1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: Kiyota. 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 2: daily podcast. 4 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: Presented by the New Zealand Herald. 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 2: From humble beginnings to a rising star in the National Party, 6 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 2: James Meagher's journey to the Beehive has been rapid, to 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 2: say the least. In just two years, he's gone from 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 2: delivering his maiden speech to becoming a Minister of the Crown, 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 2: tackling portfolios of youth hunting and Fishing and the newly 10 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 2: established South Island Portfolio. 11 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: So how do we make sure every. 12 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 2: Young person in New Zealand gets the best possible start 13 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 2: in life? And what does it actually mean to be 14 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 2: Minister for the South Island Today? On the Front Page, 15 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 2: James Meagher joins us to discuss what the trajectory from 16 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 2: party staffer to minister has been like and what the 17 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 2: future holds. 18 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: For the kid from Timorrout. 19 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 2: James, A couple of years since your maiden speech. 20 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: From what I remember, you got some pretty good reactions 21 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:16,199 Speaker 1: from it. Were you surprised by that. 22 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 3: A little bit? 23 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 4: I think everyone always pays attention to the first maiden 24 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 4: speech because it's you know, it's the opening of Parliament. 25 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 3: But I didn't quite expect the reaction. 26 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 4: To my particular speech, so it was it was very 27 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 4: company to know that people out there were watching and 28 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 4: listening and send some really kind feedback. 29 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 3: It's really great. 30 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, this line stood out to me. 31 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 2: Actually, you said, but instead we have a system which 32 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 2: creates broken families and turns good people into lost souls. 33 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: Can you explain what you meant by this? Can you 34 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: give an example. 35 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 3: I think what I. 36 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 4: Was trying to mean by that was that, you know, 37 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 4: I come from background where we didn't have a lot 38 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 4: of resources growing up, and so one of the challenges 39 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 4: I think we have with government is a government sometimes 40 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 4: makes it too difficult for people from underresource backgrounds to 41 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 4: navigate the system, and they get lost and they get 42 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 4: frustrated and then things don't go so well. So I 43 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 4: was thinking in terms of accessing social support services. But 44 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 4: also if we don't give young people the kinds of 45 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 4: education opportunities they need through public schooling or even private education, 46 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 4: people can get lost as well. 47 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 3: So that's kind of where I was hitting. 48 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 2: And it's been a pretty quick rise to minister for you, 49 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 2: it seems. What's it like going from Paula Bennett's Press 50 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: sec to now a Minister of the Crown. 51 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 4: Well, I think what I didn't realize was how busy 52 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 4: Paula would have been and how busy ministers are. They 53 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 4: kind of hide it from the staff a little bit 54 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 4: and you don't get a full picture of everything that 55 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:37,519 Speaker 4: ministers do. 56 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 3: But it's been really eye opening. 57 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 4: To just see the amount of reading you need to do, 58 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 4: the travel you do, the challenges that you have to 59 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 4: deal with. I've got a lot of admiration for people 60 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 4: who can do this for six nine years, and even 61 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 4: having done it for six months now, I can see 62 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 4: why it takes its toll on a lot of ministers. 63 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 4: So I'm very impressed for anyone that can stick it 64 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 4: out for a certain length of time. 65 00:02:57,680 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: Do you reckon you're going to stick it out for 66 00:02:59,080 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 1: six to nine years? 67 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 3: Well, I hope, So. 68 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 4: I hope I can be in this role for as 69 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 4: long as I can make a difference in as long 70 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 4: as I've got the confidence of the PM to be 71 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 4: part of his team. I think, you know, in youth 72 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 4: and in my South Island portfolio and in transport, we're 73 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 4: making some good progress in some key areas. Just a 74 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 4: couple of weeks ago we had the Youth Parliament here, 75 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 4: which was great to see lots of young people bringing 76 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 4: their for wester to Parliament. But also in that transport role, 77 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 4: trying to make a difference for consumers around air fears 78 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 4: and regional connectivity. So as long as I can keep 79 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 4: making positive improvements and differences to government, I'd like. 80 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 3: To be able to stick around. 81 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, because how much your return flights from Wellington to 82 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 2: Tamaru At the moment. 83 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 4: They could be upwards of four to five hundred dollars 84 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 4: each way depending on when you. 85 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: Book god, And is it your job to try and 86 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: get them down. 87 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 3: Well, I think as much as possible. 