/on-air/rss 九一星空无限 Tue, 06 May 2025 02:34:33 Z en /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/music-time-james-irwin-on-50-years-of-the-new-zealand-music-charts/ /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/music-time-james-irwin-on-50-years-of-the-new-zealand-music-charts/ It's fifty years since the official New Zealand music charts were launched - and there have been plenty of number ones from Kiwi artists in the five decades since.  Many records have been broken in that time too - including some artists who managed the feat of knocking one of their own songs from the number one position. To discuss the history of the charts, Wellington Mornings' music man James Irwin joined Nick Mills for Music Time.  LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 06 May 2025 01:16:13 Z /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/john-barnett-former-south-pacific-pictures-boss-on-what-trumps-film-tariffs-could-mean-for-nz/ /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/john-barnett-former-south-pacific-pictures-boss-on-what-trumps-film-tariffs-could-mean-for-nz/ US President Donald Trump has pledged to introduce a 100 per cent tariff on all films produced outside of the United States - and while details are light, it could have a large impact on New Zealand's growing film production sector. To discuss what it could mean, film and television producer and former South Pacific Pictures boss John Barnett joined Nick Mills.  LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 06 May 2025 01:12:56 Z /on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings-with-john-macdonald/opinion/john-macdonald-do-we-all-really-need-the-pension-at-65/ /on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings-with-john-macdonald/opinion/john-macdonald-do-we-all-really-need-the-pension-at-65/ It was very clever of the Government announcing that it was going to pump $12 billion into defence before saying anything about where the money’s coming from.  A lot of us got all excited about the defence money because, even if you’re a pacifist, you would have to agree that our defence force has been running on the smell of an oily rag for a very long time. That’s just a fact.  And we kind of accepted that there would have to be trade-offs. We just didn’t know, and we still don’t know, what those trade-offs are going to be.  Today though it’s being proposed that NZ Super should be the Peter that pays Paul, and that we need to sort out the elephant in the room and make people wait longer before they get the pension. And I agree.  It’s come from economist Cameron Bagrie who has been trying to find out where the defence spend money is coming from. Without any detail forthcoming from the Government, he’s suggesting the Super scheme.  He’s saying: “We cannot continue to shy away from that rising expense if other priorities, such as defence, are going to be met.”  He’s not the only one talking about the pension scheme needing a reworking.  The NZ Herald’s head of business Fran O’Sullivan says it was a National Government that increased the entitlement age for NZ Super from 60 to 65.  But that the current National Party leadership is sticking with the idea of not doing anything about the eligibility age until 2044. The party’s current commitment is to keep the age at 65 for another 19 years.  Fran O’Sullivan describes that as “nonsense”. And I agree with her too. There is no way we can afford to keep paying the pension to anyone and everyone once they turn 65 for another 19 years.  National’s policy at the moment commits it to increasing the age of entitlement to 67 after 2044, which means no one born before 1979 will be affected. So someone who is 47 now, for example, would still get the pension when they turn 65. Crazy.  There’s also nothing in National’s policy about doing something about the other nonsensical part of all this – where people still get the pension if they keep working beyond 65.  Because the pension —when it comes down to it— is to help stop people falling into poverty after they retire. That’s what it’s designed for. It’s not there to pay for some joker’s beer on a Friday and Saturday night, who doesn’t need it for anything else because he’s still working and earning a salary or wages.  Or he might be someone who’s made a truckload of money running a business and still earns a dividend or maybe even still draws a salary.  Back to Cameron Bagrie. He’s saying today that health and NZ Super make up 37% of government operational expenses and that things are only going to get tighter with more defence spending.  He says: “We now have a new pressure in the mix: national security - which is being prioritised. No credible political party can ignore that.”  Referring to the pension, he says: “We cannot continue to shy away from that rising expense if other priorities, such as defence, are going to be met.”  It’s not something former National Prime Minister Jim Bolger shied away from.  Somehow, he managed to convince New Zealanders that increasing the qualifying age for was “plain common sense”, because people were living longer and receiving the pension for a lot longer.  Age eligibility went up to 61 within a year of that and it’s been 65 since 2001.  And just like it was looking less affordable then, it’s looking even less affordable now.  That's why we need to have the same fortitude - or our politicians do - and they need to bite the bullet, instead of ignoring it.  Tue, 06 May 2025 01:00:36 Z /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/opinion/kerre-woodham-we-need-to-be-part-of-the-solution-to-retail-crime/ /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/opinion/kerre-woodham-we-need-to-be-part-of-the-solution-to-retail-crime/ A new report from Retail NZ has revealed the state of retail crime in New Zealand - 99% of the membership of Retail NZ has experienced some form of crime or antisocial behaviour in 2023/24, that's up from 93% the year prior.   I remember thinking that's a lot, National want to be working on that because they were very strong in opposition and in the election campaign saying they were going to get tough on retail crime – it seems to have got worse. It ranges from credit card fraud, shoplifting, threatening behaviour, criminal damage, or physical assault. Retail NZ’s membership recorded 140,746 incidents of retail crime over that period.   What I find really interesting from the report is that almost 40% of those retail crimes were not reported to police. There were a range of reasons why respondents didn't report to police. Apparently it was because of low value items not being worth the effort, the retailer discovered the offence too late, or they dealt with it directly. There were also concerns that what was the point? What was the point of telling the police? Nothing's going to happen.   I would love to know from retailers at what point do you give up caring? 40% of retail crimes are not reported to police. That's a hell of a lot. When do you reach the stage of simply shrugging your shoulders and saying, what are you going to do about it? Have you become so inured to retail crime, to abusive language, to people just putting something in their pocket or putting something in their bag and walking out, you're like, well another day?  