September 7, 2024 • 36 mins
Today on The Panel, Tyler Adams is joined by Shane Te Pou and Irene Gardiner to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was.
Labour has been chatting capital gains tax, GP care is on the verge of collapse, Wellington City Council gets a $560,000 bike rack as the government cuts funding for cycleways, the legal battle to keep $232,000 found in attic, AUT to launch a Taylor Swift course, and more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'd be it is the panel, and what a panel
we have for you. Shane Tapoe. He's a political commentator,
former candidate, campaign manager and executive member of the Labor Party,
a former union official and just a good guy to
boot get a Shane Kyoda. Nice to chet again. How
you doing very well?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Thank you? Taylan Gretcha tet dud. I don't think I've
been on the show with you before, so lovely to
be here with.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
You first time. Yeah, fantastic and of course you know
who well. Irene Gardner, President of the Screen Producers, girl producer,
journalist and a stalwart in the New Zealand media world. Irene,
how are you?
Speaker 4 (00:45):
I'm very well? Thank you, Tyler. I like store watch.
I don't think I've had that one before.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
It's a great word, though, wasn't it all in that
I thought to steal it? I've had veteran but that always.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Makes me feel like I might be really, really really old.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
So are you? I went for the right word then, yeh.
Can we can stick with that one? How are you both?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
I've had a cold this week, but I'm on the going.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Around on the mens is good. Now I'm gonna make
an assumption. Here are you both all blacks fans?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I'm a huge or black fan.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I knew you would be. I'm a worried all black fan.
Ye too, Irene.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
I'm a bit of a fair with a friend that's
very nice them when they're winning.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, yeah, me too, Actually, yeah yeah, I'm with you.
Now here's a question I've got for you, then, Shane,
because you are a massive fan, are you genuine honesty? Call?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Here?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Are you going to be getting up live at three
o'clock tomorrow morning to watch?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
No? But I will turn off my phone. I will
turn off my phone and everything and I will get
up about five o'clock and watch it as as of
it's live.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
It's kind of a nice start to a Sunday morning,
isn't it? Sunday morning? You make a nice cup of coffee,
you sit down, and then you put the footy on.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
But how good Tyler? Can I share a bit of nostalgia?
When we were young, we would never miss a three
o'clock game. Mon would get up, make some pies, make
us a milow, and would watch it. We would watch
it religiously.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I remember those days, Irene was at the same in
your household. My old man was the same, loved as
rugby and we get us up but the crack of
dawn to watch when the hills are on.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Yes, I did go up in a rugby household with
a father and two brothers watching playing in the case
of the brothers. Yeah, I do remember those nice traditions.
But I must admit I have waivered a bit Following's.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Anhing wrong with it, right, let's get into it. A
big topic this week was Labor and Chris Hopkins talking
again about capital gains tax. So the Labour Party appears
to be paving the way for a capital gains tax,
wealth tax or similar to campaign on at the next election.
The policy has been, as we know, a bit of
a poison chalice for the party in the past, but
(02:44):
it's leader Chris Hipkins thinks he's got the goods to
sell it to voters. I'll start with you, Iran, do
you think the idea of a capital gains tax? And
they're still talking through it. To be fair, they haven't
announced what that policy may look like yet, but is
it still the political hand grenade that it used to be?
Speaker 4 (03:03):
I don't know exactly. I think maybe that is softening
a little. I mean, you're absolutely right. It has been
a real, you know, just a no go zone for
some reason. It just doesn't play politically. And yet so
many you know, expert reports et cetera, et cetera, have
said it's the thing we should do it. You know,
it would be the best thing to do for the country,
(03:25):
for our economy, you know, to make the money we
need to do the things we need to do. So,
you know, on the one hand, it seems to make sense.
People seem to understand that, but on the other hand,
nobody ever seems to want it to happen. So yeah,
I think it's probably quite sensible of the opposition leader
to just start softening people and getting the discussion out
(03:48):
there and maybe getting people to understand more about all
sides of it.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Just before I bring you in, Shane Iren, do you
think it is a good idea a capital gains tax,
I think, and leaving the primary home out of it.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Ah, yeah, probably leaving the primary home out.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I mean, you know this.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
I mean, gosh, I must confess I am that dreadful
thing landlord. I owned poverty, So you know, I'd be
voting against myself on this one. But I think, you know,
we are going to have to vote against ourselves. I
think it is better for the country that we do it.
It's just whether we can get people to understand that
it is in our interests to do so.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Shane, Did they stuff it up at the last election?
There was a lot of toing and throwing around the
idea of tax, and of course the GSD of fruit
and vegetables got a bit complicated and a bit messy.
There was a bit of a turnaround laid in the
game on the idea of a capital gains tax. Did
they stuff it up last election? They weren't clear enough.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Well, I think the bonfire of policy made sense, but
what was it replaced with. It was replaced with no
GST on fresh food and veggies, and I think a
lot of the hat for getting some dental KIF for
thirty years under thirty years some five six years later.
I'm fully in favor of a either a wealth tax
(05:01):
or capital gains tax, wealth tax on realized wealth, not
not as you sort of earn it. And I also, yeah,
I'm like iring, I'll be voting against myself. I'm in
fifty seven. You know, I'm not quite boomer, but I've
got rental properties, i own a house. But what I
am worried about is I'm worried about my kids and
hopefully one day I'll have some mookpter not being able
to afford home. So I just think we need to
(05:23):
have a look at this, and I probably be a minority.
I think that you do need to have compihensive, good
capital gains tax including the primary house. Well, simply because
what happens is that people will over capitalize.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I think you're being online tests say four or five years,
but make it simple, because you know New Zealand has
a very effective tax raging because it's Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I actually agree on that point. If you're going to
implement a capital gains tax, it has to be it
has to include the primary home because, as you say,
then it becomes messy. Then it allows people to look
at loopholes around that system and effectively irene, don't we
have that already with a bright line tech, bright line
taste that we have in essence a capital gains tax.
It just means you've got to hold the property for
(06:08):
a bit longer.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Yeah, that's my understanding of it, so you know, in
that sense, it's just tidying up something and making it better. Now,
I'm just interested to notice that we now have had
three people all saying let's do this thing. So maybe
it isn't the poisoners anymore.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Maybe we're just a really unusual three New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Except except perhaps Tyler. This is what they call a
lean and where people say, yeah, we did do it
when it comes to voting.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yes, well, that was my next question for both of you. Actually,
and Shane, I'll start with you that this is always
the case. Rights We've all seen these surveys that have
come out over the past two three four years about
capital gains tax, and it appears in those surveys and
the legitimate surveys, market surveys, and it usually shows about
what sixty five seventy percent of KIWI surveys say, yep,
(06:54):
they're all good for a capital gains tax, and then
they get into the privacy of a ballot box and
they go the other way.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Yeah, but what you have to do, you have to
balance it. Maybe we look at ratcheting up the the
different indexes so you pay less pa ye, maybe even
corporate tax so you know, there are ways of balancing it,
and that's why I think a compreehentive review of our
taxation system needs to take place.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Irene, Is it smart to start that now where a
couple of years away from the next election. Is this
where that discussion needs to happen for the Labor Party
so they get it right this time and they bring
people with them.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Yes, I think so. I think starting to what's that
awful expression, people socialize the idea is a good thing
because yeah, I think people just need to get their
heads around that ultimately it is actually going to be
fairer and better for the country. It's going to and
you know when, because we are going through an economic
(07:51):
downturn at the moment after the pandemic and all, you know,
people are seeing incredible pressure on important things like the
health system, and so I think it maybe does get
people perhaps being a little bit more thoughtful about how
we actually do organize, you know, the money that comes
in and the money that goes out.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
And Shane, I mean this is my take on it.
I think Kiwi's buy and large they're about fairness and
even though the capital gains tax idea has been a
bit of a hot potato and potato in the past.