88 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 4: Part of it is making sure that the connectivity is reliable, 89 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 4: so we've extended reporting for on time performance to the 90 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 4: regions for the first time, so people know exactly how 91 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 4: reliable their flights are. And then of course it's assisting 92 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 4: the likes of their New Zealand, but also our smaller 93 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 4: regional carriers with workforce make sure they've got enough engineers 94 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 4: and pilots, making sure they've got access to the parts. 95 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 4: All of that goes in to gum up the system, 96 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 4: makes it more difficult for them to operate, which makes 97 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 4: the costs pass on to consumers, So that's all part 98 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 4: of the mix, and airfares for consumers is probably the 99 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 4: biggest focus, especially if you live in the regions. 100 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 3: It's expensive to travel. 101 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 4: Sometimes you've got to travel by road quite a lot 102 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 4: just to get to the airport and then pay eight 103 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 4: nine hundred bucks to fly north or fly south. So 104 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 4: speak focus for me, particularly for our royal communities. 105 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 3: Mister speaker. 106 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:33,679 Speaker 4: This is why we are all here to debate freely, 107 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 4: to have an open, robust contest of ideas, to challenge 108 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 4: one another in an environment where disputes are resolved by 109 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 4: the showing of hands and not by the throwing of fists. 110 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 4: But the speaker, we are here to represent the people 111 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 4: who put us here, and some of us are here 112 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 4: to disrupt and to challenge the status quo. 113 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 3: And I get that, and I really do. But in 114 00:04:58,240 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 3: doing so we must respect this institution. 115 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 2: I mean, let's have a look at your other portfolios 116 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 2: as well. So we've got Hunting and Fishing, Youth South 117 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 2: Island and of course we've just mentioned Associate Transport. 118 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: First off, why does the South Island need a minister? 119 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 4: Well, I think the South Island always needs a good 120 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 4: voice in Wellington in Parliament sometimes I think because we're 121 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 4: so distant and because we're off. 122 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 3: Doing our own independent things. 123 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 4: You know, we're a parochial, independent bunch down South and 124 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 4: often we like to be left alone. But also we 125 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 4: like to make sure that we're playing our role in 126 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 4: things like growing the economy and producing the exports. So 127 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 4: it's a recognition that sometimes maybe we can't get that 128 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 4: cut through into Wellington, into the bureaucracy. 129 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 3: So hopefully I can. 130 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 4: Be a voice for different projects and different issues around 131 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 4: the South Island, things like you know, raising the possibility 132 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,039 Speaker 4: of turning in vo cargo into a data center, or 133 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 4: to look at what the opportunities are in Queenstown for 134 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 4: film tourism and health tourism and bringing those ideas to 135 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 4: the relative ministers and trying to promote them as much 136 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 4: as I can. 137 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 2: Right, So it's not really just all about cake cutting 138 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,239 Speaker 2: and baby holding and taking photos and stuff. 139 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: There's actually something tangible that you're doing. 140 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 4: Well, it's far more, far more important than their cake 141 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 4: cutting in the ribbon snipping. Yeah, it's actually about you know, 142 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:20,359 Speaker 4: the South Island's got a big role to play in 143 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 4: terms of growing our tourism sector, growing our agricultural sector. 144 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 4: If we want to double our exports, it's not just 145 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 4: about sending twice as much stuff overseas, it's about doing 146 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 4: it in a cleverer way. So looking at how we 147 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 4: can invest in tech, making sure that the South plays 148 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 4: its role there, and I would like us to have 149 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 4: a disproportionate impact on our country's growth story so that 150 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 4: people can be really proud of what we produce down south. 151 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 3: It's not a North versus South issue. 152 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 4: It's really about how do I make sure we get 153 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 4: the best out of the West Coast, out of the 154 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 4: top of the South, out of Canbry, out of a 155 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 4: Tigo and everything in between. And if there are gaps 156 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 4: or if there are projects that need to be focused 157 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 4: on by Wellington, I can bring those to the attention 158 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 4: of the relevant ministers. 159 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 2: A lot of towns in the South Island flooded in 160 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 2: recent weeks. 161 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: We've covered this a bit of on the podcast already. 162 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 2: What do we need to do to kind of future 163 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: proof towns like say Nelson and Tasman. 164 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 4: We need to look at what investment we're making into 165 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 4: our flood protection and resiliency projects. So the first round 166 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 4: of regional infrastructure projects we're all around reinforcing floodbanks and 167 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 4: stop banks and making sure we've got those protections in place. 168 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 4: There are particularly vulnerable areas up and down the South Island. 