WEBVTT - Leighton Smith Podcast #262 - October 30th 2024 - Bryan Leyland and Christian Smith 0:00:09.133 --> 0:00:12.013 You're listening to a podcast from News Talks. It be 0:00:12.413 --> 0:00:16.213 follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio. 0:00:16.773 --> 0:00:19.813 It's time for all the attitude, all the opinion, all 0:00:19.853 --> 0:00:22.253 the information, all the debates. 0:00:21.973 --> 0:00:24.293 Of theists, now. 0:00:24.293 --> 0:00:27.493 The Layton Smith Podcast powered by News Talks. 0:00:27.493 --> 0:00:30.013 It be Welcome to podcasts two hundred and sixty two 0:00:30.133 --> 0:00:33.973 for October thirty, twenty twenty four. I was just twelve 0:00:33.973 --> 0:00:37.013 weeks ago that we spoke with power engineer Brian Leyland 0:00:37.133 --> 0:00:43.213 on electricity supply inadequacies. But his concern has since deepened, 0:00:44.013 --> 0:00:48.293 so we update and consider whether nuclear power deserves more attention. 0:00:48.733 --> 0:00:51.373 And it hits up me as it does. Last year 0:00:51.413 --> 0:00:55.213 when we were in London, Christian Smith, whom I am 0:00:55.253 --> 0:00:58.973 closely related, podcasted on life in London for young New 0:00:59.093 --> 0:01:03.333 Zealanders in particular. It was appreciated by a large number 0:01:03.333 --> 0:01:07.613 of people. Media commentary recently seems to suggest that the 0:01:07.893 --> 0:01:13.293 young are fleeing Britain. Have things changed since July twenty three? Well, 0:01:13.373 --> 0:01:16.533 yes and no, and Christian's got plenty to say. Now 0:01:16.533 --> 0:01:18.733 I don't really need to point out that from today 0:01:18.773 --> 0:01:22.093 there is one week to the most important election, If 0:01:22.133 --> 0:01:25.693 not ever, then certainly in our lifetimes. There are some 0:01:25.733 --> 0:01:28.013 people who are bored with it or don't like it 0:01:28.053 --> 0:01:30.853 around interested. I feel sorry for them, to be honest, 0:01:31.653 --> 0:01:37.333 because this is an incredibly, incredibly important election that affects 0:01:37.413 --> 0:01:40.813 the whole world and that includes US. So at the 0:01:40.853 --> 0:01:42.693 back end of two six two I'll drop in some 0:01:42.733 --> 0:01:46.133 aspects of this election that are worthy of attention in 0:01:46.173 --> 0:01:51.853 my opinion, But first COVID inquiries that are getting attention 0:01:51.973 --> 0:01:54.573 on both sides of the Tasman and Britain and the 0:01:54.733 --> 0:01:59.013 US and elsewhere. And I choose to quote Robert McCulloch 0:01:59.333 --> 0:02:02.813 who guessed it on podcasts two fifty one. McCulloch is 0:02:02.893 --> 0:02:06.053 a professor of economics at Auckland University who has the 0:02:06.453 --> 0:02:11.493 ability to be a brutally honest well in his opinion 0:02:12.173 --> 0:02:18.133 and be offensive in his criticism to some, including some 0:02:18.173 --> 0:02:21.213 good acquaintances of mind as it happens, it is though 0:02:21.293 --> 0:02:24.493 a case of free speech, like it or not now 0:02:24.533 --> 0:02:27.613 in his blog down to Earth Kiwi, the Australians make 0:02:27.653 --> 0:02:31.813 it official. Labour leader Hipkins, aided by his henchmen in 0:02:31.853 --> 0:02:36.173 the mainstream media, wrecked New Zealand's economy by ordering vaccine's 0:02:36.293 --> 0:02:40.053 late and destroyed trust in our government. I think it's 0:02:40.053 --> 0:02:42.373 more to it than that, to be honest, but nevertheless, 0:02:42.733 --> 0:02:45.613 this is his opinion and I shall air it. Days 0:02:45.653 --> 0:02:48.853 after this blog released its two minute COVID Inquiry, which 0:02:48.853 --> 0:02:53.093 I argued Labour leader and former COVID nineteen minister Chris Hipkins, 0:02:53.373 --> 0:02:57.733 together with former PM A Dern and Health Chief Ashley Bloomfield, 0:02:58.413 --> 0:03:02.133 ordered the COVID vaccine late, which crushed the New Zealand 0:03:02.133 --> 0:03:06.213 economy and smashed trust in government as it forced them 0:03:06.253 --> 0:03:09.453 into an over reliance on lockdown. In twenty twenty one, 0:03:09.973 --> 0:03:15.013 the Australian COVID Inquiry has released near identical findings, almost 0:03:15.253 --> 0:03:19.013 word for word, and briefly the first wide ranging inquiry 0:03:19.053 --> 0:03:22.413 into the nation's pandemic. This is Australia Response has found 0:03:22.693 --> 0:03:27.013 delays procuring COVID nineteen vaccine cost lives and delivered a 0:03:27.213 --> 0:03:31.133 thirty one billion hit to the economy. In New Zealand's case, 0:03:31.173 --> 0:03:33.773 it was a fifteen billion dollar hit, which is why 0:03:33.853 --> 0:03:38.573 our health system is now underfunded, infrastructure crumbles and teachers 0:03:38.693 --> 0:03:43.133 are underpaid. Then if we swing to his closing, New 0:03:43.213 --> 0:03:47.493 Zealand does not need to waste more money on COVID inquiries. 