I think a lot of people can see that at
the moment the taxes doesn't really feel fair and something
needs to happen, But whatever happens needs to be easy
for people to understand.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Well, I just thought it was a bit perverse that,
you know, there was a time where theoretically I was
earning three hundred and sixty one dollars per day just
sitting on my property here in Auckland, and my brother
on a minimum wage, was paying taxing every dollar that
he earned, and I thought that was I thought that
was a little bit perverse. But the other thing is
that it's not as if there haven't been other taxes introduced.
(08:50):
Even under this government, registration has gone up by fifty dollars,
that's a tax. Your GP, which we're going to talk about,
that's gone up because there's less funding for GP. That
that's a tax. So I actually think that what happens
as governments need to be upfront and say this is
how our tax raging works. Rather than just adding adding
extra costs on bit by bit, that actually just gathers momentum.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yeah, very good. Well, let's move on to the situation
with the GPS. SO a group representing the GPS issued
this week oblique assessment of the state of the primary
healthcare in New Zealand, saying the concept of a family
doctor is dead and the government must act before there's
wider health sector collapse. The comments from the advocacy group
General Practitioners Alterior were made rather following revelations in the
(09:36):
New Zealand Herald that patients were queuing from six am
outside a GP and urgent care clinic in Autata Irene.
Do you have a family doctor. I do, And this
is a doctor that you've had for ages, perhaps met yep,
many decades and your family members. Yeah, but your family
members would use the same clinic as well.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Actually no, because I don't really have a family. I
don't have children, so but they would if I had any.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, Shane, you've got a family doctor.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
I do. And I know on Monday more at am,
if I'm not feeling well, I can go and see him.
I know. Again, my brother who's on minimum wage in
South Auckland probably has to work two three days to
go and see a GP. I don't want to sort
of catastrophize this, but I think this is the most
single important issue we've got in terms of our health system.
There's a lot wrong, but I think we need to
(10:24):
just focus on one fix, and it's primary health care.
And I think there's several ways to do this along
with having more gps, and one of them is having
more what they call health practitioners. That's highly skilled nurses
that are able to do about seventy percent of what
our gps do. And I think that there needs to
be a holistic answer to this. And the other issue
(10:45):
you've got, Tyler, is that it's an aging workforce. To
ty Talkoto, there is one major health center up there,
six of the doctors are over sixty five. Six out
of the nine are over sixty five. So it's a
crisis that's not only here, but it's only going to
get worse unless we really address it.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
But clearly for both of you it's important so that
it's a great line. The concept of the family doctor
is starting to die away, but clearly for both of you,
it's important that you have a GP that knows who
you are and knows your history. And I can understand
why that's important, but I don't have a family doctor.
I've got a clinic who I really respect, but I
go to whichever doctor is on call, and they've got
my medical history there. So even though I don't have
(11:25):
that such a strong relationship. Do you think that's just
where we're hitting with the state of primary care as
it is, that is inevitable in something we need to
accept that the idea of having a GP throughout your
life might be something that's in the past now. Irene.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Yes, I suspect that's probably true. And the situation as
you described it for yourself, I mean, it would be
better if it was the same person there was consistency.
But I guess because we're computerized now and one thing
and another, at least you're getting in at least you're
getting into a doctor. I kind of I really agree
with Shane about I mean, obviously the complex letters of
(12:01):
the health system. I mean, you know, we're not going
to solve that here today. The GP end of it,
you know, the front end of it is because that's
where I mean, you know, I mean, even putting aside
human decency, this is the bit where you save money
at the back end. If you get this bit right
and you look after people early enough, that's that's this
is why this bit is unbelievably important to get it right.
(12:24):
I found that the story that prompted all of this,
it was a Michael Morris story. Gosh, she's I found
that story about the folk queuing up so early in
the morning and such long cues at Autara. I found
that really sad that was, and it's it made me
sort of think, is they're not you know, is there
not even some just really pragmatic solution to that particular clinics,
(12:47):
particular issues. I mean, you know, is there mobile units
that could be made, or you know, are there any
gps with any spare to I mean, is there any
way of just putting some relief into that area and
other areas that are in such need as that?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
It was horrible to see that, Tyler. I'm a benefactor
of what they call Purebox Healthcare. I live in a
pretty good suburb and I just a benefactor of it.
Cost me a bit to go to my GP. I
like going to send my GP because he talks to
me about chain you need to lose some weight, you know.
I've shared this with listeners before. I've suffered from depression
(13:24):
from time to time. So we'll have a bit of
accorded it all like that. And the other thing is
that when my boy was young he suffered from asthma,
and consistency of care and seeing a GP that not
only can read your notes online but understands how you look,
how you feel, where the far now is that is
really important. Have we lost it? Probably? But I think
(13:45):
it's a fundamental we need to get back to.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Is it purely or the big problem here is funding?
And when we all read that story, an increase of
just four percent is a minimal amount of funding. Is
that the big thing here? We need more funding to
hopefully entice more doctors into the country or more people
to train as doctors. Perhaps you know, entice retired gps
out of retirement back into the field.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Yep, that would make sense. It's I mean, everything goes
back to funding, doesn't it. But it's also organization and
direction of that funding. I kind of feel like health
it's one of those things that's become too politicized over
the years, and I think it needs to be above that,
and there needs to be you know, like a twenty
year plan that everybody has to stick to and you
(14:31):
don't chop and change, and we actually put some sensible
thought into making the best of what money we do have.
It doesn't feel to me like that's always been the case.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Yeah, yeah, I think. I think extra funding is part
of it. Also sorting out long term views on workplace
workful solutions. Now here's the uncomfortable part. There will be
some services that I don't think we'll be able to
provide like we are like we are providing now, and
we will rather have a rather comfortable discussion about this.
The reality is that our health service, this is out,
(15:05):
that people are getting older, issues are becoming more complex,
and I just think that unfortunately, we'll have to set
some priorities. And I think the thing about irene is
quite right. If you get primary care right, it saves
money and other areas because you know, those folks that
were standing outside and all today the other day, they
would have ended up at Middlemore Hospital lunchtime.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yeah, bang on, because then at that primary care level,
you're utilizing the pharmacists, you utilize in the primary care nurses,
and you save those people from hopefully going to the
er and ending up costing a lot more in the
long run. Right, Yeah, fantastic. Right after the break, let's
have a chat about what appears to be very expensive
pike cracks and Wellington. It is twenty five past three.
(15:48):
You're listening to the panel on the Weekend Collective with
Shane to Poe and Irene Gardner. Back very shortly here
on news Doorg ZB Newstalks EDB. You are listening to
the Weekend Collective and the panel with Shane to Poe
and Irene Gardner. Another bang of tireth thank you very much,
A bit dragon for your Saturday afternoon guys. Let's have
a chat about bike racks in the capital. So the
(16:10):
Wellington City Council is facing a bit of heat after
spending five hundred and sixty three thousand dollars to install
a bike rack opposite its offices on the Terrace. The
bike ranck has space for twenty four bikes and this
comes only weeks after eighty four thousand dollars was spent
on another bike rack. Shane, I'll start with you. I
don't think any of us really have problems with council
(16:32):
funded bike racks, but the optics just look bad here,
don't they.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Well and unnecessary. I think I could have had the
fix probably for four three or four hundred bucks. Remember
the deck, you go to the dairy. See those little
steel things where you both, yeah, that great. If you
have to go off to work, you just put a
lock on it and then you pick it up at
the end of the day. You know, just sometimes you're
gonna see some real sensibility. Just get back to the basics, volts.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Yeah, Irene, How do these things get across the line?
I mean, surely everybody who works in a council understands
that ratepayers are right up against it. There's a real
tenseness out there about the amount of money thus spending,
and then they go and do dicky things like this.
I mean, how do they How does it get across
the line?
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Now, to be fair, this story did originate from a
taxpayer's union press.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Please, yes, farb.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Would be it for me to say that they have
a slight tendency towards exaggeration. But if you do actually
look at the story, it isn't actually five hundred and
sixty three thousand dollars on a bike rack. That's the
entire project of various pieces of work in a lane
where a bike rack is. Now it may still be
(17:42):
very expensive and not terribly wise use of.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
The council money.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
But I would just like to point out that it
isn't actually five hundred and sixty thousand.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Dollars and yet that's very fair. But you're quite right.
