January 18, 2026 • 6 mins
Southland MP Joseph Mooney looks at a busy week ahead of parliament starting next week.
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 (00:08):
This is the Master on Hakanui. Joseph MP is MP
for Southland. Parliament. Duty to get underway next week, but
it's all go with the nets this week.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Joseph, good afternoon and welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Yeah, good afternon Andy, good to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Happy new year, Yeah, happy new year.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Well underway. Definitely a lot happened in the year already,
that's for sure. And you know we've got a caucus
retreat in christ Hut starting tomorrow. It's the first time
caucus gets together for the National Party at the beginning
of every year and this year it's in christ Church
so we've done that and then parliament kicks off proper
next week.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
So what happens at the caucus retreat.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
It's a chance for all the MP's to come together
we you know, obviously heaving the leader in the respective
you know, portfolio holders and some important areas and have
a discussion about what we're going to be focusing on
year ahead.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
So as far as the focus, what are you envisaging
from a Southern lens.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Well, we obviously we want to keep the economic momentum going.
We've had some because you know, great sot happening over
the last couple of years in terms of resetting the
rink through environment for the primary sector, and obviously the
prices we've been getting, the schedules, et cetera, and the
dairy prices have been helped a lot. So obviously want
(01:25):
to keep that momentum going.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Penny Simmons talked about it last week. Changes to the
ARI May and the seats have gone down pretty well.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Yeah, it has, yep, and we're looking forward to that
progressing through this year. We're going to be you should
be passing passed into Wall before the election, and that's
obviously been something's been or people be talking about this
for as long as I've been in this and this
role les for sure, and a lot longer than that.
So it's it's long overdue, and it's great that we've
(01:54):
got the you know, the coalition votes to get it
through now.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Based up there in Queenstown.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
The reports you're hearing about the traffic situation there, John,
I mean, you're hearing what was it, ninety minutes from
Frankton roundabout into town and the likes and we've talked
about this before, we're talking about it again. The redevelopments
of the Frankton roundabout. Are we going how long until
we can realistically see a changing in this situation regarding
traffic flow around that region, because it's diabolical. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Look, I'm not living in queens And myself anymore. That's
certainly very familiar with Queens and obviously represented as the
memory of Parliament. It's a pretty complicated in terms of
the traffic flow the Frankton roundabout im and they've still
got a couple of years before they completed that from
what I understand from the New Zealand Transport Authority. That's
(02:47):
certainly one of the things I'm advocating strongly for is
getting this gondola project going, which wipe solve everything, but
it will reduce some of the traffic demand on the
existing road network because it's a pretty difficult base in
the frank in terms of traffic because you've got a
limited geography. There's only so many roads you can put
(03:08):
around it, and more roads you build, you know, the
more cars will fly down there. So yeah, for example,
they built a bridge just over seven years ago and
that's almost a capacity already across the Cowldo Soo's aneccess.
You know, the populations have grown there and obviously it's
got a lot of tourists. But yeah, there's this application
at the moment for far St Track to build a
(03:29):
gondola from Franklin into town and but that's not the panacea.
It certainly would reduce the amount of traffic that needs
to go on the road. That's that's one thing I'm
pushing for.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Do you think there'll be a cap on growth in
Queenstown coming up sooner than later?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Look apart from this on natural constraints on growth and
you know, the infrastructure required for it, I think it's unlikely.
I think people have been sort of thinking about whether
they can constrain growth for a long time and it's
the reality is just keeps happening. So the better approach
from my perspective is so actually think about what infrastructure
(04:06):
we require, and that's up put a lot last year
and so helping advocate for a regional deal for the
target Central Lates region. So that was successful with that
being the only region of the South and that's on
negotiations with central government for a regional deal. So from
(04:27):
my perspective, I want I want to see that, you know,
looking at you at the transport, energy, at the medical
health care needs for the region and for education is
among a few other things.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Now, it's been a sad start to the year, losing
a couple of names synonymous with the South Jills Redditch
and Darned and answer Tom shed Bolto, whose funeral occurred
last Friday.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah, there was really sad start of the year. Both
good men contributed a lot to the South and Jules
read it obviously originally from my tolder and become a
proud to mid night and I thought I've got to
know him quite well when he was mayor of Dunedin
and yeah, he certainly fought hard for the hospital during
(05:18):
his time and do some really good work behind the
scenes there. And then obviously to Shedbelt made a messive
contribution to the cargoon to South and three old decades.