169 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 4: If you think of you on the West coast, you've 170 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 4: got one road in and one road out, and if 171 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 4: there are slips or there are access points cut off, 172 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 4: that makes it very difficult to get around and live 173 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 4: your life. And where I come from in South Canterbury, 174 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 4: between Timor and christ Church, there's six bridges on State 175 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 4: Highway one. If any one of those bridges goes out, 176 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 4: then you've got a long detour and that's cost and 177 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 4: time and good. So making sure we've got good, reliable infrastructure, 178 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 4: making sure that we are planning properly and that we've 179 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 4: got a pipeline of growth through our sort of thirty. 180 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 3: Year infrastructure plans. 181 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 4: But importantly to be able to pay for that, we 182 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 4: have to have the economy to be able to do that. 183 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 4: So you know, it's sort of a little bit chicken 184 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 4: and egg. You want to invest in the infrastructure, but 185 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 4: you've got to have the money to do that. To 186 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 4: do that, you've got to get the growth. To get 187 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 4: the growth, you've got to have the infrastructure, so you've 188 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 4: got to do everything at once. 189 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 2: And in terms of down South, I know my producer 190 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 2: said that he knows a lot of people that have 191 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 2: moved down south recently. He's only just heard of Selwyn 192 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 2: in particular, which I've heard is booming for the last decade. 193 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 2: But I mean in terms of these regions and people saying, hey, 194 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 2: you know what, I don't want to spend one thousand 195 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 2: dollars a week rent in Auckland. I want to go 196 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 2: down south. I want to go to Ashburn and Timoru 197 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 2: things like that. Is the South getting enough support from 198 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 2: central government to cope with this boom? 199 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 4: I think we could always have more Everyone could always 200 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 4: have more support ever in the country, right, Like if 201 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 4: we had an unlimited money tree, we would invest across 202 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 4: the board, but we are limited as to what we 203 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 4: can do. I think down South we get a good 204 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,359 Speaker 4: shake of the stick. I think we've got significant investments 205 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 4: in large health projects, like in Dneina Nelson. We've got 206 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 4: some substantial infrastructure projects coming in and around. You know, 207 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 4: we're getting a second ash Burton Bridge finally, and there's 208 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 4: a number of water projects going in and around two 209 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 4: In terms of housing, you saw that Queenstown Lakes. 210 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 3: Are the first ones off the board. 211 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 4: For the regional deal and a lot of that will 212 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:25,839 Speaker 4: be to do with how do we support the infrastructure 213 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 4: to facilitate more housing growth because, as you mentioned, eighty 214 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 4: thousand people from the North Island moved to the South 215 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 4: Island over the last five years. It's a really attractive 216 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 4: place to come and live. Housing's affordable, lifestyle is great, 217 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 4: the scenery is Amazingourage actually more Northolanders to move down. 218 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 4: I will pick you up from the airport Cholsea and 219 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 4: show you around and show you them open homes if 220 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 4: you're willing to come down. 221 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: God, you think that I have the money to purchase 222 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 1: a property at the moment. That's nice. 223 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 2: Well, speaking of things that I've seen on the internet, 224 00:09:55,840 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: James is the Youth Minister required to participate in TikTok 225 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:03,359 Speaker 2: dances or was that a choice? 226 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:04,599 Speaker 3: It's not mandatory. 227 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 4: But I'm always out there to advocate for and represent 228 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,319 Speaker 4: my constituents. So when you're out there in Pottydoo and 229 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 4: you're talking with young people and youth organizations and they 230 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 4: ask you to do a trend or a TikTok dance, 231 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 4: you oblige right, and they promised me it wouldn't be difficult. 232 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 4: We practiced a long time for that thirty second video, 233 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 4: and I think, you know, if I came off moderately competent, 234 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 4: I think that's a success. 235 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 2: I could see you counting in your head during that. 236 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:39,679 Speaker 2: But I mean in terms of youth and that portfolio 237 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 2: from your maidens speech, I can see that you have 238 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 2: a passion for young people and to make sure that 239 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 2: they get the best start in life, and your mom 240 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,079 Speaker 2: sounds like she was a huge part of that. How 241 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 2: do we make sure the kids, perhaps with who don't 242 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 2: have mothers like yours, get the best start in life. 243 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 4: I think that's the point one of the key reasons 244 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 4: that I'm in politics. It's because you know, I acknowledge 245 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 4: that I was quite fortunate to have mum who drove 246 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 4: us into education, who got us to school, and I 247 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 4: know that not ever runs in that situation. So that 248 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 4: is where your community, your neighborhood, and you know, even 249 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 4: the state can step up and provide that kind of 250 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 4: support that maybe some kids aren't fortunate enough to have 251 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 4: in their households. 252 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 3: And honestly, I think. 