CSB - Sophie Trigger - Senior Political Reporter Newstalk ZB

Week in politics. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
From the sports field to the shearing shed. It's the
country Sport Breakfast with Brian Kelly on Gold Sport.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
We'll time to talk politics now. Sophie Trigga joins a
senior political reporter for Newstalk ZIDB Morning.

Speaker 3 (00:12):
Sophie, Good morning b K.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
How are you very well? Thank You've been a busy,
busy time for politicians, I mean the Prime Minister's away
Malaysia and Korea at the same time, I've had the
massive KINGI funeral as well, haven't we?

Speaker 3 (00:24):
Yes? Absolutely, Te Kingi Tuhetia has this week been laid
to rest and a new monarch has risen Na Wai
Honu Itsipau is the youngest child of the king and
she has now been anointed as the new leader of
the king Tongue.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
So since the news broke of the.

Speaker 3 (00:40):
King's death a week ago, thousands of mourners have traveled
to Tulangawaiwei Marii, where Tikingi was lying in state, to
pay their respects. So earlier this week we heard from
political leaders who gave speeches at the King's tonguey. There
was one notable absence, as you mentioned, Prime Minister Chris Luxen,
who is in Malaysia career this week. But some other

(01:02):
Crown ministers spoke on behalf of the government. So New
Zealand First Minister Shane Jones quoted from the Bible reflecting
on the late King's life of service and devotion to
these people, saying the King gave so much towards the
latter stages of his life and leaves behind a great
example of service. Act Leader David Seymour also spoke, paying

(01:22):
his respects in both Today and English. He is, of
course the architect of the Treaty Principle's Bill, a topic
which loomed large over the speeches at the King's annual
coronation celebrations a couple of weeks ago, even though Seymour
himself wasn't there, so he spoke quite briefly at the
Tongue he saying mourners were there to share in the

(01:42):
pain and love for the grieving family. Speaker of the
House Jerry brownly said he had always been struck by
the King's sentiments that there's room in the Walker for
everyone and hopes that idea could be part of his legacy.
And finally, Labor Leader Chrius Hipkins reflected on conversation he'd
had with the King when the pair traveled to the

(02:03):
UK for the King Charles coronation last year. Hipkins says
he had admitted to the King but he needed to
work on today and says he always remembers the King's
response that the important thing is to try, and that
you'll get more respect from trying them from being perfect.
So it's clear King y Tuhtia had a big impact

(02:24):
on the people he met and leaves behind a huge legacy.
And as written by Audrey Young in the New Zealand Herald,
this means his daughter will begin her reign with a
deep well of goodwill that has been displayed in the
past week during her father's farewell, and it'll certainly be
interesting to see how she advocates for marti them in
the next chapter, particularly given the criticism of a number

(02:47):
of the government's current policies.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
You've got to.

Speaker 2 (02:50):
Say that farewell yesterday was on the Waikato River was amazing.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
It was moving beautiful.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, it was absolutely incredible. All right, Moving on the
INSA report came out during the.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
Week, Yes, so the New Zealand Security Intelligence Services Annual
Security Threat Environment Report was released. It's the second report
of its kind. Director General of Security Andrew Hampton that
says the assessment seeks to be as upfront as possible
with people about the realities facing New Zealand and the
report's insight is for everyone to see. Among its findings

(03:24):
are that the most likely terror attack scenario is a
lone actor acting with little to no warning, and that
a small number of foreign states conduct interference in and
against New Zealanders. So the report stated that there are
small numbers of people subscribing to known violent extremist ideologies
and also increasingly individuals seen to support violence without clear

(03:48):
or stable motives. Enz FIS is concerned about the number
of young people drawn into violent extremist themes and says
it's seeing more engagement in faith motivated and extremist narratives
and the Gaza conflict is being used to drive online radicalization.
For this, while there.

Speaker 1 (04:08):
Was once a distinct While this was once distinct from
espionage and interference, the report finds lines have become blurred,
with some states using violent extremist linked groups to carry
out interference against expat communities.

Speaker 3 (04:24):
Now. The report also particularly identified the People's Republic of
China as a complex intelligence concern and says it carries
out foreign interference against New Zealand's Chinese communities. So, to
quote the report directly, it said the NZSIS has seen
attempts to use complex and deceptive front organizations to connect
with groups in New Zealand and replace authentic and diverse

(04:47):
community views with those approved by the PRC. Now in response,
the Chinese Embassy issued a statement yesterday rejecting these statements
and accusing the report of ideological bias and Cold war mentality.
So it's called their nzedsas's statements about China a sigment
of imagination or sheer fabrication. Sang China is not a

(05:10):
threat to New Zealand and non interference in other countries'
affairs is one of its fundamental foreign policy principles. So
the embassy claims forces driven by misconception, ulterior motives, or
external influence are trying to create division between China and
New Zealand. So definitely quite an upfront report to use

(05:31):
the Director general securities words and some strong words from
the Chinese embassy in response.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
That's the kind of response you probably expected from the
Chinese embassy. Really wasn't it, Yes, perhaps so and Shane
Jones wrapped over the knuckles by the judiciary.

Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yes, absolutely. New Zealand First Mister Shane Jones has been
spoken to by Attorney General Judas Columns some comments he's
been making about the judiciary. So it comes after revelations
Jones referred to a High Court judge as a communist
judge in a may hui and his later comments that
there were elements of totalitarianism in the creep of some

(06:09):
recent judicial decisions. Now, the Cabinet manual states ministers should
not express any views that are likely to be publicized
if they could be regarded as reflecting adversely on the impartiality,
personal views or ability of any judge.

Speaker 1 (06:26):
So the comments have.

Speaker 3 (06:27):
Been criticized by the opposition and the law society, who
believed Shane Jones breached principles of comedy and mutual respect.
And following the latter comment last week, Colins told media
she would speak to Jones about commitee. So that's the
principle of mutual respect between the government and the courts.
It's also not the first time she's spoken to ministers

(06:48):
about this. She wrote to ministers earlier this year about
respecting the judiciary and had also subsequently spoken with Jones.
So this week Jones confirmed Judith Colins had spoken to
him and sent him a clear message that comments about
judges don't reflect well in the cabinets, brought it collective responsibilities,
and she wants to see an improvement. Jones said, I'm

(07:11):
a crown minister and Crown ministers as the eternal as
the Attorney General has sought to school me abound by
the Kopuppa of committee. So it does seem like a
clear message has been delivered to Shane Jones there.

Speaker 2 (07:25):
Hopefully he'll listen to the head master. Hey a you Sophie,
nice to chat. Well done, Thank you so much.

Speaker 3 (07:30):
Have a great weekend you two BKA Thanks Sophie

Speaker 2 (07:33):
Trigger, senior political reporter and news took Zidby here