I mean, the taxpayer Union can be a bit tricky
with how they get to these conclusions on how much
things cost. Absolutely, but as you said that, it still
looks like it was far more expensive than it needed
to be. It needed to be, And again, councils know,
surely their communications staff are right in the air saying
(18:15):
you know the public are going to freak out over this.
You've got to figure out ways to utilize these things
that the community does need and are good for a
city without it looking.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Awful on it. Yeah, that's right. But the other thing
is that, Yeah, I'm no fan of the taxpayer union,
but again I just think sometimes when it comes to
sorting these dishes out, we just have a look at
the basics. As I say, the simple backgrack that we
all have used to have in the dairy, and you
don't need a special exit entry pathway. All you need
to do is lift it, lifted off the curb, put
(18:47):
it in there, and if you have a discipline, you
are unable to do that. You just have a little
ramp and you know, I just think that sometimes the
less complex of things are actually they'll be used more
often by the public.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Do we need to send do we need to send
Chane down to build themself decent inexpensive bike?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
How is your bike looking, Shane? Are you getting out
on it much?
Speaker 4 (19:16):
Gpeople beyond at you about.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
That's right?
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Well, let's transition to cycle lanes because that's always been
a bit of a hot topic for some members of
the community. Are actually am a big advocate of cycle lanes.
I think they add a lot to a city, but
again people get worried about the amount spent on it
and the accounts of the government. Rather is released a
large budget for infrastructure and one of the biggest losers
(19:42):
was of course cycle ways, and part of that is
a mean Brown said that New Zealanders don't want them,
so we're not going to fund them. I mean, I'll
start with you. Is that a bad decision from the government,
because there is a lot of benefit to having cycle lanes,
particularly in big cities like Wellington, Auckland, Christ Jurche just
for the vibrancyed the life. They are nice places to
(20:04):
be when they're well designed and accessible.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Right, they absolutely are. I'm going to start sounding like
I don't believe in democracy because I think this is
another area where we need some cross party agreement. In
the transport area, of course we need roads, good roads,
decent roads, all of that. But of course we also
need public transport and cycle ways and things for pedestrians
(20:29):
because we want people to have all of those options,
some of which are much better for their health and
for the planet. But you know, we also need sensible
spending on roads. Maybe it had gone a little bit,
you know, to one way, and now it's going a
bit the other way. But again, I see if there
was a sensible plan that everybody's stuck to, wouldn't that
(20:49):
be better? And what I hate, and that's why I
was a little bit cheeky about the tax paging. What
I hate about what I see at the moment is
this weird politicizing tribal culturals thing. You know, like you're
either you know, bad bad greenee, good greenee, you know,
bad cycle lanes goods. It's like, we need all these
things and just be sensible and spend the money evenly
(21:11):
across the board and stop being annoying.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Yeah, shame. I mean there's always been the case though,
isn't it. There are groups within any city or community
the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but they are quite
often the minority groups, and I would think I would
think most people within a community or city would be
pretty much in the middle. They can understand that we
can walk and chew gum at the same time. Yes,
we need roads, but we need cycle ways and there
(21:35):
are nice things we can do, particularly in inner cities,
that actually make it a better place to live for everybody.
But is it the fact Shane, that sometimes the councils
don't bring the community along with them on these decisions.
Night often it just seems to be that it gets
reported in the local paper that two hundred million dollars
is about to be spent on cycle ways and a
lot of people don't understand why.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
I think you'll get got over muscled by the very
clever Minister of Transport. It's about previous to the cut
was about three and a half percent of our total
transport costs. It's not as if we spend a large
chunk of our transport costs on bikes and walkways and
(22:16):
I think it's really important if you've got kids who
live local that they are able to walk to school safely,
they're able to ride their bike to school safely. I
think that's very important, and I think you can get
both of these things right. And remember, folks, we're actually
only talking about three and a half percent of our
total transport costs. That's probably three or four kilometers of
(22:41):
a highway.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Yeah. Absolutely, Now, I loved the story this week legal
battle to keep two hundred and thirty two thousand todd
has found in a roof, so the police and you
guys know the story, but for those who missed it,
the police say the money is probably tainted as the
proceeds of criminal activity, most likely drug dealing, so it
is liable to be seized and handed over to the Crown.
The couple Wishtim purchase at home, got into the roof
(23:07):
and found this two hundred and thirty two one thousand
dollars in cash and now are fighting to retain it
through the courts. Shane, I'll start with you. If you
found two hundred and thirty two thousand dollars in the
roof of your house, what would you do.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I'd go to the cops, because I'd be worried that
my previous occupier would come back and look for it.
That would worry the crap out of me. But I've
been doing a little bit of research over here Tyler
Tyler and Irene, and I've looked up the Bill of
Rights Article two point three. It's very clear in their
find its keepers losers weepers.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Find a keepers losers weepers, Irene. I mean, you know,
the other phrase is possession is nine tenths of the law.
If the police cannot prove that this is from the
proceeds of crime, should the couple be able to keep
this cash?
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (23:54):
See, I would be oh gosh, I would be so
tempted to keep it. But actually Shane's right because it
was so obviously dodgy money, cause apparently it's all like
ya impact and the serial numbers and you know, the
whole So yeah, you'd probably be a bit nervous that,
you know who actually who's ever money.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
It sort of technically was well, you know, you wouldn't
want to knock on your door from any character down
the line.
Speaker 4 (24:16):
So these folk have done the right thing. Although my
slight worry is that because people maybe did would have
had a find as keeper's expectation. I'm kind of nervous
that the fact that the story is getting publicity, people
might now kind of think, well, I'm not going to
the cops.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
I'll just keep it.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
And I wonder if they might be a little compromise
where you get a little bit of the money back.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
It's like a reward for you know, landers fee.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
Yeah, because that seems kind of fair. And actually, I
mean to look this up and I didn't do either
of you know what happens to that proceeds of crime
money that the cops keep. Does that just go into
normal police expend its.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Some of it's tied. Some of it's tied to say,
uh save for instance, if it's a myth bus. Some
of it's tied to rehab. Interesting, so some are good,
some of it is tied.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, Well question for both of you and I heard
this talk back and it was a great discussion the
moral quandary of just finding small amounts of cash. So irene,
if you were walking down the street you saw a
hundred dollar note, would you think, oh, I better walk
down to the police station and letna no, not for a.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
Hundred In fact, I have That has happened to me twice.
Once was I was running around Victoria Park and the
Prada America's Cup team had just been training in the
park and they'd left, and one of them had dropped
a hundred dollar note, and I thought, and I thought.
And the other time I was walking past the Cavalier
(25:40):
Pub on early on a Saturday no Sunday morning after
a big All Blacks game, and someone had obviously dropped
it coming out of their pocket, and I thought, oh,
they could afford it as well, so I didn't. So
that's twice I've kept a hundred.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
No, I'd have to find very lucky.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
I'd have to find quite a lot to hand it in.
I think that would probably have to be I don't know,
five hundred before I would hand it.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
In, Okay, I was going to say a thousand Chaine.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
Well, I would tell you a little story. I was
about fourteen fifteen and we were uptown and the next
door neighbor, small town, drop five bucks on the going
and I put my foot on it. Yep, and he said,
do you want me to go and tell your mom
and dad? And I just said, I was just holding
it for you.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
So I'm very careful about this. No, to be honest,
what I'm back to be honest, what I'd.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Probably do is I'd put it in a local donation
thing or something like that. The only money I ever found,
I think a part of them from the five dollars
which wasn't mine, was about seventy bucks and was at
a super market and I gave it to the store owner.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Nice, very good. Yeah, right, got to take a break
after the break, should we ever? We chat about aut
to launch a Taylor Swift University course that's coming up
very shortly. You are listening to the Weekend Collective and
the panel Shamed to Po and Irene Gardner. It is
twenty minutes before News Talks. Eb. I'm enjoying that music.
