/on-air/rss 九一星空无限 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:54:54 Z en /on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings-with-john-macdonald/opinion/john-macdonald-dont-dismiss-the-christchurch-supercity-idea/ /on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings-with-john-macdonald/opinion/john-macdonald-dont-dismiss-the-christchurch-supercity-idea/ A couple of advisors at the Christchurch City Council have ripped into the Government’s plan for regional councils and have said to councillors that they reckon there’s a better way. Or more correctly, two better potential ways. Instead of having local mayors run regional councils for two years and, during that time, work out how they’re going to get by without a regional council. At a briefing meeting yesterday, two principal policy advisors put two options on the table for councillors to think about. Option 1: Amalgamate the Christchurch, Selwyn, and Waimakariri councils to create a new super city. Which I've been a fan of for quite some time now. And Option 2: Keep all three councils and have the city council take over ECAN’s regional council functions. The reason these two council advisors have put these two options up for discussion is that they think having local mayors run ECAN for two years and work out a new structure for local government is a “weak” idea, which wouldn’t do any favours for Christchurch ratepayers. And I get what they’re saying, because as soon as you get three mayors around the table, they’re just going to be interested in what’s in it for them, aren’t they? Which is the same approach these policy advisors are taking. They’re on the city council pay roll and so they have to think about what’s best for Christchurch city. And I like their idea of a supercity. But every time a supercity is mentioned, some people are quick to point to Auckland as an argument against it. The Auckland supercity brought together seven city and district councils and the regional council back in 2010. But a supercity in the greater Christchurch area would be nowhere near the same scale. We’re talking here about just three councils: Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri. We’ve done amalgamation before on a much smaller scale. Back in 2006, Banks Peninsula Council amalgamated with Christchurch city. The issue then was that Banks Peninsula didn’t have a big enough population to get the rates it needed to operate properly. Selwyn and Waimakariri don’t have that problem – they’ve grown massively since the earthquakes. Selwyn, especially. But half of the people living in Selwyn come into Christchurch every day for work and school, and they contribute nothing towards the cost of the running of the city. They’re using the city’s roads and so many of the other facilities that they pay nothing for. Add to that the relatively small distance between Selwyn, Christchurch and Waimakariri, and amalgamation is a no-brainer.  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 23:59:36 Z /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/opinion/kerre-woodham-what-would-it-take-to-get-police-trust-to-80/ /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/opinion/kerre-woodham-what-would-it-take-to-get-police-trust-to-80/ It's been 12 months since Richard Chambers became New Zealand's Police Commissioner. And by crikey, he's had a busy old time of it, a little bit of a poisoned chalice. There's been the clean out of the police hierarchy following the McSkimming scandal – or really, scandals. And two months after his appointment, police officer Lynn Fleming was killed in the line of duty in Nelson on New Year's Day.  Back in March of this year, the latest Ministry of Justice Crime and Victim Survey found 69% of people had trust and confidence in police, up slightly on the year before. That was 67% probably after the Coster years, and then the police involved in the occupation of Parliament, and there was a little bit of argy-bargy going on between some members of the public and police. And then people felt that violent crime was getting out of control and the police weren't doing anything and providing escorts for gangs rather than arresting them. So, I can understand how trust might have slipped a little.  He said the measure had slipped to its lowest ever in recent years, and although trust in police had improved slightly in the past 12 months, he conceded it could take a hit after the McSkimming scandal and other controversies. I'd say almost certainly. But the Commissioner has set some targets, and as he told Mike Hosking this morning, he's certain the police will achieve them.  RC: We've been at 80% before, some years ago, but sitting at the moment around about 70%. So, we have seen a slight increase over the last 12 months, which is great. I know that we can do it. Trust and confidence matter and 80% is aspirational, but I'm determined to get there.  MH: As regards confidence post this whole shambles of McSkimming and Co., if I suggested to you that most New Zealanders think no differently of the police because of this specific set of circumstances, would you agree broadly or not?  RC: Absolutely agree with you, Mike. That's the feedback that I'm getting from across communities in New Zealand, that they appreciate this comes down to a group of former leaders of New Zealand Police, not the 15,000 outstanding men and women who do a great job day and night, they understand that.  Yeah, and I think we do, don't we? We're still going to call the police when we've got somebody coming in the window, when a member of the family goes missing, in any of the myriad everyday tragedies that take place on a daily basis. The police are the first port of call, even if you are somebody like Tamatha Paul who doesn't instinctively and intuitively trust the police. They're who you go to when you're in trouble. They're the ones you ask to put their lives on the line to save yours or members of your family.  I can appreciate that victims of sexual crime might think twice before going through a gruelling investigation in light of, you know, the police hierarchy seeming to believe their colleague over a woman complainant. But they shouldn't, because remember it was a police officer, a rank-and-file working police officer, I mean high ranking, but nonetheless she was on the front line, who highlighted the appalling treatment of the woman at the centre of the McSkimming cover up. Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves was the one who stood up to her bosses and told the IPCA.  In her words, "I personally think it should be very simple in every police officer's world. It doesn't matter who the hell you are. We speak to the person, we take a complaint, and we investigate it. It's all very simple."  Yeah. I mean, she got the brief. She understands her job. And as far as I'm concerned, I absolutely trust the police. I trust them to do their job well and professionally. And the cover up at Police HQ, I don't think has anything to do with the police who are going to work every single day, working for us.  