I remember Chris Quinn from Foodstuffs when we were talking about people walking out with trolleys full of groceries. And I said, well, why don't you put in the measures that people have told me about overseas, where you scan your receipt and then the gates open, and your trolley and you, can walk out. If you don't have a receipt, the gates don't open – make it jolly hard to walk out with a trolley full of groceries. He said, I just don't think the public could put up with that. Yeah, we would, wouldn't we? I thought that was a really defeatist attitude. He said, you know, the majority shouldn't be punished for the minor, obviously, but I mean that is the way society works. We have rules and legislation to cater to the numpties and the low lifes and the stupid and the criminal.   I personally don't mind putting my receipt to a scanner and having the gates open if it means that some arrogant arse is prevented from walking out with a trolley full of groceries and sticking two fingers to us all. I really don't mind. It would be minimal in terms of hassle, in terms of hold up. The same would be true of many retail security measures. It makes more sense to have security measures in shops and supermarkets than it does at the airport. Me taking my boots off does not help us find the Malaysian Airlines plane that crashed. It makes more sense to me to be held up slightly at the supermarket, ever so slightly if it means that people aren't getting away with it.   They seem to take great delight in it, and that's what annoys me. We've got to have a zero tolerance policy to this sort of retail crime. And that means you and I have to be part of the solution. It's not just retailers, it's not just police that are going to make a difference. It's when you and I are willing to accept a little bit of inconvenience to tell the toerags and the freeloaders and the criminals that up with this we will no longer put. Draw a line in the sand and for once let the good guys prevail.    Tue, 06 May 2025 00:23:46 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-why-our-top-achievers-are-leaving/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-why-our-top-achievers-are-leaving/ I always find it amusing when officialdom is confused, and they seem confused, as to why so many of our brightest minds have bailed and gone off overseas.  This is the group of top achievers at NCEA level and the ones with international qualifications.  More of them than ever have left the country. Officialdom here doesn’t know if they are enrolled offshore or, and here is the critical point, why they left.  Fortunately, I can help. Well, at least a bit.  We had one leave the country to go off and study. We have a niece currently studying offshore and we also have a nephew who left, studied and graduated last year.  They were, or are, all bright and all got top marks, and here is officialdom's answer: all wanted to get the hell out of here.  Studying at an overseas university has become a “thing”.  In one way it is no different to the vast swathes of other New Zealanders who set records exiting in the past few years.  In simple terms, the brighter you are the more prospects you have. Part of your brain power and academic success will have led you to the realisation that there is a big world out there with a lot of opportunities and you want a slice of this action.  Anecdotally, as regards higher study post-secondary school, I can tell you the amount of Māori indoctrination at high school these days is not just absurd, but counter productive.  I know it isn't PC to say so and I know it's not scientifically fact-based. But I know what kids tell me and even in this current generation, which is far more willing and open to this type of bilingual Māori-based approach to learning, by the time you have had five years of it, you are done.  What they failed to grip when they went hell for leather, and this applies to broader life in New Zealand ranging from Māori names of Government departments to news greetings on the TV at night, is if you over-egg it, you get push back, which is where we are right now.  But I think there also must be some acceptance that as a small, insular country at the bottom of the world, when times are tough the world remains shiny and brains gets you access.  I would have once said that most come home.  But I look at our wider family and I'm not sure that’s actually true anymore.  Mon, 05 May 2025 22:58:32 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/bharat-chawla-india-new-zealand-business-council-chair-on-the-beginning-free-trade-negotiations/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/bharat-chawla-india-new-zealand-business-council-chair-on-the-beginning-free-trade-negotiations/ A Government delegation has landed in the Indian capital to kick-start Free Trade Agreement talks.   The Prime Minister, along with several other ministers, visited India earlier this year to improve diplomatic ties.   India New Zealand Business Council Chair Bharat Chawla told Ryan Bridge India will hope to make movement in New Zealand easier for its people.   He says it will also be looking to make use of New Zealand's fruit and dairy industries.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 05 May 2025 22:49:49 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/toby-williams-federated-farmers-meat-and-wool-chair-on-the-decline-in-livestock-numbers/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/toby-williams-federated-farmers-meat-and-wool-chair-on-the-decline-in-livestock-numbers/ A tough winter ahead for meat processing plants as livestock numbers continue to decline.   Latest figures from Stats NZ show a 21% drop in sheep numbers over the past 10 years – a total decline of 6.2 million sheep since 2014.   The number of dairy cattle also fell 13% over the same period.   Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Toby Williams told Ryan Bridge keeping livestock processing plants open, profitable, and running efficiently is a significant challenge.   He says big plants are struggling to get numbers of livestock through, with close to million less lambs to process this year than last.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 05 May 2025 22:44:43 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-bryant-global-political-expert-on-the-trump-effect-australian-and-canadian-elections/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-bryant-global-political-expert-on-the-trump-effect-australian-and-canadian-elections/ Australia's recent election has sparked talks of the 'Trump effect' coming into play.  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor Party's had a landslide win, securing a historic second term.   It's widely thought Trump's volatility influenced the outcome.   Global Political Expert Nick Bryant told Mike Hosking it's become more apparent the country wanted to elect an authentically Australian Prime Minister, with the landslide win's a rejection of Americanisation.