(26:57):
You are listening to the Weekend Collective with Tyler Adams
filling in for Tim Beveridge on your Saturday afternoon. Great
to have your company. And you are listening to the
panel with Shanned To and Irene Gardner. Very interesting story, guys.
Aut to launch a Taylor Swift University course. So the
Auckland University of Technology has it now. It's that will
be launching this brand new class. It's called Taylor Swift
(27:18):
Communications Professional this summer. It is Australasia's first universe, sorry,
university level course studying the huge pop star. The new
summer school course, offered by the School of Communication Study,
will analyze It's eighteen year career through the lens of
communication disciplines. A media rely said on Wednesday, Irene, how
(27:39):
do you feel about a course about Taylor Swift from
a communications point of view?
Speaker 4 (27:44):
I think it's actually a really great idea and it'll
attract people, and it'll attract young people, which is good.
And I think it's very interesting that they're not doing
it from a music or songwriting lens, but they are
doing it through the lens of communication and handling the media,
living that life, and that's what she is a genius at.
(28:05):
She's an exceptionally good songwriter and performer as well, but
she that the thing of having a long career using
social media, not being afraid to be out front and center.
She is the master. I mean, she's obviously a very
bright young woman, and so I think that's quite interesting
actually to base something around that. So yeah, I should
(28:28):
almost quite like to do it myself.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Yeah, well, yeah, well, after reading their blurb, I actually
think it sounds very interesting, Shane. I mean, is this
what universities need to do now to attract with small
people into their institutions, because we all know they're in trouble.
They are leveraging a lot of money and clearly they
aren't getting the numbers through the door that they used.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
To strange how you lead it in with the west
Auckland Bogan anthem got Black the empathesis of a Taylor Sworft.
But I think if my daughter could probably pass a
doctorate on Taylor's worth then and I actually think it's smart.
I think it's about connecting young people to something that
is relevant to them. A very smart business woman. She's
(29:07):
created a not only a range of songs, but a movement.
And the other thing is that this was the woman
who took ownership of her destiny in terms of wrestling
back her catalog and had to, you know, show a
lot of resilience and re record. And I think, if
(29:28):
you know, I'm being involved in the communication game enough,
I think we could learn something from the way in
which Taylor Swift and the people handle themselves. I think
it's smart.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
I wont know who's going to teach it Irene, you
should put your hand up.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
I'd quite like to, actually, but I think I might
need to do the course first and learn it. I
remember seeing Taylor on Graham Norton a few years back
when she was actually I think she was still only
in her twenties in that stage, and she was on
with a couple of older people, one of whom was
John Cleese and I can't remember who the other one
was now an older man, and they were quite patronizing
to her, and I remember thinking I hadn't really massively
(30:02):
followed her up to that point, but she was so smart,
and she was so dignified, and she sort of really
put them in their place without either of them realizing
that she was putting them in their place, because they
were sort of treating her like, you know, fluffy, little
poppy girly, and she ran rings around them. It was
very impressive.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
She is a force of nature, isn't she, And as
you say, phenomenal artist and a very good musician. I'm
not a massive fan, but I enjoy her music. But
she is a formidable business woman, no doubt about that now, guys. Obviously,
the other big event this week was the New Malti
queen crowned. Nawai Junu at tepl Paki, the only daughter
and youngest child of the former Malti king, was revealed
(30:41):
as the new queen on the final morning of the
sixth day tonguey hunger of her father, marking the beginning
of a new generation in the resistance movement. Shane and
this is just my thoughts. The coverage I think has
been quite commendable from media across the board, particularly TV one.
I will say that I have learned a great deal
about the process of a tonguey and certainly the marner
(31:02):
of an event like that.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Yeah no, no, all support to our media who fronted
up and did did a wonderful job in terms of
explaining not only the tongue tongue Hanah process, but a
bit about the king of Tongue and the history. I
think it's an inspired choice. I'm not I'm not tiny
we wiatt all, but I like the idea of Catana
(31:27):
and na wayn Poor Pucky was an inspired choice, not
the obvious choice. She has two older brothers, she is smart,
she is articulate, and I've seen her in action. She
reminds me I'm old enough to know her grandmother. But
the other thing is this is the sementation of what
we call the krhunga real generation that are very apt
(31:51):
and not only to our Parkier but to ol Mary
and I'm really looking forward to her, her her ongoing
corted or and her participating in the in the very
important discussions that we have to have as New Zealanders.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Irene, you think that the coverage and and the what
we've heard from media over the past week with the
tongue he has I suppose given more people knowledge of
what the king ey Tonga movement is about. I mean,
I speak for myself here that I was rather naive
about some of the complexities about kingy Tonga. Do you
(32:25):
think this week has brought some more people into the
mix about what is involved?
Speaker 4 (32:31):
Clear, Yes, I think it has, and I think that's
a very good thing. As you said, TVNZ's coverage has
been extant those rnz's actually, but nextally across the bord
it has been very good, but just yeah, really good.
And I think the thing that's starting to happen I
noticed it a lot with TVNZ and rn Z in particular,
but generally we're starting to get coverage of Maria issues,
(32:52):
Marii events much more through a Maori lens rather than
just you know, sort of packy ha.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
Coverage of a Maori event, if you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
So that's been lovely to see and I think it
really helps bring people along. And I think this is
in a really inspired choice picking her, I think for
the twelve the council who do the deciding. Obviously, you
know she does have two older brothers, so she must
have been seeing the one as the one who had
the right background, the right temperament, the right qualities, the
(33:23):
right education, et cetera for this role, this job. It
is a job, but yeah, it's it's it's the Kangero
generation and she's female, and to me, this is the future.
So this is kind of quite exciting. I think this
is this is this is the change, you know, and
I hope, I mean, we are a little bit we're
having a bit of a weird patch at the moment,
(33:44):
with you know, a few people choosing to sort of
push people in a slightly racist direction, and hopefully things
like this counteract that a bit and people understand that,
you know, the New New Zealand is not in any
way scary or horrible or.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
You know, just on that Shane, because you know, obviously
you know David Seymour has put himself at the front
and center, rightly or wrongly, of being a bit of
a lightning rod for some of these things. But he
was there, he turned up and paid his respects. Do
you think that you know, clearly that was a good
move from David CMA, But how did you see it
(34:20):
was that? Were you proud that David stored up and
he wouldn't have got a great reception for a lot
of people there, but he was there.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
To part respect. He well, I wouldn't say proud. I
think it was the right thing for him to do.
And actually I was on the Mara earlier on that
day and he got a warm reception, you know, a
welcoming reception, and I was, look, I vote on the left.
I'm not a fan of this current Prime ministers, but
(34:47):
I thought it was a very apt speech that he delivered.
I felt that it was meaningful and he felt it.
But what I'm hoping is to show a leadership post
the tongue hunter, and that the that the that the
Prime Minister can follow in the footsteps of the of
tuhitia and call for a sense of unity and called Tahitana.
And that's what I'm looking for in terms of next
(35:09):
week speech from the Prime Minister. Because here's the thing
about the twenty seven year olds, the thirty year olds
and under thirty five's, they don't have to hang ups
like fifty seven to fifty eight year olds. They just
get on with life and they see the maldiness of
all childre on New Zealand as part of their daily lives.