Richard Chambers has set four new targets. They'll be introduced early next year, and that is that 80% of New Zealan... Tue, 02 Dec 2025 23:51:18 Z /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/labour-leader-chris-hipkins-in-the-studio-on-rates-caps-and-regional-councils/ /on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/labour-leader-chris-hipkins-in-the-studio-on-rates-caps-and-regional-councils/ Labour Leader and MP for Rimutaka, Chris Hipkins joins Nick Mills in the studio for their final monthly catch up for 2025. Hipkins discusses the mood in Labour before the end of the year and after the Labour conference in Auckland. He explains the new GP clinic loan scheme and discusses his thoughts on the rates cap and regional council changes from the Government.  LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 02 Dec 2025 23:50:15 Z /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/audio/doug-marlowe-global-expert-on-drug-court-policy-on-the-effectiveness-of-the-alcohol-and-other-drug-treatment-court/ /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/audio/doug-marlowe-global-expert-on-drug-court-policy-on-the-effectiveness-of-the-alcohol-and-other-drug-treatment-court/ Calls to expand the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court across the country. AODTC was launched in New Zealand in 2012 as a pilot to steer high-risk, high-need offenders away from prison. Offenders must plead guilty and face a likely prison term of up to three years for drug offences, committing to a tough 12- to 18-month program including regular drug testing, AA or NA meetings, and counselling. The courts are incredibly successful in the United States, resulting in some prisons in Texas closing due to lack of need. Dr Doug Marlowe, a global expert on drug-court policy, told Kerre Woodham early studies of the system showed low rates of people committing new crimes and high rates of people completing treatment, avoiding jail sentences, and avoiding probation revocations. He says that when Judges take a personal interest in the treatment the participants are receiving, their influence and authority in the community helped to bring more resources to bear for their clients. Marlowe told Woodham that treatment courts raised all ships – raising the quality of treatment, the quality of defence council representation, and the quality of probation supervision. “Treatment is the core of the model, and if you don’t have good treatment, you know, your outcomes are severely limited.”   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 23:14:34 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/eric-thompson-herald-motorsport-correspondent-on-liam-lawson-locking-in-his-seat-with-racing-bulls/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/eric-thompson-herald-motorsport-correspondent-on-liam-lawson-locking-in-his-seat-with-racing-bulls/ A pivotal year ahead for Liam Lawson after confirmation his seat is safe in Formula 1 in 2026.  Red Bull has confirmed Lawson will retain his spot in Racing Bulls and be joined by 18-year-old debutant Arvid Lindblad.  Herald motorsport correspondent Eric Thompson says Lawson will have plenty to race for.  He told Ryan Bridge that 2026 will be the year for him to cement his position on the Formula 1 grid.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 21:55:52 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-still-more-questions-to-answer-for-the-reserve-bank/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-still-more-questions-to-answer-for-the-reserve-bank/ The mail I'm getting got a bit more official yesterday with Fitch suggesting they think the Reserve Bank isn't done.  A lot of people thought the Reserve Bank was done cutting because fill-in Governor Christian Hawkesby basically said as much last week.  On the inference that it was over, swap rates on the wholesale market started going up.  Why should you care? Because if you owe money to a bank a lot of their income to lend comes from the wholesale markets.  If it goes up so does your interest rate, which is what has been happening since last Thursday.  Now this is where we get into subtlety and nuance.  Technically Hawkesby said the bank remains open to further action, so if you lined Hawkesby up in court he could defend himself.  But as always in these matters it is the between the lines stuff, the nod and the wink stuff, that markets read.  And they are reading an end and, as a result, the numbers are rising.  Tied in, if another cut is coming as Fitch suggests, things are further complicated with our dollar, given places like Australia are doing the opposite.  Their Reserve Bank is closer to hiking than cutting. That affects how the world sees our economy and our currency, at 87cents to the Australian dollar and at 43cents to the pound, looks anaemic.  For good measure, Fitch seems downbeat about our recovery. They are calling 2% next year by way of GDP. They were saying 2.7%.  This then brings in the Government. The Government, in election year, would like 2.7% over 2%.  2% they'd be able to milk but 2.7% is home court advantage.  If you want one more thing that kind of backs up the Fitch funk, Black Friday didn’t work.  Spending was down on last year. Personally, I think that’s about it being a crock of you-know-what and it's more clickbait than it is bargains and people are over being ripped off.  But that’s just me.  So anyway, Hawkesby leaves with a trail of questions left behind as he heads to the beach.  If you are one of the so-often quoted ones who are rolling out of one mortgage into another, these are still tricky times to try and get right and you want to hope Fitch has misread it.  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 21:15:48 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-pete-hegseth-facing-scrutiny-over-potential-war-crime/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-pete-hegseth-facing-scrutiny-over-potential-war-crime/ The US Secretary of Defence is facing scrutiny for potentially having committed a war crime.  Pete Hegseth is facing scrutiny over a strike he ordered on a boat in the Caribbean Sea suspected of smuggling drugs.   The Washington Post reported last week that Hegseth authorised a highly unusual second strike to kill all survivors on the boat – reports Hegseth has denied.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Hegseth has previously railed against the Geneva Convention and the legal rules of engagement.  In his book, Arnold says, Hegseth shares an anecdote in which he tells the soldiers in his platoon to ignore such legal advice.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 21:09:15 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-mark-mitchell-and-ginny-andersen-on-scrutiny-week-labour-chasing-the-m%C4%81ori-seats-cabinet-meetings/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-mark-mitchell-and-ginny-andersen-on-scrutiny-week-labour-chasing-the-m%C4%81ori-seats-cabinet-meetings/ With the year nearing its end, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking for the final Politics Wednesday of 2025.   They discussed Scrutiny Week, Labour’s decision to chase the Māori seats and what’s ahead as we enter an election year.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:37:44 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-return-of-the-killer-cut/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-return-of-the-killer-cut/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Wednesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) RBNZ Not Done Yet/Liam's Seat Safe/Hello, Honor/When You Can't Let it Go/Worst Meeting Ever Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:26:07 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/fiona-cooper-nzus-council-executive-director-on-todays-us-business-summit/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/fiona-cooper-nzus-council-executive-director-on-todays-us-business-summit/ New Zealand’s relationship with the "Land of Opportunity" is taking the spotlight in Auckland today.  