores. A new
business investor visa will give foreign business people and their
families a pathway to residency if they either invest one
million dollars or two million dollars to an existing New
Zealand company. Ginny, what did you think when you first
(07:49):
heard this idea?
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Well, it's too late for one hundred and seventy seven
Wellington businesses that have shut shops since the government came in,
in the ten thousand public sector jobs that have gone
as well. So I would say it's too little too
late for this government to start looking at opportunities for
getting business goings.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Tim Well, I don't know why she calls them from Fiji.
She's going to bring out rhetoric about ten thousand public
secty jobs, which is complete fabrication, that's not even true.
But this is a great thing, like well done here
atk of Stanford. This is about saying there's one hundred
and eighty five businesses on the market in New Zealand
that at the moment that could qualify for us. Think
of the you know, the local builder that's worked hard
(08:28):
their whole life, build up a small team and deserves
a bit of value back at the end of the road,
we've got people that want to bring their business acumen,
their skills, their experience and their family to New Zealand.
And here we have, you know, potentially a few hundred
million coming in each year. Do you explain to me
how you're creating jobs.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Sorry to interrupt, but I've got to get my question
and then can you tell me how you've got this
one hundred and seventy five New Zealand businesses they have
they registered with you.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
No, that's there as as I understand, that's come from
the Minister's office through her officials, of the number of
businesses that are on the market in New Zealand at
the moment that could potentially qualify. I think the bigger
point is right, this is about getting investment into New Zealand.
It's creating jobs. You know, if you look at the
conditions around it, they have to actually increase the number
of employees before they get that residence residency. So this
(09:22):
is about creating jobs. It's about bringing a direct cash
investment into New Zealand. These are the things we need
right now. I like this idea, is this selling New
Zealand out well?
Speaker 4 (09:33):
I would like the governments to come up with some
ideas that actually grew New Zealand, not just relied on
direct foreign investment to try and fix some of our problems.
But you know, there's sixteen thousand unemployed in the past
year in New Zealand, Like, is this really going to
make a difference to the number of people who just
transind work right now? So, yep, it's great. There's one
hundred and seventy five businesses that might be for sale,
(09:55):
but there's one hundred and seventy seven that have gone
under in Willington alone, So I mean it's ye good,
good on them for trying something, But I don't think
this is going anywhere near trying to fix the e
teen thousand construction workers who have left New Zealand for
Australia and other places.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
What about Genny? What about the companies that are struggling
along that with a bit of investment could employ more people.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
If that helps those companies, that's good. But I would
like to see initiatives that actually invest in key wee
skills in training that we upskill our own people and
give them opportunities right here in New Zealand, and there's
nothing in the past budget that actually invests in our
own workforce and does workforce planning so that we can
get higher skills that those businesses more money and get
(10:42):
them into new market and.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Tim Costley, this is going to appeal to very few.
I mean I heard Erica say one hundred and fifty
or something. It's not big deal, is it. It's not
going to bring a whole lot of people in a
whole lot of money.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Oh look one hundred and fifty times one or two
million as a significant investment coming into our local communities.
You know, Genny is saying, we neither have you know,
and jobs for Kiwis and we need to see growth
in New Zealand. Well guess what. Guess how you get
growth and local businesses and you create jobs. That's exactly
(11:16):
what this FEASA does. It brings in cash investments of
at least a million dollars into a local business. They
have to create more jobs over the period to qualify.
This is exactly the things that everyone's asking for. I think,
you know, sheez, Hopefully it'll get a bit funnier over
there and everyone will cheer up because this is a
good thing that we should be celebrating.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
You know what another good thing would be that we
could be celebrating is that your tough talk on banks
would let banks make banks lend to small businesses in
New Zealand, banks lent. You know, if banks or businesses,
we wouldn't need to bring overseas money and we'd be
working as an economy. It's Politics Thursday with National Zo Taki,
MP Tim Costley and Labors, Police and Jobs an Income
(11:56):
spokesperson Ginny Anderson. Ginny, I want to start with you
on this. The Public Service Commissioner, Sir Brian Roach is
considering a major shakeup of several government agents agencies, including
Ministries for women, Ministries for specific people, and ministries for
disabled people. I tend to agree with them. We do
have too many ministries, don't we.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Well, when I looked at that, it did really make
me think whether this was the Prime Minister or whether
it was David Seymour or just having another go at
getting votes for his side. I mean, here's some real concerns.
The disability community community has been really badly affected by
this government those cuts. I mean, I get people in
the heart coming to me who have no respite here.
(12:41):
So there is a concern that those groups in our
community that are already doing it tough and underrepresented are
being further marginalized by this government, and it seems that
it's David Seymour who's continuing to campaign on pretty outdated
rhetoric that divides people.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
But these agencies, these departments, these head offices will be
put into other groups of people, so they're not going
to miss out. I mean, do you really believe we
need and this is a really interesting question to ask you,
do you believe that we need a ministry for women
right now?
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Well?
Speaker 4 (13:15):
I would say more than ever after this government's just
scrapped dirty Tree pay equity claims and that very ministry
who meant to advocate for women to fear pay we
shut out of giving any advice to the minister. We
found that out they had secret messages going that they
cut out officials who providing advice. So at a time
and age where women who have been underpaid for decades
(13:37):
are fighting to be paid fairly, of course, we need
a ministry for women.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Okay, I know a lot of women that think that
we don't. But let's ask Tim Costly. Tim, would it
be a good move to absorb them into other ministries
and cut down the number of ministries. I just think
it's a no brainer. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I mean, look, the public Service Commission is obviously independent
of government, right, and we have to respect that. He
hasn't brought any proposals to cabinet yet. That's what would
happen and then they would consider it. So it's way
too early to talk about individual ministries. But I kind
of feel like he's asking the right question. When you
look at twenty cabinet ministers and there's I don't know,
is there seventy something individual ministries or areas of responsibility.