They just don't have the hang ups.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
Yeah, yeah, very nicely said. Right, got to take a
quick break then we'll wrap it all up. It is
eight minutes to four. You are listening to the panel
with Shane to Poe and Irene Gardner. We've got about
forty seconds left, guys, Irene, I just want to pick
from you all blacks versus South Africa. Who's going to
win South Africa. Oh okay, controversial, sh oh, you've not
(35:49):
Shane back so much. They get your good praces.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Buttery, yeah, I fear you may be right. But what
pleases me is there's been a bit of muscle showing
with some chiefs players, less reliance on crusaders.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Picking a Blacks to win, Yeah, fantastic, me too, and
razorship breakdowns if he does get a win. Guys, thank
you very much. Really enjoyed that chat. You have a
great rest of your weekend.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
That is Shane Tobo and Irene Gardner, News, Sport and
Weather on its way. We'll see you on the other side.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to News
Talk st B weekends from three pm, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'd be it is the panel, and what a panel
we have for you. Shane Tapoe. He's a political commentator,
former candidate, campaign manager and executive member of the Labor Party,
a former union official and just a good guy to
boot get a Shane Kyoda. Nice to chet again. How
you doing very well?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Thank you? Taylan Gretcha tet dud. I don't think I've
been on the show with you before, so lovely to
be here with.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
You first time. Yeah, fantastic and of course you know
who well. Irene Gardner, President of the Screen Producers, girl producer,
journalist and a stalwart in the New Zealand media world. Irene,
how are you?
Speaker 4 (00:45):
I'm very well? Thank you, Tyler. I like store watch.
I don't think I've had that one before.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
It's a great word, though, wasn't it all in that
I thought to steal it? I've had veteran but that always.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Makes me feel like I might be really, really really old.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
So are you? I went for the right word then, yeh.
Can we can stick with that one? How are you both?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
I've had a cold this week, but I'm on the going.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Around on the mens is good. Now I'm gonna make
an assumption. Here are you both all blacks fans?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I'm a huge or black fan.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I knew you would be. I'm a worried all black fan.
Ye too, Irene.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
I'm a bit of a fair with a friend that's
very nice them when they're winning.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, yeah, me too, Actually, yeah yeah, I'm with you.
Now here's a question I've got for you, then, Shane,
because you are a massive fan, are you genuine honesty? Call?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Here?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Are you going to be getting up live at three
o'clock tomorrow morning to watch?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
No? But I will turn off my phone. I will
turn off my phone and everything and I will get
up about five o'clock and watch it as as of
it's live.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
It's kind of a nice start to a Sunday morning,
isn't it? Sunday morning? You make a nice cup of coffee,
you sit down, and then you put the footy on.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
But how good Tyler? Can I share a bit of nostalgia?
When we were young, we would never miss a three
o'clock game. Mon would get up, make some pies, make
us a milow, and would watch it. We would watch
it religiously.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I remember those days, Irene was at the same in
your household. My old man was the same, loved as
rugby and we get us up but the crack of
dawn to watch when the hills are on.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Yes, I did go up in a rugby household with
a father and two brothers watching playing in the case
of the brothers. Yeah, I do remember those nice traditions.
But I must admit I have waivered a bit Following's.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Anhing wrong with it, right, let's get into it. A
big topic this week was Labor and Chris Hopkins talking
again about capital gains tax. So the Labour Party appears
to be paving the way for a capital gains tax,
wealth tax or similar to campaign on at the next election.
The policy has been, as we know, a bit of
a poison chalice for the party in the past, but
(02:44):
it's leader Chris Hipkins thinks he's got the goods to
sell it to voters. I'll start with you, Iran, do
you think the idea of a capital gains tax? And
they're still talking through it. To be fair, they haven't
announced what that policy may look like yet, but is
it still the political hand grenade that it used to be?
Speaker 4 (03:03):
I don't know exactly. I think maybe that is softening
a little. I mean, you're absolutely right. It has been
a real, you know, just a no go zone for
some reason. It just doesn't play politically. And yet so
many you know, expert reports et cetera, et cetera, have
said it's the thing we should do it. You know,
it would be the best thing to do for the country,
(03:25):
for our economy, you know, to make the money we
need to do the things we need to do. So,
you know, on the one hand, it seems to make sense.
People seem to understand that, but on the other hand,
nobody ever seems to want it to happen. So yeah,
I think it's probably quite sensible of the opposition leader
to just start softening people and getting the discussion out
(03:48):
there and maybe getting people to understand more about all
sides of it.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Just before I bring you in, Shane Iren, do you
think it is a good idea a capital gains tax,
I think, and leaving the primary home out of it.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Ah, yeah, probably leaving the primary home out.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I mean, you know this.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
I mean, gosh, I must confess I am that dreadful
thing landlord. I owned poverty, So you know, I'd be
voting against myself on this one. But I think, you know,
we are going to have to vote against ourselves. I
think it is better for the country that we do it.
It's just whether we can get people to understand that
it is in our interests to do so.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Shane, Did they stuff it up at the last election?
There was a lot of toing and throwing around the
idea of tax, and of course the GSD of fruit
and vegetables got a bit complicated and a bit messy.
There was a bit of a turnaround laid in the
game on the idea of a capital gains tax. Did
they stuff it up last election? They weren't clear enough.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Well, I think the bonfire of policy made sense, but
what was it replaced with. It was replaced with no
GST on fresh food and veggies, and I think a
lot of the hat for getting some dental KIF for
thirty years under thirty years some five six years later.
I'm fully in favor of a either a wealth tax
(05:01):
or capital gains tax, wealth tax on realized wealth, not
not as you sort of earn it. And I also, yeah,
I'm like iring, I'll be voting against myself. I'm in
fifty seven. You know, I'm not quite boomer, but I've
got rental properties, i own a house. But what I
am worried about is I'm worried about my kids and
hopefully one day I'll have some mookpter not being able
to afford home. So I just think we need to
(05:23):
have a look at this, and I probably be a minority.
I think that you do need to have compihensive, good
capital gains tax including the primary house. Well, simply because
what happens is that people will over capitalize.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I think you're being online tests say four or five years,
but make it simple, because you know New Zealand has
a very effective tax raging because it's Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I actually agree on that point. If you're going to
implement a capital gains tax, it has to be it
has to include the primary home because, as you say,
then it becomes messy. Then it allows people to look
at loopholes around that system and effectively irene, don't we
have that already with a bright line tech, bright line
taste that we have in essence a capital gains tax.
It just means you've got to hold the property for
(06:08):
a bit longer.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Yeah, that's my understanding of it, so you know, in
that sense, it's just tidying up something and making it better. Now,
I'm just interested to notice that we now have had
three people all saying let's do this thing. So maybe
it isn't the poisoners anymore.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Maybe we're just a really unusual three New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Except except perhaps Tyler. This is what they call a
lean and where people say, yeah, we did do it
when it comes to voting.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yes, well, that was my next question for both of you. Actually,
and Shane, I'll start with you that this is always
the case. Rights We've all seen these surveys that have
come out over the past two three four years about
capital gains tax, and it appears in those surveys and
the legitimate surveys, market surveys, and it usually shows about
what sixty five seventy percent of KIWI surveys say, yep,
(06:54):
they're all good for a capital gains tax, and then
they get into the privacy of a ballot box and
they go the other way.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Yeah, but what you have to do, you have to
balance it. Maybe we look at ratcheting up the the
different indexes so you pay less pa ye, maybe even
corporate tax so you know, there are ways of balancing it,
and that's why I think a compreehentive review of our
taxation system needs to take place.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Irene, Is it smart to start that now where a
couple of years away from the next election. Is this
where that discussion needs to happen for the Labor Party
so they get it right this time and they bring
people with them.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Yes, I think so. I think starting to what's that
awful expression, people socialize the idea is a good thing
because yeah, I think people just need to get their
heads around that ultimately it is actually going to be
fairer and better for the country. It's going to and
you know when, because we are going through an economic
(07:51):
downturn at the moment after the pandemic and all, you know,
people are seeing incredible pressure on important things like the
health system, and so I think it maybe does get
people perhaps being a little bit more thoughtful about how
we actually do organize, you know, the money that comes
in and the money that goes out.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
And Shane, I mean this is my take on it.
I think Kiwi's buy and large they're about fairness and
even though the capital gains tax idea has been a
bit of a hot potato and potato in the past.
I think a lot of people can see that at
the moment the taxes doesn't really feel fair and something
needs to happen, But whatever happens needs to be easy
for people to understand.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Well, I just thought it was a bit perverse that,
you know, there was a time where theoretically I was
earning three hundred and sixty one dollars per day just
sitting on my property here in Auckland, and my brother
on a minimum wage, was paying taxing every dollar that
he earned, and I thought that was I thought that
was a little bit perverse. But the other thing is
that it's not as if there haven't been other taxes introduced.