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 05 May 2025 21:37:17 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/andrew-hoggard-associate-agriculture-minister-on-the-decline-in-livestock-numbers/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/andrew-hoggard-associate-agriculture-minister-on-the-decline-in-livestock-numbers/ New Zealand’s livestock numbers are on the decline.   Latest figures from Stats NZ show a 21% drop in sheep numbers over the past 10 years – a total decline of 6.2 million sheep since 2014.   The number of dairy cattle also fell 13% over the same period, coinciding with the increase in land being converted for forestry.  Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard told Mike Hosking he believes the costs around RMA and other rules and regulations are partially responsible.  He says one farmer he visited gave up and converted entirely to forestry as dealing with the wetland rules and requirements were too hard and costly.   Hoggard hopes the work they’re doing around RMA will allow farmers to make smart decisions on their farms as opposed to giving up and planting trees.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 05 May 2025 21:18:59 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-more-brains-down-the-drain/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-more-brains-down-the-drain/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Tuesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) But Why?/The Great Selloff/More Damned Lies/Massive eMail Scandal/Real eMail Scandal Mon, 05 May 2025 21:15:31 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-06-may-2025/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-06-may-2025/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 6th of May, free trade negotiations are officially underway in India, and our film industry could be left reeling after Trump announced 100% tariffs on foreign films.  Sir John Key is on to talk business growth in New Zealand, as well as everything else Mike throws at him.  Nick Bryant is an expert in global politics and is on to talk to us about the recent elections around the world and Trumpism.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 05 May 2025 21:09:13 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/sir-john-key-former-prime-minister-on-the-ignite-25-growth-summit-trump-tariffs/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/sir-john-key-former-prime-minister-on-the-ignite-25-growth-summit-trump-tariffs/ Sir John Key does not believe US President Donald Trump intends to keep tariffs on most of the world.   The former Prime Minister is speaking at the Ignite 25 Growth Summit business event in Auckland today.   Key, who's supported Trump in the past, says the President is only focused on China in his new trade policies.   He told Mike Hosking the stock, bond, and currency markets are not convinced that Trump is going to leave them where they are.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 05 May 2025 20:53:03 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/annie-dundas-auckland-unlimited-destination-director-on-north-island-tourism-organisations-teaming-up/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/annie-dundas-auckland-unlimited-destination-director-on-north-island-tourism-organisations-teaming-up/ Tourism organisations from across the North Island are working to put a spotlight on it.   Fifteen operators have teamed up and signed a Memorandum of Understanding.  It aims to generate interest from key tourism markets particularly Australia, North America, and China.  Auckland Unlimited Destination Director Annie Dundas told Mike Hosking both islands have different offerings, so tourism shouldn't be merged as one.  She says they're getting back to just being the North, and are acknowledging how well the South Island has done.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 05 May 2025 20:34:40 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/irene-gardiner-screen-production-and-development-association-on-trumps-film-tariffs/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/irene-gardiner-screen-production-and-development-association-on-trumps-film-tariffs/ The film industry is being asked not to push the panic button.  There's a lot of uncertainty after US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 100% tariff on films produced outside the US.  In a post on Truth Social, he says the US film industry is ‘dying a very fast death’ as countries offer incentives to lure filmmaking away from Hollywood.  Screen Production and Development Association President Irene Gardiner told Mike Hosking his terminology is quite confusing.  She says she doesn't know how Trump will be able to do what he's talking about, but that might become clearer in the next few days.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 05 May 2025 20:20:51 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/tim-groser-former-trade-minister-on-new-zealand-entering-free-trade-negotiations-with-india/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/tim-groser-former-trade-minister-on-new-zealand-entering-free-trade-negotiations-with-india/ The state of foreign affairs across the globe could play into New Zealand's hands as it enters free trade negotiations.   A Government delegation has landed in the Indian capital to begin the process of securing an FTA.   Former Trade Minister Tim Groser told Mike Hosking he's never loved our chances, but the odds have changed.   He says the landscape has changed because of Donald Trump's approach to trade - which could make a deal easier to pull off.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 05 May 2025 19:56:57 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/donna-demaio-australian-correspondent-on-labor-winning-the-election-albaneses-talk-with-trump/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/donna-demaio-australian-correspondent-on-labor-winning-the-election-albaneses-talk-with-trump/ The Australian Prime Minister's confirmed he's had a 'warm and positive' chat with US President Donald Trump.  Anthony Albanese's Labor Party has swept back into office, securing a historic second term.   It's widely thought Trump's volatility influenced the outcome.   Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge Albanese thanked him for reaching out in such a positive way.  She says they talked about tariffs, and will continue to engage with each other.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 05 May 2025 19:28:35 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/tania-burt-northland-inc-head-of-destination-on-tourism-organisations-teaming-up-to-shine-a-light-on-its-tourism-offerings/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/tania-burt-northland-inc-head-of-destination-on-tourism-organisations-teaming-up-to-shine-a-light-on-its-tourism-offerings/ Tourism organisations from across the North Island are teaming up to shine a light on its tourism offerings. Fifteen operators including Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Rotorua NZ and Northland Inc have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. It aims to generate interest from key tourism markets particularly Australia, North America and China. Northland Inc Head of Destination Tania Burt told Ryan Bridge tourists fly into Auckland and then head straight to the South Island.  