Business, trade, and political leaders are attending the annual US Business Summit.  Christopher Luxon is set to open the summit, shedding light on the Government’s actions to strengthen bilateral ties.  NZUS Council Executive Director Fiona Cooper told Mike Hosking New Zealand is doing great business with the US and the summit is about sharing stories about how to navigate the tariff turbulence.   But at the same time, she says there are tonnes of opportunities in the US, in areas like technology, investment, education, agriculture, and aerospace, and this is about seizing them.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:20:43 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-03-december-2025/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-03-december-2025/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 3rd of December, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers outlined the Police's new targets in the wake of the McSkimming debacle.  Liam Lawson has officially retained his seat for Racing Bulls next season! Former Ferrari and Williams manager Peter Windsor broke down the decision for us.  And Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell joined Mike for their last Politics Wednesday of the year.   Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:10:33 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/lisa-king-af-drinks-founder-on-the-success-of-the-brand-a-nationwide-distribution-deal-in-the-uk/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/lisa-king-af-drinks-founder-on-the-success-of-the-brand-a-nationwide-distribution-deal-in-the-uk/ The success story keeps rolling for Kiwi company AF Drinks.  The alcohol-free brand has just secured nationwide distribution in the UK with supermarket giant Morrisons.  It follows on from their US expansion, with them now stocked in over 4000 stores including Target, Walmart, and Sprouts.  Founder Lisa King told Mike Hosking there’s been a huge trend towards alcohol moderation.  She says that a lot of people are still drinking alcohol, but they’re moderating it and choosing to drink less or drink non-alcoholic versions.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:54:34 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/peter-windsor-former-williams-and-ferrari-executive-on-liam-lawson-retaining-his-spot-at-racing-bulls-for-2026/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/peter-windsor-former-williams-and-ferrari-executive-on-liam-lawson-retaining-his-spot-at-racing-bulls-for-2026/ A mentoring role for Liam Lawson in the 2026 Formula 1 season.  The New Zealand driver has retained his spot in Racing Bulls alongside 18-year-old debutant Arvid Lindblad.  Lawson had been vying for the vacant seat with demoted Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda, following Isack Hadjar's promotion to the parent team.  Former Williams and Ferrari executive Peter Windsor told Mike Hosking Lawson's the best fit for the requirements.  He says Liam will flourish in a senior role and it’ll bring out the best in him.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:31:41 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/kate-gainsford-secondary-principals-council-chair-on-the-number-of-principals-quitting-within-their-first-year/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/kate-gainsford-secondary-principals-council-chair-on-the-number-of-principals-quitting-within-their-first-year/ There's a belief support for first-time principals is falling short.  九一星空无限talk ZB analysis has found 970 principals quit in the past three years – one in five within their first year.  Retirements jumped 26% over the same period.  Secondary Principals' Council Chair Kate Gainsford told Mike Hosking other countries have solid systems to prepare principals, but we don't.  She says part of the role teachers can get used to while they're middle and senior leaders, but part can't be learnt until you're actually in the role.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:11:35 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/amanda-malu-education-nz-ceo-on-the-economic-impact-of-international-students/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/amanda-malu-education-nz-ceo-on-the-economic-impact-of-international-students/ The economic impact of international students is surging.  New Stats NZ data shows education-related travel exports jumped to $4.52 billion in the year to September, up from $3.6 billion the previous year.  Education New Zealand wants to increase that figure to $7.2 billion by 2034.  Chief Executive Amanda Malu told Mike Hosking growth is across all sectors and there’s still room to expand.  She says universities have higher enrolments than they've ever had, schools are growing, and private training has grown 33%.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:01:09 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-chambers-police-commissioner-on-the-police-targets-to-improve-public-trust-and-confidence/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-chambers-police-commissioner-on-the-police-targets-to-improve-public-trust-and-confidence/ Confidence from the Police Commissioner that New Zealanders don't see police any differently in the wake of the McSkimming scandal.  Richard Chambers has announced four new targets, which include restoring public trust and confidence to 80%.  It follows the IPCA's recent and scathing report into how serious allegations against former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming were addressed.   Chambers told Mike Hosking people understand the blame lies with former leaders.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:46:08 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/steve-watt-police-association-president-on-richard-chambers-setting-2026-policing-targets/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/steve-watt-police-association-president-on-richard-chambers-setting-2026-policing-targets/ The Police Association says when it comes to new policing targets, the devil will be in yet-to-be-confirmed detail.  Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has announced four new targets, including raising New Zealanders trust and confidence from 69 to 80-percent. It follows the force taking a major hit in the wake of the McSkimming scandal.  Association President Steve Watt told Ryan Bridge it's good to have goals, but information is scarce.  LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:31:25 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-how-was-a-former-covid-response-lead-able-to-steal-18-million/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-how-was-a-former-covid-response-lead-able-to-steal-18-million/ This story should shock everybody, but it won't. Sadly.  The headline? Former Covid response lead Alister Thorby stole $1.8 million from DHBs. From us, taxpayers.  