(08:50):
Even under this government, registration has gone up by fifty dollars,
that's a tax. Your GP, which we're going to talk about,
that's gone up because there's less funding for GP. That
that's a tax. So I actually think that what happens
as governments need to be upfront and say this is
how our tax raging works. Rather than just adding adding
extra costs on bit by bit, that actually just gathers momentum.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yeah, very good. Well, let's move on to the situation
with the GPS. SO a group representing the GPS issued
this week oblique assessment of the state of the primary
healthcare in New Zealand, saying the concept of a family
doctor is dead and the government must act before there's
wider health sector collapse. The comments from the advocacy group
General Practitioners Alterior were made rather following revelations in the
(09:36):
New Zealand Herald that patients were queuing from six am
outside a GP and urgent care clinic in Autata Irene.
Do you have a family doctor. I do, And this
is a doctor that you've had for ages, perhaps met yep,
many decades and your family members. Yeah, but your family
members would use the same clinic as well.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Actually no, because I don't really have a family. I
don't have children, so but they would if I had any.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, Shane, you've got a family doctor.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
I do. And I know on Monday more at am,
if I'm not feeling well, I can go and see him.
I know. Again, my brother who's on minimum wage in
South Auckland probably has to work two three days to
go and see a GP. I don't want to sort
of catastrophize this, but I think this is the most
single important issue we've got in terms of our health system.
There's a lot wrong, but I think we need to
(10:24):
just focus on one fix, and it's primary health care.
And I think there's several ways to do this along
with having more gps, and one of them is having
more what they call health practitioners. That's highly skilled nurses
that are able to do about seventy percent of what
our gps do. And I think that there needs to
be a holistic answer to this. And the other issue
(10:45):
you've got, Tyler, is that it's an aging workforce. To
ty Talkoto, there is one major health center up there,
six of the doctors are over sixty five. Six out
of the nine are over sixty five. So it's a
crisis that's not only here, but it's only going to
get worse unless we really address it.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
But clearly for both of you it's important so that
it's a great line. The concept of the family doctor
is starting to die away, but clearly for both of you,
it's important that you have a GP that knows who
you are and knows your history. And I can understand
why that's important, but I don't have a family doctor.
I've got a clinic who I really respect, but I
go to whichever doctor is on call, and they've got
my medical history there. So even though I don't have
(11:25):
that such a strong relationship. Do you think that's just
where we're hitting with the state of primary care as
it is, that is inevitable in something we need to
accept that the idea of having a GP throughout your
life might be something that's in the past now. Irene.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Yes, I suspect that's probably true. And the situation as
you described it for yourself, I mean, it would be
better if it was the same person there was consistency.
But I guess because we're computerized now and one thing
and another, at least you're getting in at least you're
getting into a doctor. I kind of I really agree
with Shane about I mean, obviously the complex letters of
(12:01):
the health system. I mean, you know, we're not going
to solve that here today. The GP end of it,
you know, the front end of it is because that's
where I mean, you know, I mean, even putting aside
human decency, this is the bit where you save money
at the back end. If you get this bit right
and you look after people early enough, that's that's this
is why this bit is unbelievably important to get it right.
(12:24):
I found that the story that prompted all of this,
it was a Michael Morris story. Gosh, she's I found
that story about the folk queuing up so early in
the morning and such long cues at Autara. I found
that really sad that was, and it's it made me
sort of think, is they're not you know, is there
not even some just really pragmatic solution to that particular clinics,
(12:47):
particular issues. I mean, you know, is there mobile units
that could be made, or you know, are there any
gps with any spare to I mean, is there any
way of just putting some relief into that area and
other areas that are in such need as that?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
It was horrible to see that, Tyler. I'm a benefactor
of what they call Purebox Healthcare. I live in a
pretty good suburb and I just a benefactor of it.
Cost me a bit to go to my GP. I
like going to send my GP because he talks to
me about chain you need to lose some weight, you know.
I've shared this with listeners before. I've suffered from depression
(13:24):
from time to time. So we'll have a bit of
accorded it all like that. And the other thing is
that when my boy was young he suffered from asthma,
and consistency of care and seeing a GP that not
only can read your notes online but understands how you look,
how you feel, where the far now is that is
really important. Have we lost it? Probably? But I think
(13:45):
it's a fundamental we need to get back to.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Is it purely or the big problem here is funding?
And when we all read that story, an increase of
just four percent is a minimal amount of funding. Is
that the big thing here? We need more funding to
hopefully entice more doctors into the country or more people
to train as doctors. Perhaps you know, entice retired gps
out of retirement back into the field.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Yep, that would make sense. It's I mean, everything goes
back to funding, doesn't it. But it's also organization and
direction of that funding. I kind of feel like health
it's one of those things that's become too politicized over
the years, and I think it needs to be above that,
and there needs to be you know, like a twenty
year plan that everybody has to stick to and you
(14:31):
don't chop and change, and we actually put some sensible
thought into making the best of what money we do have.
It doesn't feel to me like that's always been the case.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Yeah, yeah, I think. I think extra funding is part
of it. Also sorting out long term views on workplace
workful solutions. Now here's the uncomfortable part. There will be
some services that I don't think we'll be able to
provide like we are like we are providing now, and
we will rather have a rather comfortable discussion about this.
The reality is that our health service, this is out,
(15:05):
that people are getting older, issues are becoming more complex,
and I just think that unfortunately, we'll have to set
some priorities. And I think the thing about irene is
quite right. If you get primary care right, it saves
money and other areas because you know, those folks that
were standing outside and all today the other day, they
would have ended up at Middlemore Hospital lunchtime.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yeah, bang on, because then at that primary care level,
you're utilizing the pharmacists, you utilize in the primary care nurses,
and you save those people from hopefully going to the
er and ending up costing a lot more in the
long run. Right, Yeah, fantastic. Right after the break, let's
have a chat about what appears to be very expensive
pike cracks and Wellington. It is twenty five past three.
(15:48):
You're listening to the panel on the Weekend Collective with
Shane to Poe and Irene Gardner. Back very shortly here
on news Doorg ZB Newstalks EDB. You are listening to
the Weekend Collective and the panel with Shane to Poe
and Irene Gardner. Another bang of tireth thank you very much,
A bit dragon for your Saturday afternoon guys. Let's have
a chat about bike racks in the capital. So the
(16:10):
Wellington City Council is facing a bit of heat after
spending five hundred and sixty three thousand dollars to install
a bike rack opposite its offices on the Terrace. The
bike ranck has space for twenty four bikes and this
comes only weeks after eighty four thousand dollars was spent
on another bike rack. Shane, I'll start with you. I
don't think any of us really have problems with council
(16:32):
funded bike racks, but the optics just look bad here,
don't they.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Well and unnecessary. I think I could have had the
fix probably for four three or four hundred bucks. Remember
the deck, you go to the dairy. See those little
steel things where you both, yeah, that great. If you
have to go off to work, you just put a
lock on it and then you pick it up at
the end of the day. You know, just sometimes you're
gonna see some real sensibility. Just get back to the basics, volts.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Yeah, Irene, How do these things get across the line?
I mean, surely everybody who works in a council understands
that ratepayers are right up against it. There's a real
tenseness out there about the amount of money thus spending,
and then they go and do dicky things like this.
I mean, how do they How does it get across
the line?
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Now, to be fair, this story did originate from a
taxpayer's union press.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Please, yes, farb.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Would be it for me to say that they have
a slight tendency towards exaggeration. But if you do actually
look at the story, it isn't actually five hundred and
sixty three thousand dollars on a bike rack. That's the
entire project of various pieces of work in a lane
where a bike rack is. Now it may still be
(17:42):
very expensive and not terribly wise use of.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
The council money.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
But I would just like to point out that it
isn't actually five hundred and sixty thousand.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Dollars and yet that's very fair. But you're quite right.