253 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 4: One of the best ways we can do that is 254 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 4: through the social investment approach, the idea that if we 255 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 4: take the time to look about what actually works, to 256 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 4: invest in the programs for young people early on, you 257 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 4: can get the benefits in the low run, not only 258 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,559 Speaker 4: for the taxpayer in terms of money saved through the 259 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,679 Speaker 4: welfare system and through the health system and education, but 260 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 4: also just to improve the well being and the outlooks 261 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 4: for those young kids. I think that's really really important. 262 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 4: So that's a key focus for me in my youth portfolio. 263 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 4: We look at twelve to twenty four, so not quite 264 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 4: at that bottom end, which is more of the education 265 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 4: and health space. But I'm trying to refocus the department 266 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 4: so that the funding that we do have can target 267 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 4: those young people, getting them into employment and education. Looking 268 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 4: at young parents as well, because if we don't support them, 269 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 4: it's their children that are going to feel the brunt 270 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 4: of it in the long run. 271 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,200 Speaker 2: How do we get twenty year olds to stay in 272 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 2: New Zealand though, and not go off to Australia. 273 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 3: The best thing we can do is to give them opportunities. 274 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 4: And at the moment, you know, we've got a neighbor 275 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 4: in Australia that is they're a very wealthy country and 276 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 4: a very attractive place to go and work and to 277 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 4: earn a living. 278 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:23,719 Speaker 3: It's not perfect over there. I know. 279 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 4: I've got friends and relatives who have moved there for 280 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 4: work and have buyers remorse. 281 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,959 Speaker 3: Sometimes there's nothing like working and living at home. 282 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 4: But ultimately, we've got to create an economy where there 283 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 4: are jobs and. 284 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 3: Opportunities for young people. 285 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 4: We've got to create a society where I think people 286 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 4: feel supported and feel like they can raise a family 287 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 4: and live in a safe, secure country. And all of 288 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,239 Speaker 4: that takes time. It's not going to be turned around overnight. 289 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 4: And one of the things that Australia does have is 290 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 4: that they've got an enormous amount of resources that they use, 291 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 4: and I think we've got the same opportunity. We can 292 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 4: do it in a sustainable, environmentally appropriate way and it's 293 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 4: important for us for our tourism. But there is more 294 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 4: we could do to encourage our resources sect or our 295 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:07,199 Speaker 4: energy sectors, our construction sectors to be able to keep 296 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 4: those young people here in New Zealand. 297 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: Are we doing enough at the moment. 298 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 4: I think we're on the right track. I think we 299 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 4: can always do more. It's challenging because you've got to 300 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 4: have consensus across political parties and in the public for 301 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 4: these kinds of projects, and if you move too far, 302 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 4: too fast, it can create pushback, say with some sectors. 303 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 4: So if we can't convince the public and take them 304 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 4: with us that this is the right thing to do, 305 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 4: and even convince some of our colleagues across the aisle 306 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 4: that look, actually, we can do particular pieces of mining 307 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 4: and resource extraction and constructing new dams and new hydro 308 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 4: and new solar power in a way which still maintains 309 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 4: extraordinary environmental outcomes. If we can convince them with that 310 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 4: and make sure those projects are long lasting, then we 311 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,559 Speaker 4: can move a little bit more quickly. But we've got 312 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 4: to do the groundwork first, and we're very much aware 313 00:13:57,960 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 4: that not everyone is in the same space as were 314 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 4: the same. Mister Goldsmith did outline very clearly our long 315 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 4: held position on this bill and the reasons why we 316 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 4: will vote for it to go to. 317 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 3: A Slept Committee hearing, but no further. 318 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 4: A coalition agreement with Act stipulates we will quote introduce 319 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 4: a treaty principle's bill based on existing Act policy and 320 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 4: support it to a Select committee as soon as practicable 321 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 4: we will honor this commitment and support this bill to 322 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 4: Select Committee. 323 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 3: So Speaker, we will also. 324 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 4: Honor our pre election commitment and vote against the bill 325 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 4: at second reading. 326 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 2: And now I was introduced to you through the Justice 327 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 2: Select Committee. In my former life, I was a crime 328 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 2: and Justice reporter, so I watched a couple of seasons 329 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 2: of that and you oversaw the Treaty Principle's Bill chat. 330 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: How was that? From your end? 331 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 3: It was an interesting process. 332 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 4: I find it interesting you describe the Justice Committee as 333 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 4: a season like it's almost like a show. 334 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 2: I'm not sure many people actually, he said there watched 335 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 2: them all. 336 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 4: Well, no one just watches them from season to season. 