This guy was 25 and yet somehow in charge of the DHBs’ response to the Covid pandemic in the Lower North Island. He stole almost $2m over five months. He bought cars, holidays, a house.  He was an MIQ boss. He submitted invoices for work that never happened. One invoice was for $300k. Two of the companies he invoiced for didn't even exist.  Now, this is bad for two reasons: 1. How on earth does some 25-year-old who's been in the job just five months, bill $1.8m and get those invoices paid? That's criminal. Who signed off on the cheques? Who was in charge? It's outrageous.  2. The timing. The Judge in this case points out the money went out the door at a time when the Government was scrambling to deal with Covid. Except this guy was employed October 2021 to June 2022.  We were letting DJs through the boarder for Rhythm & Vines by then. The Wiggles were performing at Spark Arena.  So that doesn't add up, in my mind.  It wasn't panic stations, it was BAU by then. So, who was writing these cheques on our behalf?  Something tells me this guy probably wasn't alone in taking the piss and taking us for a ride. Give fraudsters an inch, they'll take a mile.  This was, after all, peak Ardern/Hipkins money tap era. We were throwing money out the window like there was no tomorrow.  Was this the tip of the iceberg and will anyone, other than the guy to duped us, be held responsible for the fact it was allowed to happen in the first place?  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:21:47 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-03-december-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-03-december-2025/ On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 3rd of December 2025, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has set new 2026 targets to lift public trust, Police Association President tells Ryan how he can lead the Police to doing so.  Liam Lawson will keep his Racing Bulls seat for 2026, former, motorcycle racer and Herald motorsport Journalist Eric Thompson tells Ryan what Lawson will need to prove next year. New data shows one in five school principals quit within their first year, Darfield High school Principal Andy England tells Ryan why so many principals are quitting.  Plus. Uk/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on jury trials in England and Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years will be heard by a judge only and the UK government admits 12 prisoners have been accidentally released in the past three weeks.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE   Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:08:22 Z /on-air/marcus-lush-nights/audio/best-and-worst-inventions-2-december-2025/ /on-air/marcus-lush-nights/audio/best-and-worst-inventions-2-december-2025/ Bit of a Tuesday free-for-all covering crash detection tech on your phone, problems with healthcare, and (as titled) the best and worst invention. LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:59:36 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/wayne-brown-auckland-mayor-defends-annual-235-million-operating-cost-for-city-rail-link/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/wayne-brown-auckland-mayor-defends-annual-235-million-operating-cost-for-city-rail-link/ Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown defends his annual $235 million operating cost calculation for the City Rail Link as scepticism arises.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "most of when you pay your rates, is paying things off. They're not free. "It's not free to have a road. It's not free to have a train. It's not free to have a bus." LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 02 Dec 2025 07:51:18 Z /on-air/sportstalk/audio/andrew-alderson-newstalk-zb-sport-newsreader-on-day-one-of-black-caps-v-west-indies/ /on-air/sportstalk/audio/andrew-alderson-newstalk-zb-sport-newsreader-on-day-one-of-black-caps-v-west-indies/ The first day of the cricket test match between the Black Caps and the West Indies has concluded. The Black Caps currently sit at 231/9 after being put into bat first.   Andrew Alderson, 九一星空无限talk ZB Sport 九一星空无限reader is at the ground and he joined D'Arcy to discuss the first days play. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 02 Dec 2025 07:26:07 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/dan-schnur-university-of-california-political-analyst-on-doing-business-in-trumps-america/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/dan-schnur-university-of-california-political-analyst-on-doing-business-in-trumps-america/ University of California professor and political analyst Dan Schnur talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan on the realities of doing international trade with the US in Trump's America. He explained that leaders must remember that Trump is first-and-foremost a businessman. "The city of San Francisco ... when they were worried that the Trump administration was going to send the Department of Homeland Security into their streets, they didn't deploy their congressional delegation. They sent business leaders." LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 02 Dec 2025 07:05:53 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/mark-mitchell-police-minister-on-police-culture-amidst-andrew-coster-inquiry/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/mark-mitchell-police-minister-on-police-culture-amidst-andrew-coster-inquiry/ The woman at the centre of the Jevon McSkimming scandal has called for an inquiry into Police culture.  Commissioner Richard Chambers denied that the Police have culture issues. Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Heather du Plessis-Allan that although a lack of values was shown by the previous commissioner, "you also had four very senior police officers that stood up with bravery and stuck to those police values and showed enormous integrity." LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:52:37 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-the-government-should-not-fund-ozempic/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-the-government-should-not-fund-ozempic/ The big health news today is that the WHO is essentially calling for the funding of weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic for people who would otherwise not be able to afford it. So basically, make it not just for the rich, but for the poor as well. The WHO doesn't actually say governments should be the ones funding the drugs. An alternative interpretation of what they've said is that the people who make the drugs should drop the price to make them more affordable, but that's obviously not going to happen because profits. So you can probably assume, the bill lands with governments around the world. Now, that's a nice idea. And given how effective these drugs are in dropping weight off people, it would probably make a massive difference to the obesity rates in New Zealand, but it is simply not affordable for New Zealand. We have done the numbers before on the show. I'll run you through them again, OK? The drugs cost $500 a month. There are 1.5 million Kiwis who are considered obese. If we funded these drugs for all the obese people in this country at the moment, it would cost this country $9 billion a year. $9 billion is what we pay for all of our jails and the staff who run them. The Ministry of Justice, the whole court system, customs and our police force and our entire defence force. That is how much money $9 billion is. It is not affordable for us, it's not a one-off either. You don't just pay for it for a year and everybody's fat problems are solved and on we go with life and everybody can eat what they want to. These drugs, according to the WHO, are meant for long-term use. So that's $9 billion every single year, and the minute these people come off the drugs, they get fat again, right?So you have to keep funding it. Not a chance. Here's the happy news though. These drugs come off patent or start coming off patent in about 3 months, 4 months' time, which means that in short order, you can expect to buy knockoffs for knockoff prices. Which means punters who want to lose weight should be able to fund it themselves, and that is ultimately where the buck should stop, isn't it? Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:34:07 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/edna-brady-uk-correspondent-on-jury-system-changes-to-solve-extensive-case-backlog/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/edna-brady-uk-correspondent-on-jury-system-changes-to-solve-extensive-case-backlog/ The UK Government has announced plans to restrict the right to a jury trial in England and Wales to solve a backlog of 80,000 cases. Serious crimes like murder and rape will continue to be sent to jury trial, but minor crimes like shoplifting will be dealt with directly by a judge or magistrate.  UK Correspondent Edna Brady has seen the need for reform first hand. "I've spent three decades going to court cases all over the UK and it never has ceased to stagger me. The inefficiency, the delays, just how slow everything is," she told Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE   Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:16:41 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-02-december-2025/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-02-december-2025/ Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 2 December. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:11:41 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-what-is-the-solution-to-pesky-e-scooters/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-what-is-the-solution-to-pesky-e-scooters/ Tonight on The Huddle host of Q&A and Saturday Mornings Jake Tame and Iron Duke Partners managing director Phil O'Reilly joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New South Wales is considering a plan to halve the power and top speed of e-bikes after a rider died in a collision with a garbage truck. Are e-bikes and e-scooters too fast? The World Health Organization officially backs Ozempic and says it should be made affordable. Should we publicly fund Ozempic? And they revisit the local government rates cap after letting the idea sit for 24-hours.  LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:52:17 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/murray-olds-australian-correspondent-on-ozempic-side-effect-warnings/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/murray-olds-australian-correspondent-on-ozempic-side-effect-warnings/ Australia’s drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has added two new safety warnings about mental health and contraception for people taking weightloss drugs. The TGA said that suicidal behaviour and ideation have been reported with these relatively new GLP-1 receptor agonists and, despite no proven causal association, they feel awareness and caution is needed.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "There's still not a lot of information available. (Ozempic) hasn't been around long enough." LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:20:29 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/barry-soper-newstalk-zb-senior-political-correspondent-says-there-is-no-racism-in-nz-police/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/barry-soper-newstalk-zb-senior-political-correspondent-says-there-is-no-racism-in-nz-police/ 九一星空无限talk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper chats to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the Andrew Coster inquiry, and Tamatha Paul calling for the defunding of NZ Police. Soper denies Paul's concerns over race bias in arrests made by NZ Police. "I don't think there's racism in the Police at all," he said.  LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 02 Dec 2025 04:45:29 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jordan-williams-wayne-browns-235m-annual-city-rail-link-cost-absolute-nonsense/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jordan-williams-wayne-browns-235m-annual-city-rail-link-cost-absolute-nonsense/ On Monday, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown revealed his plan for a 7.9% rates increase to pay for City Rail Link running costs of an estimated $235 million annually.  This is the largest rate rise since Auckland Council was formed in 2010. Questions have begun arising of the legitimacy of Wayne Browns calculation of City Rail Link's projected running costs. Auckland Ratepayers Alliance spokesperson Jordan Williams told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "you're entitled to your own opinion or your political strategy, but you're not entitled to your own facts. And the facts are Auckland Transport have have called this out as being absolute nonsense." LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 02 Dec 2025 04:19:52 Z /on-air/matt-heath-tyler-adams-afternoons/audio/full-show-podcast-02-december-2025/ /on-air/matt-heath-tyler-adams-afternoons/audio/full-show-podcast-02-december-2025/ Listen to the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 2 December. Get the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Full Show Podcast every weekday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:44:15 Z /on-air/matt-heath-tyler-adams-afternoons/audio/andy-tookey-how-new-zealand-can-improve-organ-donation-rates/ /on-air/matt-heath-tyler-adams-afternoons/audio/andy-tookey-how-new-zealand-can-improve-organ-donation-rates/ Organ donor campaigner Andy Tookey chats to Matt and Tyler about common myths surrounding organ donation, and how to improve donor rates in New Zealand. "There needs to be more public awareness about it to encourage families to discuss the issues," Tookey said. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:48:01 Z /on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings-with-john-macdonald/opinion/john-macdonald-rates-caps-are-a-placebo-policy/ /on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings-with-john-macdonald/opinion/john-macdonald-rates-caps-are-a-placebo-policy/ You might recall a poll result that came out back in September which proved that 75 percent of us are idiots. It’s these idiots that the Government is pandering to with the council rates cap it announced yesterday. And the 75 percent of people who said in that poll that they support the Government forcing rates caps on councils will be very happy today. Because, from mid-2029, annual increases won’t be allowed to be any higher than 4 percent. Unless a council manages to get a special dispensation. As a ratepayer, a rates cap sounds like a great idea. But it’s not. One description I’ve seen of the Government’s move is that it’s lazy politics. Which it is. Because of the 75 percent of people who support it, as the poll a few months back would suggest. I suspect the only complaint the pro-rates cap people will have is that it isn’t planned to start for another three-and-a-half years. In mid-2029. By which time there could very well be a different government in power and, if Labour (for example) is true to its word, then the whole thing could be history. Labour’s local government spokesperson Tangi Utikere is saying today that they’ll vote against the rates cap law when it goes through Parliament. He says: “We've made it very clear that we won't expect local government to continue to work and take on additional responsibilities without the funding. So we don't support this rates cap.” Nelson mayor Nick Smith has been very careful not to bag his old National Party mates. But he does admit that it’s not going to be easy. Rates caps have been brought-in in Australia and it’s created severe financial difficulties for some councils over there. What’s more, Christchurch city councillor Sam MacDonald is already talking about the council selling assets to make up for the money it won’t be getting because of the limit on rates increases. All this is, is another placebo policy. Something that might make us feel better for a little while. But it won’t last long. Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:35:55 Z /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/opinion/kerre-woodham-a-rates-cap-or-an-erosion-of-services-and-facilities/ /on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/opinion/kerre-woodham-a-rates-cap-or-an-erosion-of-services-and-facilities/ Auckland households face a 7.9% rate rise next year, primarily to fund the operating costs for the $5.5 billion City Rail Link, which is nearly finished. It's a reality, it's going to open for passengers next year – woo! The increase will cover the $235 million annual cost of operating the new underground rail service. It's the largest rates rise since Auckland Council as a super city was formed in 2010. For the average household wondering what on earth to do with all the extra money that comes into their bank accounts, annual rates will climb from $4,023 to $4,341. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's rates announcement came shortly after Christopher Luxon announced at his post-cabinet press conference yesterday afternoon that the Government's going to introduce a rates cap of 2 %to 4% from January 27. The cap will exclude water charges and non-rate revenue such as fees and license fees and things like that. Very good politically. Who doesn't want somebody to say, "Hey, you greedy grasping councils, stop taking our money and delivering nothing in return." But as Wayne Brown pointed out, how would Auckland be able to pay for its city link if it didn't have the facility to raise rates? Wayne Brown told the Herald, putting a cap on rates isn't going to solve anything, it'll just defer it for a couple of years, then ratepayers will be paying even more. He said councils are faced with making decisions that involve significant investment and should not be restricted by governments telling us what we can and cannot do. All very valid, provided of course that councils are sensible husbands of their ratepayers' money. We can all think of absolutely barking mad vanity schemes that have been undertaken with ratepayers’ money that incense us and infuriate us. And there's very little we can do. You could always try voting, those 70% of you that don't, but you won't be listening to this radio show probably. And if you've got a council that doesn't really know what it's doing and doesn't know how to keep control of the different departments and can't really manage long-term investment infrastructure and a long-term rates plan, suddenly turning off the money tap is not going to turn them into brilliant budgeters. They're not going to suddenly gain the skills overnight because there's less money to pay with, play with. If you're making dumb decisions now, you're still going to be making them in 2027. Rate capping or rate pegging has been in force in New South Wales and Victoria for several years and is loosely based on the rate of inflation or the consumer price index, which is what we've done. We've looked at Australia and thought we can do this here. In New South Wales and Victoria, the councils can apply for higher caps, but the process is complicated and deeply controversial with their rate payers, not surprisingly. Ratepayers like not having to pay significant rate increases, but the sorts of things they want to see, swimming pools, sports facilities, libraries, lifestyle infrastructure, are getting further and further away from local councils to deliver because they're under the pump financially. They just haven't got the money to do it. If you reduce your rate collection, you won't have as much money to maintain services or implement them. So what do you want as a ratepayer? We were talking about this earlier and, you know, one of our young producers doesn't use his local swimming pool. He said, "Can I opt out of funding that?" And I'm like, "Well, I'm all in. Our family uses the local swimming pool, uses the local library, loves it."  We can opt in. Can it be like a car wash, where you get your basic car wash and then you can do the add-ons? Do you want the wax? Sure. Tick. Could they have a bare bones rate structure, or would it be simply too difficult to implement? At least in Auckland you can see what you're paying for, and I assume it's the same if you're in Hamilton or Timaru or New Plymouth. You can actually see the project... Mon, 01 Dec 2025 23:46:16 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/prue-daly-nzicc-general-manager-on-the-convention-centre-set-to-open-in-february-of-2026/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/prue-daly-nzicc-general-manager-on-the-convention-centre-set-to-open-in-february-of-2026/ SkyCity's pulling together the final touches on its colossal International Convention Centre ahead of its February 11th opening.  A large fire in 2019, when the building was nearing completion, set the project back significantly.   Now with just two months to go, SkyCity's locked in more than 100 conferences and events at the new venue.   General Manager Prue Daly told Ryan Bridge an estimated 30% of their events each year will be international.   She says they’ve got inquiries all the way out to 2032, and the team is working to make sure they can bring them to New Zealand.   LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 21:27:16 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/david-cunningham-squirrel-mortgages-ceo-on-the-annual-state-of-home-ownership-index/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/david-cunningham-squirrel-mortgages-ceo-on-the-annual-state-of-home-ownership-index/ There are doubts the proportion of homeowners in New Zealand will grow significantly anytime soon.  Kiwibank's Annual State of Home Ownership Index finds 57% of non-owners feel locked out of the market, improving by 6%.  60% still find cost of living the biggest obstacle to owning a house.  Squirrel Mortgages Chief Executive David Cunningham told Ryan Bridge that problem's always existed, adding that home ownership typically stays around 65%.