I mean, the taxpayer Union can be a bit tricky
with how they get to these conclusions on how much
things cost. Absolutely, but as you said that, it still
looks like it was far more expensive than it needed
to be. It needed to be, And again, councils know,
surely their communications staff are right in the air saying
(18:15):
you know the public are going to freak out over this.
You've got to figure out ways to utilize these things
that the community does need and are good for a
city without it looking.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Awful on it. Yeah, that's right. But the other thing
is that, Yeah, I'm no fan of the taxpayer union,
but again I just think sometimes when it comes to
sorting these dishes out, we just have a look at
the basics. As I say, the simple backgrack that we
all have used to have in the dairy, and you
don't need a special exit entry pathway. All you need
to do is lift it, lifted off the curb, put
(18:47):
it in there, and if you have a discipline, you
are unable to do that. You just have a little
ramp and you know, I just think that sometimes the
less complex of things are actually they'll be used more
often by the public.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Do we need to send do we need to send
Chane down to build themself decent inexpensive bike?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
How is your bike looking, Shane? Are you getting out
on it much?
Speaker 4 (19:16):
Gpeople beyond at you about.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
That's right?
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Well, let's transition to cycle lanes because that's always been
a bit of a hot topic for some members of
the community. Are actually am a big advocate of cycle lanes.
I think they add a lot to a city, but
again people get worried about the amount spent on it
and the accounts of the government. Rather is released a
large budget for infrastructure and one of the biggest losers
(19:42):
was of course cycle ways, and part of that is
a mean Brown said that New Zealanders don't want them,
so we're not going to fund them. I mean, I'll
start with you. Is that a bad decision from the government,
because there is a lot of benefit to having cycle lanes,
particularly in big cities like Wellington, Auckland, Christ Jurche just
for the vibrancyed the life. They are nice places to
(20:04):
be when they're well designed and accessible.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Right, they absolutely are. I'm going to start sounding like
I don't believe in democracy because I think this is
another area where we need some cross party agreement. In
the transport area, of course we need roads, good roads,
decent roads, all of that. But of course we also
need public transport and cycle ways and things for pedestrians
(20:29):
because we want people to have all of those options,
some of which are much better for their health and
for the planet. But you know, we also need sensible
spending on roads. Maybe it had gone a little bit,
you know, to one way, and now it's going a
bit the other way. But again, I see if there
was a sensible plan that everybody's stuck to, wouldn't that
(20:49):
be better? And what I hate, and that's why I
was a little bit cheeky about the tax paging. What
I hate about what I see at the moment is
this weird politicizing tribal culturals thing. You know, like you're
either you know, bad bad greenee, good greenee, you know,
bad cycle lanes goods. It's like, we need all these
things and just be sensible and spend the money evenly
(21:11):
across the board and stop being annoying.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Yeah, shame. I mean there's always been the case though,
isn't it. There are groups within any city or community
the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but they are quite
often the minority groups, and I would think I would
think most people within a community or city would be
pretty much in the middle. They can understand that we
can walk and chew gum at the same time. Yes,
we need roads, but we need cycle ways and there
(21:35):
are nice things we can do, particularly in inner cities,
that actually make it a better place to live for everybody.
But is it the fact Shane, that sometimes the councils
don't bring the community along with them on these decisions.
Night often it just seems to be that it gets
reported in the local paper that two hundred million dollars
is about to be spent on cycle ways and a
lot of people don't understand why.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
I think you'll get got over muscled by the very
clever Minister of Transport. It's about previous to the cut
was about three and a half percent of our total
transport costs. It's not as if we spend a large
chunk of our transport costs on bikes and walkways and
(22:16):
I think it's really important if you've got kids who
live local that they are able to walk to school safely,
they're able to ride their bike to school safely. I
think that's very important, and I think you can get
both of these things right. And remember, folks, we're actually
only talking about three and a half percent of our
total transport costs. That's probably three or four kilometers of
(22:41):
a highway.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Yeah. Absolutely, Now, I loved the story this week legal
battle to keep two hundred and thirty two thousand todd
has found in a roof, so the police and you
guys know the story, but for those who missed it,
the police say the money is probably tainted as the
proceeds of criminal activity, most likely drug dealing, so it
is liable to be seized and handed over to the Crown.
The couple Wishtim purchase at home, got into the roof
(23:07):
and found this two hundred and thirty two one thousand
dollars in cash and now are fighting to retain it
through the courts. Shane, I'll start with you. If you
found two hundred and thirty two thousand dollars in the
roof of your house, what would you do.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I'd go to the cops, because I'd be worried that
my previous occupier would come back and look for it.
That would worry the crap out of me. But I've
been doing a little bit of research over here Tyler
Tyler and Irene, and I've looked up the Bill of
Rights Article two point three. It's very clear in their
find its keepers losers weepers.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Find a keepers losers weepers, Irene. I mean, you know,
the other phrase is possession is nine tenths of the law.
If the police cannot prove that this is from the
proceeds of crime, should the couple be able to keep
this cash?
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (23:54):
See, I would be oh gosh, I would be so
tempted to keep it. But actually Shane's right because it
was so obviously dodgy money, cause apparently it's all like
ya impact and the serial numbers and you know, the
whole So yeah, you'd probably be a bit nervous that,
you know who actually who's ever money.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
It sort of technically was well, you know, you wouldn't
want to knock on your door from any character down
the line.
Speaker 4 (24:16):
So these folk have done the right thing. Although my
slight worry is that because people maybe did would have
had a find as keeper's expectation. I'm kind of nervous
that the fact that the story is getting publicity, people
might now kind of think, well, I'm not going to
the cops.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
I'll just keep it.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
And I wonder if they might be a little compromise
where you get a little bit of the money back.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
It's like a reward for you know, landers fee.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
Yeah, because that seems kind of fair. And actually, I
mean to look this up and I didn't do either
of you know what happens to that proceeds of crime
money that the cops keep. Does that just go into
normal police expend its.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Some of it's tied. Some of it's tied to say,
uh save for instance, if it's a myth bus. Some
of it's tied to rehab. Interesting, so some are good,
some of it is tied.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, Well question for both of you and I heard
this talk back and it was a great discussion the
moral quandary of just finding small amounts of cash. So irene,
if you were walking down the street you saw a
hundred dollar note, would you think, oh, I better walk
down to the police station and letna no, not for a.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
Hundred In fact, I have That has happened to me twice.
Once was I was running around Victoria Park and the
Prada America's Cup team had just been training in the
park and they'd left, and one of them had dropped
a hundred dollar note, and I thought, and I thought.
And the other time I was walking past the Cavalier
(25:40):
Pub on early on a Saturday no Sunday morning after
a big All Blacks game, and someone had obviously dropped
it coming out of their pocket, and I thought, oh,
they could afford it as well, so I didn't. So
that's twice I've kept a hundred.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
No, I'd have to find very lucky.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
I'd have to find quite a lot to hand it in.
I think that would probably have to be I don't know,
five hundred before I would hand it.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
In, Okay, I was going to say a thousand Chaine.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
Well, I would tell you a little story. I was
about fourteen fifteen and we were uptown and the next
door neighbor, small town, drop five bucks on the going
and I put my foot on it. Yep, and he said,
do you want me to go and tell your mom
and dad? And I just said, I was just holding
it for you.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
So I'm very careful about this. No, to be honest,
what I'm back to be honest, what I'd.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Probably do is I'd put it in a local donation
thing or something like that. The only money I ever found,
I think a part of them from the five dollars
which wasn't mine, was about seventy bucks and was at
a super market and I gave it to the store owner.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Nice, very good. Yeah, right, got to take a break
after the break, should we ever? We chat about aut
to launch a Taylor Swift University course that's coming up
very shortly. You are listening to the Weekend Collective and
the panel Shamed to Po and Irene Gardner. It is
twenty minutes before News Talks. Eb. I'm enjoying that music.
(26:57):
You are listening to the Weekend Collective with Tyler Adams
filling in for Tim Beveridge on your Saturday afternoon. Great
to have your company. And you are listening to the
panel with Shanned To and Irene Gardner. Very interesting story, guys.