She says only 20-30% of their region's visitors are international, hence the need to work together. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 18:23:21 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-the-ultimate-scandal/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-the-ultimate-scandal/ Disclaimer: Satire  On the news last night, it was nothing but scandal. Scandal. Scandal. I don’t think I’ve seen political misconduct of this magnitude since Watergate. The Woodward and Bernsteins of our time were busy digging through documents, uncovering truth. Protecting democracy. From corruption. From evil. Erica Stanford, Minister of Education and obvious crook, first in the firing line.  Her crime? Printing off work emails at home.  Disgraceful. A two-part report from 1九一星空无限 leading the bulletin over consecutive nights details how this menace, flagrant in her disregard for best practice, printed papers from her home computer after emailing them to her own private email address. Why? I hear you ask. Why such an egregious act? Well it turns out, and this where the story really gets interesting, Parliamentary IT hadn’t hooked up a printer in her office or home. So instead of ignoring her immense workload, switching off her computer and going to the pub like any decent politician, she emailed them to herself, printed them off. And worked late into the night.  Outrageous.  Other documents, other emails exclusively uncovered - the existence of which made possible because the Minister flagged them with officials for inclusion in future OIA requests. Like the one we're now looking at. So, brazen in flouting the rules she thought she’d never get caught.  Shameless.  One reporter noted Stanford was quote “safe for now”. It’s at least on par with the Hegseth and his signal chat. Kiri Allen drunk driving then crashing a ministerial car before resisting arrest pales into comparison.  But how much worse can this scandal get for Stanford?  We must wait for part two this evening.  Then the next minister in the firing line? Matt Doocey. Mental Health. And this story is crazy - he should be locked up like crooked Hilary.  His crime?  Worse than lying… the newsreader told us the accusation was, wait for it... massaging the message. It's a new charge but thought to be very, very, very serious. Some pages detailing workforce shortages were removed from a glossy Ministerial booklet that went out to the public.  There was one small problem with this future Pulitzer Prize winner. The problem, as cameras bared down, as his crimes were read aloud, was Doocey had no idea what the reporter was talking about - it was old mate Lester Levy. It was Levy's fingerprints over this one, not Doocey's. But he’s already on the way out, so what’s the fun in getting him on camera? Shackling him to the pillory for a flogging? So, it was Doocey in the dock.  The best part about this expose? It came with its very own deep throat. Yes, an insider whose secret cache of draft documents blew the sorry wide open… That person was Ingrid Leary from the Labour Party.  Case closed. It’s a knockout. It’s a slam dunk. Both ministers must be sacked immediately.  Mon, 05 May 2025 18:19:28 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-06-may-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-06-may-2025/ On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 6th of May 2025, A Government delegation has landed in New Delhi for the first round of talks towards a FTA between India and New Zealand, India New Zealand Business Council Chair Bharat Chawla tells Ryan Bridge how we should approach a deal.  New figures from Stats NZ show our livestock numbers are falling, Federated Farmers Meat & Wool Chair Toby Williams tells Ryan whether or not we should be worried.  A brand new alliance of fifteen tourism organisations is hoping to attract more overseas visitors to North island destinations, Northland INC Head of Destination Tania Burt shares her thoughts. Plus Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on The mushroom murder trial entering its sixth day. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE   Mon, 05 May 2025 18:08:16 Z /on-air/marcus-lush-nights/audio/plastic-in-your-head-5-may-2025/ /on-air/marcus-lush-nights/audio/plastic-in-your-head-5-may-2025/ Marcus talks the proposed reopening of an infamous prison, and gets advice on in-home help.  Then Kathy has the mother of all questions about fences.... LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 05 May 2025 12:06:55 Z /on-air/sportstalk/audio/full-show-sportstalk-with-jason-pine-may-5-2025/ /on-air/sportstalk/audio/full-show-sportstalk-with-jason-pine-may-5-2025/ Jason Pine returns to recap a full day in the world of sport! Highlights for tonight include: Fox League presenter Jake Duke on what makes the NRL Magic Round so sucessful. Talkback- What makes Magic Round work so well? How can Super rugby make their version work? ZB sports reporter Reuben Mama recaps the action from Magic Round. Hurricanes winger Bailyn Sullivan on his four-try burst against the Chiefs. Piney's Power Rankings!  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 08:26:20 Z /on-air/sportstalk/audio/pineys-power-rankings-nba-indian-panthers-and-luke-metcalf/ /on-air/sportstalk/audio/pineys-power-rankings-nba-indian-panthers-and-luke-metcalf/ Every Monday, Piney recaps his top sporting moments of the week as part of his Power Rankings. This week, Piney discusses the Wellington Phoenix, the Indian Panthers, Gregg Popovich's NBA retirement and the Warriors' successful victory over the Cowboys in Brisbane. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 08:19:52 Z /on-air/sportstalk/audio/bailyn-sullivan-hurricanes-winger-on-the-teams-win-over-the-chiefs/ /on-air/sportstalk/audio/bailyn-sullivan-hurricanes-winger-on-the-teams-win-over-the-chiefs/ Bailyn Sullivan is rapt to have adapted quickly to a surprise appearance on the wing in the Hurricanes' 35-17 Super Rugby upset of the Chiefs in Wellington. The midfielder scored four tries coming off the bench after just seven minutes when Kini Naholo went off with a knee injury. Sullivan joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 08:16:54 Z /on-air/sportstalk/audio/reuben-mama-zb-sports-reporter-recaps-the-action-from-this-weekends-magic-round/ /on-air/sportstalk/audio/reuben-mama-zb-sports-reporter-recaps-the-action-from-this-weekends-magic-round/ Fans from both sides of the Tasman flocked to Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium to watch a full weekend of NRL action. The Warriors also recorded their sixth win of the NRL season, holding on to beat the North Queensland Cowboys 30-26. ZB sports reporter Reuben Mama joined Piney to recap the action. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 08:11:11 Z /on-air/sportstalk/audio/jake-duke-fox-league-presenter-recaps-the-weekends-nrl-magic-round/ /on-air/sportstalk/audio/jake-duke-fox-league-presenter-recaps-the-weekends-nrl-magic-round/ It's been a big week for the NRL, as fans flocked to Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium to catch the action. Fox League presenter Jake Duke joined Piney to recap the highs and lows from the weekend. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 08:03:52 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-the-string-of-arrests-following-two-suspected-terror-plots-in-england/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-the-string-of-arrests-following-two-suspected-terror-plots-in-england/ Eight men, including seven Iranians, have been arrested over two suspected terror plots in England. Five were arrested at various locations around the UK as part of an alleged plot to 'target a specific premises'.  Meanwhile, three men were arrested in London as part of a investigation led by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the suspects have been held overnight for questioning. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 07:45:05 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/greg-smith-devon-funds-expert-on-the-factors-driving-the-nz-markets-up/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/greg-smith-devon-funds-expert-on-the-factors-driving-the-nz-markets-up/ New Zealand's financial markets have taken a positive turn - following months of financial uncertainty.  Greg Smith from Devon Funds unpacked the factors behind these changes. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 07:39:46 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-should-we-be-concerned-about-erica-stanford/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-should-we-be-concerned-about-erica-stanford/ Tonight on The Huddle, Josie Pagani from Child Fund and Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Minister Erica Stanford is in a spot of trouble after it was revealed she sent pre-Budget announcements to her personal email before they were announced last year - one of tens of examples since she's been a Minister. Is this a good look? Should we be concerned?  Mark Mitchell has expressed interest in extending prison sentences to reduce recidivism - do we think this is the right call? Is the Trump effect impacting elections? Speculation claims Australia and Canada voted left in response to Trump's policies. What do we make of this?  A wedding planner says the typical wedding is $87,000 these days - how much is too much? LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:48 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/catherine-mcgrath-westpac-ceo-on-the-banks-profit-growing-by-10-percent/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/catherine-mcgrath-westpac-ceo-on-the-banks-profit-growing-by-10-percent/ Westpac New Zealand’s profits are continuing to rise, as it makes more money from existing customers, rather than materially growing its business. The Australian-owned bank’s New Zealand division reported a net profit of $525 million in the six months to March - a 10 percent rise from the same period last year. Westpac CEO Catherine McGrath explains why New Zealand's margins have gone up - despite Australia taking a dip.  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 07:16:56 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-05-may-2025/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-05-may-2025/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 5 May 2025, FTA negotiations with India start this week and the Trade Minister is on the show to call for calm as Donald Trump announces 100% tariffs on foreign movies.   40% of retail crime goes unreported and Auckland butcher Reuben Sharples tells Heather the brazen thefts he's experienced in the past couple of days. The eye-watering cost of having a wedding in New Zealand is leading to people inviting fewer people - or even having nobody there at all. Plus, the Huddle debates whether Education Minister is really in trouble for sending hundreds of official documents to her private email - or whether printer problems are sort of relatable. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 07:11:49 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-reveals-why-she-steers-clear-of-sending-emails/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-reveals-why-she-steers-clear-of-sending-emails/ The Finance Minister says she steers clear of emails - following a recent ministerial scandal.  This follows 1九一星空无限 reports that Erica Stanford sent pre-Budget announcements to her personal email before they were announced last year - one of tens of examples since she's been a Minister.  Her use of personal email could be a breach of the Cabinet manual - which all ministers are obliged to follow. Nicola Willis says she's never really sending emails. "I'm meeting with people face to face or I'm talking to my team and saying - look, could you just make sure that that minister's aware of this. Sometimes we do formal correspondence, letters and the like, but very rarely am I sitting at my keyboard." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 06:54:20 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/mark-mitchell-police-minister-explains-why-he-wants-longer-sentences-to-reduce-recidivism/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/mark-mitchell-police-minister-explains-why-he-wants-longer-sentences-to-reduce-recidivism/ The Police Minister has expressed interest in locking up criminals for longer in a bid to cut down on reoffending. Criminals that serve five years or more in jail are generally less likely to reoffend, according to new reports. Mark Mitchell says he's asked Corrections to examine whether shorter sentences can be extended. "Longer sentences normally mean the people commit to their rehabilitation better, engage in more rehabilitation, and are therefore less risk to the community when they come out."  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 06:42:12 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/suzanne-carson-wedding-professional-director-on-people-favouring-smaller-weddings-as-costs-go-up/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/suzanne-carson-wedding-professional-director-on-people-favouring-smaller-weddings-as-costs-go-up/ People are prioritising smaller guest lists as fewer couples marry - according to new reports. Wedding Professional has revealed its average client spend this year is more than $87,000, anchored by an international wedding with a $160,000 dollar budget. Director Suzanne Carson says Kiwis want the great experience, without the price tag for lots of guests. "Personalisation is a great big thing - I think they want the experience and they want the experience for everybody, so I do believe that the numbers have come down." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 06:22:13 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/peter-dunne-political-commentator-unpacks-anthony-albaneses-sweeping-victory-in-the-federal-election/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/peter-dunne-political-commentator-unpacks-anthony-albaneses-sweeping-victory-in-the-federal-election/ A focus on 'Australian values' during geopolitical uncertainty could explain the vast gap between the two parties at Saturday's federal election, according to one expert. Labor swept to a majority victory - securing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese a historic second term.  It's widely thought US President Donald Trump's volatility has influenced the outcome.  But political commentator Peter Dunne says Albanese's messages about what Australia wants and needs left an impact.  "That's the kernel of the truth here - talk about the real things and in that environment, people will opt for the thing they know, the certainty and the stability rather than the fear of the unknown." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 06:08:03 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/todd-mcclay-trade-minister-on-india-and-new-zealand-starting-the-first-round-of-free-trade-agreement-negotiations/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/todd-mcclay-trade-minister-on-india-and-new-zealand-starting-the-first-round-of-free-trade-agreement-negotiations/ A Kiwi negotiation team is in India this week, holding our first in-person Free Trade Agreement talks. Trade Minister Todd McClay says it's an important step in our relationship with one of the world's fastest growing economies. He says this will be the first of many meetings with New Zealand. McClay explained India is also holding talks with the US, UK, EU and others over this week and the next. "That's why I thought to send our people up - rather than either drag them down here or miss the opportunity to have the very first in-person negotiations." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:57:19 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jason-walls-newstalk-zb-political-editor-on-prime-minister-luxon-responding-to-donald-trumps-film-production-statement/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jason-walls-newstalk-zb-political-editor-on-prime-minister-luxon-responding-to-donald-trumps-film-production-statement/ The Prime Minister says it's too early to understand the potential impact of tariffs on New Zealand films.  Donald Trump has most recently written he'd like100 percent tariffs on all movies produced outside the US.  Chris Luxon says he's seen the social media post, but we'll need to know a lot more. 九一星空无限talk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Chris Luxon has expressed interest in getting more Bollywood productions to come to New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:45:06 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/oliver-peterson-australian-correspondent-on-what-albaneses-election-win-means-for-the-oppostion/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/oliver-peterson-australian-correspondent-on-what-albaneses-election-win-means-for-the-oppostion/ The sweeping loss for Peter Dutton's Liberal National coalition in the Australian election likely has long-term implications for the party going forward. Anthony Albanese has become the first Prime Minister since 2004 to win back-to-back elections, with an even larger majority than his last.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says nobody saw this political 'blood-bath' coming for the opposition. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:35:04 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jason-pine-sportstalk-host-on-the-warriors-beating-out-the-cowboys-in-brisbane/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jason-pine-sportstalk-host-on-the-warriors-beating-out-the-cowboys-in-brisbane/ The Warriors have gone up the NRL ladder after a heart-stopping 30-26 NRL victory over the Cowboys in the Magic Round in Brisbane. The first five first half tries had the Kiwi side up 28-12 at the break before the Cowboys surged back with three tries in eight minutes. Sportstalk host Jason Pine recapped the action. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:24:23 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/reuben-sharples-west-auckland-butcher-says-most-shoplifting-cases-are-too-small-to-report-on/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/reuben-sharples-west-auckland-butcher-says-most-shoplifting-cases-are-too-small-to-report-on/ A West Auckland butcher says a lot of shoplifting is too small to bother reporting.  A Retail NZ survey has found 40 percent of retail crime goes unreported.  Butcher Reuben Sharples says for small amounts it's not worth the hassle to get CCTV footage together to send police.  He says they only report on bigger robberies, which get a bigger police response.  "We've had break-ins, we've had thousands...around Christmas time, I had 4,000 turkeys stolen." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:10:57 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-i-dont-think-voters-are-rejecting-trumpism/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-i-dont-think-voters-are-rejecting-trumpism/ After Albo’s massive win across the ditch on Saturday, I can see a lot of commentators are tempted to blame it on Trumpism - in the same way they blamed the Canadian election upset on Trumpism. But I'm not convinced they’re right - at least not in the way they think they are.  What these commentators are saying is that Trump has given Canadians and Australians the ick so badly that they voting against anything that looks like him: Dutton in Australia, Poilievre in Canada or just right-wing-ism in general. I don't think that’s what happened here. Look at what’s happening in New Zealand at the moment  - the two parties in our parliamentary system that would probably share the greatest number of policy positions with Donald Trump are NZ First and ACT - and both are polling much higher than they historically have. But also, those commentators seem to be conveniently forgetting what just happened in the UK on Friday night - which is that the Reform Party absolutely swept the local elections in a shock result. Reform, led by Nigel Farage, is probably the closest thing to Trump in the English-speaking world. So as much as the left would like to believe what happened in Australia and Canada is a Trump ick factor that they can pin on the rest of the right - I don’t think it is. I think what’s happened is the same thing that happened with Covid: safe voting. I think Trump and his tariff talk - and the possibility of a massive global slowdown - has freaked out voters in a similar way to how Covid freaked out people. And when people freak out, it favours the incumbent, because it’s better the devil you know to protect you. That's why the Canadians returned their incumbent Government and that’s why the Australians returned their incumbent Government. The same doesn't apply to the UK, because that was a local body election which is about rubbish and roads - not central Government which is about tariffs and healthcare.  So I suspect we shouldn't over egg how much voters hate Trump as much as understand how much he might be frightening them. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:03:29 Z /on-air/matt-heath-tyler-adams-afternoons/audio/full-show-podcast-05-may-2025/ /on-air/matt-heath-tyler-adams-afternoons/audio/full-show-podcast-05-may-2025/ On the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Full Show Podcast for the 5th of May 2025 - a powerful discussion about rehabilitation in prison, especially for those serving long sentences. Matt and Tyler fielded calls from those who had worked with prisoners and former prisoners including one man who told us he had served 17 years for murder. Then a change of direction to the use of AI in schools and chat around the pros and cons. And somewhere along the way Matt's dog Colin gets a big shout-out. Get the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Podcast every weekday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 04:44:22 Z /on-air/the-country/audio/steve-maharey-former-labour-cabinet-minister-on-the-implications-of-the-australian-and-canadian-elections/ /on-air/the-country/audio/steve-maharey-former-labour-cabinet-minister-on-the-implications-of-the-australian-and-canadian-elections/ Australia and Canada's general elections have just wrapped up - and the results indicate left-wing politics are gaining more popularity, according to some. Former Labour cabinet minister Steve Maharey says people in the centre are growing more awareness around politics - especially following Donald Trump's return to the presidency. Maharey joined The Country's Jamie Mackay to discuss further.  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 02:04:21 Z /on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings-with-john-macdonald/opinion/john-macdonald-what-to-do-about-the-illegal-tobacco-trade/ /on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings-with-john-macdonald/opinion/john-macdonald-what-to-do-about-the-illegal-tobacco-trade/ Here’s a stat for you: 25 percent of cigarettes sold in New Zealand are from the black market. They’re being smuggled into the country and criminals are making millions selling them on Facebook Marketplace and construction sites. All over the place. And you probably don’t have to go far to find a dairy selling them, either. That figure has been put out by the tobacco industry in New Zealand. Although, there was an expert saying this morning that he reckons it’s not quite as bad as the tobacco companies are saying. Either way - whatever the figure actually is - there are smokers balking at the cost of a packet of cigarettes and pouches of tobacco and they’re quite happy to buy the illegal stuff. And I reckon the time has come to have a re-think about how we’re dealing with cigarette smoking. Because the approach that’s been taken so far - aside from treatment programmes and all that - has largely been about punishing people in the pocket if they want to smoke. More and more taxes, to the point where people are paying a small fortune. And, if we want to try and reduce the amount of illegal tobacco trading going on, then I think we need to think whether piling more tax on tobacco is worth it. I don’t think it is. I’m not saying that we should make cigarettes cheaper - but I don’t think we should make them more expensive than they are now. Because, if we do, then the illegal trade is going to grow even more and that will mean less tax revenue for the Government through the legitimate tobacco market. The thing too about not adding more taxes to ciggies and tobacco, is that it would still keep the price out of the reach of people like teenagers. People who could become the next generation of smokers. I was talking to someone who said their partner used to make a special trip into town to buy tobacco from a dairy in Christchurch that was selling pouches that were about $20 cheaper than what the legitimate stuff was going for. And they were saying that their partner would go into the dairy, ask if they had any of the cheap stuff and, sure enough, reach into the drawer and out it would come. It was worth the drive into the city to get it, apparently. Customs is saying today that these groups are bringing truckloads of the stuff into the country - mainly by sea - using what customs describes as “sophisticated smuggling tactics similar to the tactics used by drug smugglers". It says they are serious criminals. Not just opportunists having a go because they’re worried about the price of tobacco”. The expert from Auckland University who was on 九一星空无限talk ZB this morning says the solution is getting more people off smoking. I agree. But I also think that’s your ideal scenario kind of thing. Which is why I think the time has come to stop piling more taxes on cigarettes and tobacco. It’s done its job. Making cigarettes more and more expensive is just going to feed demand for the illegal stuff. Which is ripping us off. Because with every packet of illegal cigarettes sold, there’s no tax revenue. Money that we could all benefit from. And why would we continue to let that happen? Mon, 05 May 2025 00:52:45 Z /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/beehive-buzz-do-we-have-too-many-ministers/ /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/beehive-buzz-do-we-have-too-many-ministers/ Act party leader David Seymour says the size of New Zealand's government is too big - and there are too many ministerial positions, including some ministers with multiple portfolios.  So what does Prime Minister Christopher Luxon make of the suggestion some ministerial positions should be cut? Also, we're just weeks away from Finance Minister Nicola Willis unveiling this year's budget. What can we expect over the coming weeks? 九一星空无限talk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills for the Beehive Buzz. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 00:39:24 Z /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/kieran-mcanulty-labour-party-campaign-chair-on-australian-labors-election-success/ /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/kieran-mcanulty-labour-party-campaign-chair-on-australian-labors-election-success/ It was a big weekend in Australia, with Anthony Albanese's Labor Party returned to power over Peter Dutton's Liberal/National coalition. The result flew in the face of multiple polls, which as recent as two months ago were predicting a resounding win for Dutton. The 'Trump effect' has been widely attributed to Labor's rise in the polls during the campaign. Could we see something similar in New Zealand?  New Zealand Labour's campaign chair Kieran McAnulty, who was at Albanese's election night party, joined Nick Mills to discuss the result.  