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 21:14:18 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-im-confident-for-2026/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-im-confident-for-2026/ It probably came out on the wrong day to get the coverage it deserved, but one of the last pieces in the economic turnaround told us we are basically there.  Consumer confidence is back, up six points to 98. It needs to be 100 or more for expansion, but it’s the highest figure since June and backs the business confidence, which last week was up a lot.  Business comes first because they see the turnaround on sales. The spending numbers back that up because they are pretty real time and then you get confidence as a follow up, given although we are spending, some may not want to admit it may still feel like they are in a bit of a funk.  But add it all together and the conclusion is inescapable.  You can also add the ASB housing numbers if you want. Confidence in the housing market is at a 15-year high.  Why? Because it's almost perfect – good supply, cheap money, but most importantly we seemed to have crossed the psychological barrier and given ourselves permission to start to feel good again.  The irony is the growth that drives all this might just have been there all along. We get the Q3 GDP number later this month with Infometrics suggesting it is 0.9%.  Add that to the rest of the year and we are well above the growth line. Not that a lot of the commentary has backed that up.  Which is not to say some still do it tough. It's not to say it's the boom times. It's just to say there comes a point where the facts, figures and evidence can no longer be denied.  Here is my next prediction: as a result of all this, 2026 might well be a very good year indeed.  That's based on the idea that economies are about psychologies. Yes, they are about fundamentals but if the fundamentals are in place, then the next thing you look for is mood.  And given the mood has been so repressed, when we decide to take the handbrake off there might just be no stopping us.  As I said last week don't underestimate the Reserve Bank and the finality of their cut. They said this was it, they they've done their job, we are free to go and enjoy our lives. For those waiting and dilly-dallying, that was what they were waiting for.  The next confidence survey will be over 100 and that will be the start of a trend for the year ahead.  Remember where you heard it first.  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:52:59 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-walliams-uk-comedian-and-author-on-his-new-childrens-book-santa-son/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-walliams-uk-comedian-and-author-on-his-new-childrens-book-santa-son/ Although he’s best known for his comedy, David Walliams has a growing portfolio of children’s literature.  He’s sold more than 60 million copies worldwide and has just released his 44th book ‘Santa & Son’, just in time for Christmas.  He released his first children’s book in 2008, and even after 17 years and nearly 50 books, Walliams still finds writing to be a challenging task.   “You’re constantly scared, you think, oh my god, I’m gonna run out of ideas, or you think, oh god, this is too similar to something I’ve already done,” he told Mike Hosking.   “The thing I try and do is move as far away as I can from something I’ve just done, because the thing is you just don’t want to repeat yourself.”   A lot of his earlier works were set contemporary Britain and revolved around schools, and after a while he found he’d run out of ways to make a teacher character work.  “I can’t think of any more traits that would make teachers funny,” he told Hosking.  “So I thought I just have to move away from that and find different stories.”  “I sort of have to make it difficult for myself just so I don’t end up going down the same path.”  When it comes to success, Walliams explains that he’s not competitive in any major way.  “I don’t see other people who do what I do as sort of foes or anything,” he said.  “But of course I want my book to be well-received, I want kids to enjoy it, I want it to make people happy.”   LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:44:36 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-the-stupid-system-we-shouldnt-have-voted-for/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-the-stupid-system-we-shouldnt-have-voted-for/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Tuesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) And We Still Don't Get It?/Hosk's Worst Nightmare/Sabotaged By Mould/F1 Deep Dive/Let Down By Your Team/Groin or Groins? Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:17:21 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-02-december-2025/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-02-december-2025/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 2nd of December, the Government is bringing in rates caps in 2029. Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Nelson Mayor Nick Smith give their takes on the proposal. Will there be a coup in Netball NZ? A Special General Meeting has been called this weekend to discuss a vote of no confidence of the leadership. UK comedian and author David Walliams has a new children's book out and he can't wait to catch up with Mike and make of his tight jeans! Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:10:34 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rob-walter-black-caps-coach-on-the-three-test-series-against-the-west-indies/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rob-walter-black-caps-coach-on-the-three-test-series-against-the-west-indies/ Coach Rob Walter is comfortable with how the Black Caps are tracking heading into the three-test series against the West Indies, beginning today at Hagley Oval.  New Zealand is fresh from overcoming the West Indies by a combined 6 games to one in the two white ball series.  While Walter was pleased to get the results, he reckons the Black Caps can still improve as a cohesive group.  He told Mike Hosking they’re not expecting the West Indies to be a pushover.   LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:07:52 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nicola-compton-tauranga-netball-centre-board-chair-on-the-plan-to-overthrow-the-netball-nz-leadership/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nicola-compton-tauranga-netball-centre-board-chair-on-the-plan-to-overthrow-the-netball-nz-leadership/ Netball stakeholders attempting to overthrow the national governing body say issues extend beyond the Silver Ferns coaching saga.  The Waikato Bay of Plenty Zone has called a Special General Meeting for Sunday to declare its intention for the board and chief executive to be replaced.  Tauranga Netball Centre board chair Nicola Compton says Dame Noeline Taurua's treatment is one of three major concerns.  She told Mike Hosking the other two are the uncertainty surrounding the ANZ Premiership after next year and the mishandling of the television rights deal.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:54:56 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/simon-watts-local-government-minister-on-the-government-setting-caps-on-council-rates-increases/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/simon-watts-local-government-minister-on-the-government-setting-caps-on-council-rates-increases/ An assurance a council rates cap will only target unnecessary costs, not community services or infrastructure.  