Aut to launch a Taylor Swift University course. So the
Auckland University of Technology has it now. It's that will
be launching this brand new class. It's called Taylor Swift
(27:18):
Communications Professional this summer. It is Australasia's first universe, sorry,
university level course studying the huge pop star. The new
summer school course, offered by the School of Communication Study,
will analyze It's eighteen year career through the lens of
communication disciplines. A media rely said on Wednesday, Irene, how
(27:39):
do you feel about a course about Taylor Swift from
a communications point of view?
Speaker 4 (27:44):
I think it's actually a really great idea and it'll
attract people, and it'll attract young people, which is good.
And I think it's very interesting that they're not doing
it from a music or songwriting lens, but they are
doing it through the lens of communication and handling the media,
living that life, and that's what she is a genius at.
(28:05):
She's an exceptionally good songwriter and performer as well, but
she that the thing of having a long career using
social media, not being afraid to be out front and center.
She is the master. I mean, she's obviously a very
bright young woman, and so I think that's quite interesting
actually to base something around that. So yeah, I should
(28:28):
almost quite like to do it myself.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Yeah, well, yeah, well, after reading their blurb, I actually
think it sounds very interesting, Shane. I mean, is this
what universities need to do now to attract with small
people into their institutions, because we all know they're in trouble.
They are leveraging a lot of money and clearly they
aren't getting the numbers through the door that they used.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
To strange how you lead it in with the west
Auckland Bogan anthem got Black the empathesis of a Taylor Sworft.
But I think if my daughter could probably pass a
doctorate on Taylor's worth then and I actually think it's smart.
I think it's about connecting young people to something that
is relevant to them. A very smart business woman. She's
(29:07):
created a not only a range of songs, but a movement.
And the other thing is that this was the woman
who took ownership of her destiny in terms of wrestling
back her catalog and had to, you know, show a
lot of resilience and re record. And I think, if
(29:28):
you know, I'm being involved in the communication game enough,
I think we could learn something from the way in
which Taylor Swift and the people handle themselves. I think
it's smart.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
I wont know who's going to teach it Irene, you
should put your hand up.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
I'd quite like to, actually, but I think I might
need to do the course first and learn it. I
remember seeing Taylor on Graham Norton a few years back
when she was actually I think she was still only
in her twenties in that stage, and she was on
with a couple of older people, one of whom was
John Cleese and I can't remember who the other one
was now an older man, and they were quite patronizing
to her, and I remember thinking I hadn't really massively
(30:02):
followed her up to that point, but she was so smart,
and she was so dignified, and she sort of really
put them in their place without either of them realizing
that she was putting them in their place, because they
were sort of treating her like, you know, fluffy, little
poppy girly, and she ran rings around them. It was
very impressive.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
She is a force of nature, isn't she, And as
you say, phenomenal artist and a very good musician. I'm
not a massive fan, but I enjoy her music. But
she is a formidable business woman, no doubt about that now, guys. Obviously,
the other big event this week was the New Malti
queen crowned. Nawai Junu at tepl Paki, the only daughter
and youngest child of the former Malti king, was revealed
(30:41):
as the new queen on the final morning of the
sixth day tonguey hunger of her father, marking the beginning
of a new generation in the resistance movement. Shane and
this is just my thoughts. The coverage I think has
been quite commendable from media across the board, particularly TV one.
I will say that I have learned a great deal
about the process of a tonguey and certainly the marner
(31:02):
of an event like that.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Yeah no, no, all support to our media who fronted
up and did did a wonderful job in terms of
explaining not only the tongue tongue Hanah process, but a
bit about the king of Tongue and the history. I
think it's an inspired choice. I'm not I'm not tiny
we wiatt all, but I like the idea of Catana
(31:27):
and na wayn Poor Pucky was an inspired choice, not
the obvious choice. She has two older brothers, she is smart,
she is articulate, and I've seen her in action. She
reminds me I'm old enough to know her grandmother. But
the other thing is this is the sementation of what
we call the krhunga real generation that are very apt
(31:51):
and not only to our Parkier but to ol Mary
and I'm really looking forward to her, her her ongoing
corted or and her participating in the in the very
important discussions that we have to have as New Zealanders.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Irene, you think that the coverage and and the what
we've heard from media over the past week with the
tongue he has I suppose given more people knowledge of
what the king ey Tonga movement is about. I mean,
I speak for myself here that I was rather naive
about some of the complexities about kingy Tonga. Do you
(32:25):
think this week has brought some more people into the
mix about what is involved?
Speaker 4 (32:31):
Clear, Yes, I think it has, and I think that's
a very good thing. As you said, TVNZ's coverage has
been extant those rnz's actually, but nextally across the bord
it has been very good, but just yeah, really good.
And I think the thing that's starting to happen I
noticed it a lot with TVNZ and rn Z in particular,
but generally we're starting to get coverage of Maria issues,
(32:52):
Marii events much more through a Maori lens rather than
just you know, sort of packy ha.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
Coverage of a Maori event, if you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
So that's been lovely to see and I think it
really helps bring people along. And I think this is
in a really inspired choice picking her, I think for
the twelve the council who do the deciding. Obviously, you
know she does have two older brothers, so she must
have been seeing the one as the one who had
the right background, the right temperament, the right qualities, the
(33:23):
right education, et cetera for this role, this job. It
is a job, but yeah, it's it's it's the Kangero
generation and she's female, and to me, this is the future.
So this is kind of quite exciting. I think this
is this is this is the change, you know, and
I hope, I mean, we are a little bit we're
having a bit of a weird patch at the moment,
(33:44):
with you know, a few people choosing to sort of
push people in a slightly racist direction, and hopefully things
like this counteract that a bit and people understand that,
you know, the New New Zealand is not in any
way scary or horrible or.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
You know, just on that Shane, because you know, obviously
you know David Seymour has put himself at the front
and center, rightly or wrongly, of being a bit of
a lightning rod for some of these things. But he
was there, he turned up and paid his respects. Do
you think that you know, clearly that was a good
move from David CMA, But how did you see it
(34:20):
was that? Were you proud that David stored up and
he wouldn't have got a great reception for a lot
of people there, but he was there.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
To part respect. He well, I wouldn't say proud. I
think it was the right thing for him to do.
And actually I was on the Mara earlier on that
day and he got a warm reception, you know, a
welcoming reception, and I was, look, I vote on the left.
I'm not a fan of this current Prime ministers, but
(34:47):
I thought it was a very apt speech that he delivered.
I felt that it was meaningful and he felt it.
But what I'm hoping is to show a leadership post
the tongue hunter, and that the that the that the
Prime Minister can follow in the footsteps of the of
tuhitia and call for a sense of unity and called Tahitana.
And that's what I'm looking for in terms of next
(35:09):
week speech from the Prime Minister. Because here's the thing
about the twenty seven year olds, the thirty year olds
and under thirty five's, they don't have to hang ups
like fifty seven to fifty eight year olds. They just
get on with life and they see the maldiness of
all childre on New Zealand as part of their daily lives.
They just don't have the hang ups.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
Yeah, yeah, very nicely said. Right, got to take a
quick break then we'll wrap it all up. It is
eight minutes to four. You are listening to the panel
with Shane to Poe and Irene Gardner. We've got about
forty seconds left, guys, Irene, I just want to pick
from you all blacks versus South Africa. Who's going to
win South Africa. Oh okay, controversial, sh oh, you've not
(35:49):
Shane back so much. They get your good praces.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Buttery, yeah, I fear you may be right. But what
pleases me is there's been a bit of muscle showing
with some chiefs players, less reliance on crusaders.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Picking a Blacks to win, Yeah, fantastic, me too, and
razorship breakdowns if he does get a win. Guys, thank
you very much. Really enjoyed that chat. You have a
great rest of your weekend.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
That is Shane Tobo and Irene Gardner, News, Sport and
Weather on its way. We'll see you on the other side.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to News
Talk st B weekends from three pm, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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