(14:19):
You can understand why people might ask that, and we
obviously want to have an efficient and effective public service.
But I've just got it. I've just got to pick
up the thing that Jenny said, because we can't just
have these you mistruths going out there. Disability sector and
extra billion dollars last year from in the budget, and
another billion dollars on top of that this year, so
(14:41):
you know, we can't just start throwing numbers around it
aren't true. We're absolutely still committed to delivering outcomes. Our
government is focused on outcomes that will improve the lives
and livelihoods of kiwis, whether that's in health, housing, education,
law and order, or the disability sector. We're absolutely focused
on that. But the answer doesn't necessarily have to mean
(15:01):
the same number of ministries to achieve that.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Why are they're not happy.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
To I would say that they're not happy because Christopher
Luxon promised to make things better than New Zealander and
it's actually just made things worse. And the disability community
knows that well and good. And I challenged him to
come out to the hut and meet some of the
groups in the huts who do no longer have access
to the services they had under labor and their lives
(15:24):
are materially loose because they are not supported with their
disability in the community. And I want to live in
a community where people do have accessibility and do have
the right to live their life fully, and this government
has made cuts to frontline services that's taken that away
and decrease the quality of life to disabled people.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Right, I want to ask you what side of the
fence you said on this one? Excuse me, Christopher Luckxin
wants to see howse prices rise, but as Housing Minister
Chris Bishop said that he's onto a good things when
they're dropping. For goodness more kiwis can afford how homes Jenny,
what side of the of the fence, the picket fence,
do you sit up?
Speaker 4 (16:06):
So we just go through it. So Christopher luck And
said houses should be more expensive, Chris Bishop said no,
it actually should be cheaper, and then Nichola has gone,
oh yeah, I think this is right. I think they
should be cheaper. So for a start, Nationals to sort
out what they're saying to New Zealantics, because it sounds
like they're speaking to some wealthy people who want their
property prices to increase, but they're also trying to talk
to the average woking kiweed who actually wants to be
(16:28):
able to afford their first times. So I think National
needs to sort out its key messages on that one
because it's getting pretty confused.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Come on, Tim Costly, don't sit on the pecket feeds
because you'll get a sore bum. What side do you
sit on?
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Yeah, you know, I'm not going to sit there. Look,
we can't put up with these astronomical house rises, house
price rises that we saw in labor right up to
thirty percent, you know, increases over the course of a year.
That's outrageous. We need to make the cost of building
new houses directly cheaper, and housing needs to become more
(17:03):
affordable and that's why we're doing things like strict for
big developments. But that's why we've changed. So you are
on the feet and consent. You are how we're making
housing more affordable and and and getting the cost building
new houses down.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Should go up down? So how I just want to
get an answer? Should prices go up or down?
Speaker 3 (17:27):
So we've got to make it cheapment of build new houses?
I'm sorry changing the rules?
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Okay, so I'm sorry if I'm not making myself clear enough.
Do you want to see prices keep going up or
keep going down? Very simple question.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I want to see houses become more affordable.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
And there's no you can't argue with me on that.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
You're not getting a five second answer because this is
a big issue for kiwis right.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Well, what you minister says they want to go up?
What are your minister says they want to go down?
Then your finance minister says she wants them to go
down as well. What do you want?
Speaker 3 (18:07):
So let me answer one. I think what I think
the state we need to get to is where it's
much cheaper to building new house in New Zealand, where
incomes and businesses through our direct investment are growing so
that people can afford more. And I think house prices
should trickle up over time, your low long line of inflation.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
So you're going to stick with the Prime minister. So
we finally got it out it you're on the prime
minister side. Do you want them to trickle up? So
they go up?
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Okay, A patch of trans comes right so they become
more affordable.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
And and that's why do you allowing forest buyers Becket
because when you allow filed byers Decka, we know that
it's going to push up the price of the average
house and it's going to make it harder for people
to keep issues time. So bringing foreign buyers back to
buy up housing stock or push up prices even further,
and that's what the Prime Minister in National want to do.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Can I ask you quickly about transmission guns? Come on,
I'm moving on. I'm moving on. You took too long
to answer, so it's your own fault. A patch of
transmission gully needs to be resurfaced and rebuilt, causing lane
clos in full night closures from March to walked over.
I think this is incredible. You know this was a
one point five one point two five billion dollar project.
(19:16):
We're all so proud of it, and now it needs
doing up tim very quickly. How bad is it because
you drive up every day?
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Yeah, I reckon it's an amazing road. And just last
night was that you know, terrible accident that's left someone
seriously injured and people get forced onto the back roads.
You really appreciate, as I did, just how good that
road is. But look, when you know mc chain naturally
need to keep up. You know that road won't stay
in mint condition forever if they don't do maintenance. So
if they say they've got to do some maintenance, then
(19:46):
they'll do some maintenance.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
It's about the timing, no, jinny. It's a bit soon
after it's been open for the spending that sort of
money and closing it overnight and stuff, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Yeah? I think. I mean it's a real question as
to some of the quality of that work that we
told and we know that the PPP for that dragged
out for a very long time where we're so in
their heads been right up until it opened issues with
the quality of something we talk it was late. So
I think that's a big question for quality of works
that's gone on under that contract.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Thank you both. Jenny, enjoy a cocktail out on Fiji
Beach tonight.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Jim Costley enjoy a cocktail as you wander around the
Kapiti coast and the beautiful weather up there.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Thank you both for joining us this morning, and have
a great rest week, Get ready for get ready for
the week after next when you're back involved.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
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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