By 2029, councils wanting to increase rates by more than 4% will need approval from a government-appointed regulator.   Water rates are excluded from the cap.  Local Government Minister Simon Watts told Mike Hosking this will be an education process for councils.  He says there's a lot of fat in the system and councils need to ensure cash has to be going into essential areas.   Watts says he will work with the industry, not against them.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:31:02 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/steve-jurkovich-kiwibank-ceo-on-the-state-of-home-ownership-index/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/steve-jurkovich-kiwibank-ceo-on-the-state-of-home-ownership-index/ A view more New Zealanders are adapting to get on the property ladder to overcome economic woes.  Kiwibank's Annual State of Home Ownership Index finds 57% of non-owners feel locked out of the market, improving by 6%.  It notes 60% still find the cost of living the biggest obstacle to owning a house.  Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich told Mike Hosking more people are open to exploring different pathways to ownership.  For example, he says, people are exploring co-owning, getting together with their parents and grandparents to try buy a house.   LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:19:14 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-seymour-associate-education-minister-on-the-mouldy-school-lunches-being-served-at-a-christchurch-school/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-seymour-associate-education-minister-on-the-mouldy-school-lunches-being-served-at-a-christchurch-school/ David Seymour's shrugging off food poisoning concerns at a Christchurch school, saying its principal is often complaining about Government policies.  Haeata Community Campus recalled all lunches yesterday after discovering some boxes contained rancid and "dead" looking food.   Some children had already eaten their lunch.  Minister-in-charge Seymour told Mike Hosking a previous batch has likely been re-served to students.  He says they're keeping an open mind while looking into how meals from last week got in front of children this week.  The School Lunch Collective, Ministry of Education and MPI are all investigating.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 18:54:20 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-smith-nelson-mayor-on-the-government-proposing-to-cap-rates-increases-at-4-a-year/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-smith-nelson-mayor-on-the-government-proposing-to-cap-rates-increases-at-4-a-year/ There's an expectation a rates cap will prove challenging and require teaming up with central Government.   The Government's proposing to stop rates increases at 4% a year, excluding water and other non-rates revenue.  Councils wanting to go beyond this will need approval from a government-appointed regulator.  Nelson Mayor Nick Smith told Mike Hosking he's not surprised councils have been targeted by the Government as it aims to reduce costs across the board.  But he says delivery will require the Government to work with them to get costs down, especially in the construction sector.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 18:44:58 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/andrew-little-wellington-mayor-on-the-government-progressing-with-rate-caps/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/andrew-little-wellington-mayor-on-the-government-progressing-with-rate-caps/ Agreement from Wellington's Mayor over council rates needing to be kept in check.  The Government's proposing to cap rates increases at 4% a year, with only water rates and other non-rates revenue to be excluded.  Wellington Mayor Andrew Little says rates increases are due to decades of under-spending.  However, he told Ryan Bridge the Government's tapped into a justified concern.  Little says a lot of people are watching rates rise astronomically along side other costs, and councils need to do a better job at controlling this. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:43:35 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-rate-caps-are-happening-but-will-they-work/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-rate-caps-are-happening-but-will-they-work/ This rates cap is popular politics, no doubt, and local government needs a good kick in the pants.  But does a 2-4% band simply mean we're going to pay more in other fees?  Rates aren't the only way these guys make money off us, we also pay for specific things like resource and building consents, LIM requests, dog registrations, and campgrounds.  Will hairdressers have to pay more to register under the Health Act? Yes, this is a thing, and in Kaipara, for example, it'll cost your business $423 bucks, thank you very much.  Will we pay more for a burial plot at the local cemetery? That's another fee.  Will we pay more to register out dogs?  The options are endless.  Waikato District Council has a document setting out the fees it whacks ratepayers with. It's 45 pages long. The government may take a revenue lever away from councils with one hand, but councils will no doubt get creative and hit us up from another angle.  Actually, this is exactly what the Government itself has been doing. We're seeing the rise of the fee. 2026 will be the year of the fee.  Yes, the Coalition may have cut taxes, but they're also overseeing one the biggest hikes in fees and charges of any government in recent history.  Road user charges, user-pays, road tolls, congestion charging is coming, fines are going up, immigration fees, airport fees - you name it, chances are it's heading north.  It's a strategy. The top line number comes down, but all the little bits they hope we won't notice go up.  Councils will be no different. Add in the Water Done Well fee, which will be massive in some places, and the reality is that no ratepayer will feel like they're getting a batter a deal post-cap band. The question is whether this a reason not to do it. And the answer is probably not.  But it should come with tempered expectation that we won't feel fleeced when the council emails those pesky quarterly rates bills or charges you for sending a hard copy by snail-mail! Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:38:56 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-02-december-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-02-december-2025/ On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, the government's announced a rates cap for councils, Wellington City Council Mayor Andrew Little shares his thoughts.  More renters reckon they have a shot at buying a home of their own, David Cunningham from Squirrel Mortgages tells Ryan why the housing market is improving for first home buyers.  We finally have an opening day for the new International Convention Centre, General Manager tells Ryan what we can expect from the opening.  Plus, four people have been arrested in Sydney, accused of being involved in a satanic child sex abuse ring, Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans has the latest.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:08:15 Z