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 00:33:04 Z /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/opinion/kerre-woodham-northland-desperately-need-police-boots-on-the-ground/ /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/opinion/kerre-woodham-northland-desperately-need-police-boots-on-the-ground/ I don't know if you caught the story over the weekend - Ngāpuhi, the iwi of Northland, are calling for police to round up the drug dealers in Northland using the same strong tactics they used in drug raids on Ōpōtiki last year. You'll remember there was criticism of how the police dealt with some of the individuals in Ōpōtiki, mainly coming from the individuals and their families themselves. Now Ngāpuhi is saying bring it on. The leader of the country's largest iwi, Mane Tahere, said he asked the Police Minister for decisive action after recently seeing a group of youngsters smoking a meth pipe in broad daylight in the Main Street of Kaikohe, just down the road from the police station. As somebody who has been going to the Far North for the past eight or nine years, I've certainly seen a change for the worse in Kaihohe. There are tiny little fragile grass shoots of hope, but the meth is a huge problem there, an absolutely huge problem. Locals in Opononi stand outside the local dairy, the local shops on benefit day to try and stop the dealers from getting to the kids first. The community is trying to do what it can to stop the dealers getting a strong hold in the community, to try and thwart their attempts to get more young people hooked on the drug. But they are a tiny, tiny, tiny bastion against what is a multimillion-dollar business. The cold, harsh reality is that Northland has the highest consumption of methamphetamine in New Zealand. Nearly 2000milligrammes per day consumed per 1000 people. And Mane Tahere has said we are doing what we can as a community, as an iwi, as a people but we can't do it on our own and we need the police to step in. He said a crackdown isn't the solution to all problems in Northland but it's a major part. He knows he is calling down a whole heap of criticism on his head by asking the police to step in, but he says our hard, staunch kind of hate for the police is not the future. Compare his pragmatic, proactive hard line on drugs with the words of Green MP Tamatha Paul. You'll remember she criticised Wellington's beat patrols. She accused the police of rounding up the homeless, without providing any evidence other than the musings of a couple of street people themselves. She said some people felt less safe because of the police’s presence. Right. This is a very bright young woman, Tamatha Paul has won numerous scholarships for academic excellence. She has graduated with the Masters in Resource and Environmental Planning. This is a very bright young woman talking to other very bright young people on a university campus, postulating and theorising and coming up with all sorts of grand plans about how a different world could look, and that's what you do at a university when you're young, when you're bright, when you've got all the answers, when you're at a peace action conference. You have the luxury of theorising. I would venture to suggest most of the young people there were just like Tamatha Paul. They may not have started in a world of privilege, but they've taken the opportunities offered to them, they've worked to realise a future for themselves. And that's a future that looks very, very different to the lives of the same young people in Kaikohe. The sort of people that Mane Tahere is trying to help every single day. He knows to combat the absolute evil of drugs, his people don't need to read another thesis on colonisation, Hauora and whenua in Aotearoa published in 2019, among many. He knows what they need are not the academics, but addiction and rehab specialists. They need to keep up that community involvement, that community fight against the drugs. And they desperately, desperately need police boots on the ground.  Mon, 05 May 2025 00:32:37 Z /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/ian-cassels-wellington-property-developer-on-his-friendship-with-sir-bob-jones/ /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/ian-cassels-wellington-property-developer-on-his-friendship-with-sir-bob-jones/ Wellington property magnate, one-time politician and Wellington icon Sir Bob Jones died last week at the age of 85.  Jones, raised in a state house in Naenae, built one of New Zealand's largest commercial property companies - as well as founding the New Zealand Party in 1984 and writing a series of bestselling books.  His friend, Wellington property developer Ian Cassels, said Jones was a loyal friend who enjoyed excessively long lunches.  He joined Nick Mills to remember one of Wellington's greatest personalities.  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 00:29:13 Z /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/audio/grant-mccullum-northland-mp-on-the-regions-methamphetamine-crisis/ /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/audio/grant-mccullum-northland-mp-on-the-regions-methamphetamine-crisis/ The leader of the country's largest iwi is calling for the police to crackdown on drug dealers and methamphetamine use in Northland.  It comes as a group of young people were caught smoking a meth pipe in broad daylight in Kaikohe.  Northland MP Grant McCullum says locals need something constructive to do during the day.  "We've got to commit to helping these people get into the habit of getting out of bed in the mornings and going to work."  LISTEN ABOVE.  Sun, 04 May 2025 23:34:51 Z /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/audio/mark-mitchell-police-minister-on-northland-iwi-calling-from-stronger-police-crackdown-on-meth-use/ /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/audio/mark-mitchell-police-minister-on-northland-iwi-calling-from-stronger-police-crackdown-on-meth-use/ The leader of the country's largest iwi is calling for the police to crackdown on drug dealers and methamphetamine use in Northland. Ngāpuhi leader, Mane Tahere says he saw a group of youngsters smoking a meth pipe in daylight on the main street of Kaikohe - just down the road from the police station. He's met with Police Minister Mark Mitchell - asking authorities to use tactics similar to the drug raids carried out in Opotiki last year. Police Minister Mark Mitchell talks to Kerre Woodham about the issue.  LISTEN ABOVE.  Sun, 04 May 2025 23:25:39 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-the-prime-minister-talks-defence-spending-public-service-and-australian-election/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-the-prime-minister-talks-defence-spending-public-service-and-australian-election/ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is live in studio with Mike Hosking to talk the big issues of the week.  Luxon has confirmed the plan to commit $12 billion to defence, backing the decision for five marine helicopters.  He says the defence plan will make New Zealand well connected to global partners.  The Prime Ministers disagreeing with his soon-to-be Deputy Prime Minister, saying he doesn't think New Zealand has too many ministers.  "It's not about the number of ministers, it's actually about the size of the ministries that are supporting those ministers and more importantly, the effectiveness of them."  Luxon has spoke with re-elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after a hugely successful win for the Labor Party on Saturday. He says despite differing views, the two have a 'great friendship.'  LISTEN ABOVE OR WATCH BELOW Sun, 04 May 2025 22:46:32 Z