337 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 4: That you did, I'm sure, But I mean the Treaty 338 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 4: Principles Bill process was interesting because it was a real 339 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 4: lesson in how select committees actually to get the work done. 340 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 4: We have to generally work together across political parties. And 341 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 4: if anyone out there is interested, they go back and 342 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 4: read the Select Committee report. It's got an appendix that 343 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 4: lists all the decisions that were made by the Select Committee, 344 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 4: and by and large, they were all done unanimously. And 345 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 4: that's because they all recognize whether or not you agreed 346 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 4: with the bill or not. The number of submissions and 347 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 4: the amount of work that needed to be undertaken meant 348 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 4: that we had to work together to get the job done, 349 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 4: and I think generally we did a pretty good job. 350 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 4: I think we treated submitters with respect, We heard every 351 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 4: kind of argument you could hear, and at the end 352 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 4: of the day we produced a report that the Parliament 353 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 4: went and voted on. So it was an interesting process. 354 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 4: It was a good lesson in diplomacy. I'm sure the 355 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 4: Parliament learned some lessons about how to run submissions, and 356 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 4: I think we need to be looking at what the 357 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 4: select committee process is and should be for in the future, 358 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 4: because we're seeing a lot of submissions coming in that 359 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 4: are one or two lines now, whereas that process, you know, 360 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 4: generally is to try and improve an enhance and amen legislation, 361 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 4: and it's not supposed to be an advocacy piece or 362 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 4: a set piece for political actions. So I wonder whether 363 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 4: or not we need to review what the purpose of 364 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 4: select committees are so that we can maintain the public 365 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 4: access into the legislative process without flooding the system so 366 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 4: much that nothing can happen. 367 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: So what are your future ambitions in Parliament. 368 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 4: Well, I would love to stick around as a minister 369 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 4: as much as possible. Obviously, we've got an electoral cycle, 370 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 4: so very soon we'll probably move to you know, trying 371 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 4: to convince the public to give us another three years 372 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 4: to continue working on. 373 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 3: This program, and I'd like to be a part of that. 374 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 4: I'd like to continue being part of a government. I'd 375 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 4: obviously take any opportunity in the ministry that the Prime 376 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 4: Minister would present me with, but there are areas that 377 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 4: I'm passionate about. I would love to assist Paul Goldsmith 378 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 4: in the justice space in Erica, Stanford and Nugic. So 379 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 4: part of the South Island portfolio which is really exciting 380 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 4: to me is that I can do that. I can 381 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:07,919 Speaker 4: go out and visit schools on behalf of Erica and 382 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 4: feedback to them what the education needs are in the 383 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 4: South Island. I can meet with corrections and police around 384 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 4: the South Island and see where there are places we 385 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 4: can improve our performance in and around maybe Central Targo 386 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 4: or up in Nelson. So I'm just really enthusiastic about 387 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 4: continuing to try and make a positive difference to the 388 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 4: country and if I can do that as long as possible, 389 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 4: they'd be great. 390 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 2: A lot of chat after your maiden speech. Actually, what 391 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 2: do you make of that when people say you have 392 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 2: the potential to become a prime minister of this country 393 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 2: one day. 394 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:42,200 Speaker 4: Well, I think that's all very premature and probably designed 395 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:46,400 Speaker 4: to click a few headlines here and there. Ultimately, I'm 396 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 4: really proud to be the MP for Rangatata. I love 397 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 4: where I come from. I come from Timur. I'm very 398 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 4: proud of it. It's the rivi Era of the South. 399 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 4: It's got the country's best hat water. It is a 400 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 4: great place to grow up and live, and I'm really 401 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 4: proud to represent it. I don't think I could ever 402 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 4: represent another part of the country. 403 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 3: So I'm just. 404 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,439 Speaker 4: Really happy to be the MP, really really privileged to 405 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 4: be a minister so quickly in this term, and just 406 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 4: focused on doing that job right. 407 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us, James. 408 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:14,159 Speaker 3: No worries. Thanks hearing me. 409 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 2: That's it for this episode of The Front Page. You 410 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 2: can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage 411 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 2: at enziherld dot co dot MZ. 412 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: The Front Page is produced by. 413 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 2: Ethan Sills and Richard Martin, who is also our editor. 414 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: I'm Chelsea Daniels. 415 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 2: Subscribe to the front page on iHeartRadio or wherever you 416 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,360 Speaker 2: get your podcasts. 417 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,840 Speaker 1: And tune in tomorrow for another look behind the headlines.