So yeah, really said start to the year. But so
good to see them. They're both well. We were recognized
(05:39):
for the contribution they made to the region.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Hey, good on you, Joseph. Always appreciate your time.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Joy the retreat up there in christ Reach over the
next couple of days in Parliament, back into it next week.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Always good to catch up. Good and the Nie Joseph Mooney,
m p.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
For South One. You're listening to the muster on hak
and Nui. We're away to Glenham. Next, we're catching up
with Dean Rabbid Sho
This is the Master on Hakanui. Joseph MP is MP
for Southland. Parliament. Duty to get underway next week, but
it's all go with the nets this week.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Joseph, good afternoon and welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Yeah, good afternon Andy, good to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Happy new year, Yeah, happy new year.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Well underway. Definitely a lot happened in the year already,
that's for sure. And you know we've got a caucus
retreat in christ Hut starting tomorrow. It's the first time
caucus gets together for the National Party at the beginning
of every year and this year it's in christ Church
so we've done that and then parliament kicks off proper
next week.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
So what happens at the caucus retreat.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
It's a chance for all the MP's to come together
we you know, obviously heaving the leader in the respective
you know, portfolio holders and some important areas and have
a discussion about what we're going to be focusing on
year ahead.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
So as far as the focus, what are you envisaging
from a Southern lens.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Well, we obviously we want to keep the economic momentum going.
We've had some because you know, great sot happening over
the last couple of years in terms of resetting the
rink through environment for the primary sector, and obviously the
prices we've been getting, the schedules, et cetera, and the
dairy prices have been helped a lot. So obviously want
(01:25):
to keep that momentum going.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Penny Simmons talked about it last week. Changes to the
ARI May and the seats have gone down pretty well.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Yeah, it has, yep, and we're looking forward to that
progressing through this year. We're going to be you should
be passing passed into Wall before the election, and that's
obviously been something's been or people be talking about this
for as long as I've been in this and this
role les for sure, and a lot longer than that.
So it's it's long overdue, and it's great that we've
(01:54):
got the you know, the coalition votes to get it
through now.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Based up there in Queenstown.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
The reports you're hearing about the traffic situation there, John,
I mean, you're hearing what was it, ninety minutes from
Frankton roundabout into town and the likes and we've talked
about this before, we're talking about it again. The redevelopments
of the Frankton roundabout. Are we going how long until
we can realistically see a changing in this situation regarding
traffic flow around that region, because it's diabolical. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Look, I'm not living in queens And myself anymore. That's
certainly very familiar with Queens and obviously represented as the
memory of Parliament. It's a pretty complicated in terms of
the traffic flow the Frankton roundabout im and they've still
got a couple of years before they completed that from
what I understand from the New Zealand Transport Authority. That's
(02:47):
certainly one of the things I'm advocating strongly for is
getting this gondola project going, which wipe solve everything, but
it will reduce some of the traffic demand on the
existing road network because it's a pretty difficult base in
the frank in terms of traffic because you've got a
limited geography. There's only so many roads you can put
(03:08):
around it, and more roads you build, you know, the
more cars will fly down there. So yeah, for example,
they built a bridge just over seven years ago and
that's almost a capacity already across the Cowldo Soo's aneccess.
You know, the populations have grown there and obviously it's
got a lot of tourists. But yeah, there's this application
at the moment for far St Track to build a
(03:29):
gondola from Franklin into town and but that's not the panacea.
It certainly would reduce the amount of traffic that needs
to go on the road. That's that's one thing I'm
pushing for.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Do you think there'll be a cap on growth in
Queenstown coming up sooner than later?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Look apart from this on natural constraints on growth and
you know, the infrastructure required for it, I think it's unlikely.
I think people have been sort of thinking about whether
they can constrain growth for a long time and it's
the reality is just keeps happening. So the better approach
from my perspective is so actually think about what infrastructure
(04:06):
we require, and that's up put a lot last year
and so helping advocate for a regional deal for the
target Central Lates region. So that was successful with that
being the only region of the South and that's on
negotiations with central government for a regional deal. So from
(04:27):
my perspective, I want I want to see that, you know,
looking at you at the transport, energy, at the medical
health care needs for the region and for education is
among a few other things.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Now, it's been a sad start to the year, losing
a couple of names synonymous with the South Jills Redditch
and Darned and answer Tom shed Bolto, whose funeral occurred
last Friday.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah, there was really sad start of the year. Both
good men contributed a lot to the South and Jules
read it obviously originally from my tolder and become a
proud to mid night and I thought I've got to
know him quite well when he was mayor of Dunedin
and yeah, he certainly fought hard for the hospital during
(05:18):
his time and do some really good work behind the
scenes there. And then obviously to Shedbelt made a messive
contribution to the cargoon to South and three old decades.
So yeah, really said start to the year. But so
good to see them. They're both well. We were recognized
(05:39):
for the contribution they made to the region.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Hey, good on you, Joseph. Always appreciate your time.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Joy the retreat up there in christ Reach over the
next couple of days in Parliament, back into it next week.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Always good to catch up. Good and the Nie Joseph Mooney,
m p.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
For South One. You're listening to the muster on hak
and Nui. We're away to Glenham. Next, we're catching up
with Dean Rabbid Sho
Popular Podcasts
Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.
iHeartOlympics: The Latest
Listen to the latest news from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the XXV Winter Olympics We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Milan Cortina Winter Olympics so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.