0:03:48.533 --> 0:03:52.413 The Australians have done ours for us. It matches what 0:03:52.533 --> 0:03:55.653 this blog argued in twenty twenty one, as evidenced by 0:03:55.693 --> 0:03:59.933 our writings and radio interviews, maybe more than any other institution. 0:04:00.293 --> 0:04:04.573 Our mainstream media Radio New Zealand One News, Herald, News 0:04:04.613 --> 0:04:08.773 Hub and stuff, should take a look at themselves and 0:04:08.933 --> 0:04:13.213 ask why they sold out kiwis by not objectively scrutinizing 0:04:13.693 --> 0:04:17.973 the New Zealand government during those times. So there is 0:04:18.053 --> 0:04:22.533 more after the mail room, the back end of the 0:04:22.573 --> 0:04:25.773 mainstream media at its place in the world. And while 0:04:25.773 --> 0:04:27.613 there is so much more than we can deal with, 0:04:27.773 --> 0:04:30.213 we'll do our best to point out a couple of 0:04:30.613 --> 0:04:45.853 interesting factors now in a moment. Brian Leland Laighton Smith. 0:04:46.053 --> 0:04:49.253 Brian Leyland is a consulting engineer with the experience in 0:04:49.293 --> 0:04:52.853 all aspects of the power industry, and that experience covers 0:04:52.973 --> 0:04:57.573 over fifty decades. We last spoke with him only twelve well, 0:04:57.653 --> 0:04:59.733 I say only twelve weeks ago, because it seems like 0:05:00.133 --> 0:05:03.613 it was only about five or six, but in podcasts 0:05:03.693 --> 0:05:06.213 number two hundred and fifty I think it was, And 0:05:06.253 --> 0:05:10.573 now we're doing two hundred and sixty to Brian appreciate 0:05:10.693 --> 0:05:17.013 your time and appreciate even more your input the subjects 0:05:17.053 --> 0:05:20.053 of electricity supply in this country. When we spoke twelve 0:05:20.053 --> 0:05:23.373 weeks ago, you were disturbed, but now you are even 0:05:23.613 --> 0:05:30.573 more concerned over the continued supply and reliability of electric 0:05:30.693 --> 0:05:32.453 power in this country. Correct. 0:05:33.493 --> 0:05:34.733 Correct, We. 0:05:36.333 --> 0:05:40.253 Scraped through the shortage because it rained just in time. 0:05:40.373 --> 0:05:43.613 The legs were at a lower level than they've ever 0:05:43.653 --> 0:05:46.413 been before, and if it hadn't rained, we would have 0:05:46.533 --> 0:05:51.493 had blackouts. But even then we had shortages that led 0:05:51.533 --> 0:05:55.813 to shutdown in two industries, So in a way we 0:05:55.853 --> 0:06:00.133 did have blackouts, but not affecting the consumer. So we're 0:06:00.173 --> 0:06:02.253 in a serious situation now. 0:06:02.333 --> 0:06:07.653 The MDAG, the market developed an advisory group that existed 0:06:07.693 --> 0:06:13.133 between twenty seventeen and February of this year, has what 0:06:13.173 --> 0:06:13.853 do we call. 0:06:13.693 --> 0:06:18.813 Them past it's had a look at als degeneration going forward, 0:06:19.973 --> 0:06:23.053 and it's all based on some very dubious assumptions. 0:06:23.573 --> 0:06:26.733 All right, now you've gone through this and it must 0:06:26.733 --> 0:06:30.533 have taken you some time. You've drawn up some conclusions 0:06:30.933 --> 0:06:34.453 on your part, and so you've posed some questions. Shall 0:06:34.453 --> 0:06:36.293 we run through them or some of them? 0:06:36.693 --> 0:06:38.453 Yeah? I think that's a good idea right. 0:06:38.533 --> 0:06:42.413 So, starting at the top, a basic assumption is that domestic, 0:06:42.493 --> 0:06:46.493 industrial and commercial consumers will be happy to make major 0:06:46.613 --> 0:06:50.973 changes in their behavior. For domestic consumers, most of the 0:06:51.053 --> 0:06:53.813 changes will save less than a few dollars a day. 0:06:54.293 --> 0:06:58.133 For commercial consumers like officers and shops that need to 0:06:58.173 --> 0:07:01.413 reduce consumption will in most cases lead to losses in 0:07:01.453 --> 0:07:06.213 sales or productivity. So what is your question? 0:07:06.773 --> 0:07:08.613 Okay, just a little bit of background. 0:07:09.373 --> 0:07:14.133 The assumptions behind all this are but we haven't gone 0:07:14.133 --> 0:07:18.653 that generating capacity and therefore the consumers are going to 0:07:18.693 --> 0:07:22.573 have to respond otherwise we'll have blackouts and they're looking 0:07:22.613 --> 0:07:28.573 at having a massive response from consumers. So question is, so, 0:07:28.733 --> 0:07:31.613 in the real world evidence from New Zealand or overseas, 0:07:32.133 --> 0:07:34.373 consumers will be happy to change the way their home 0:07:34.493 --> 0:07:38.613 or business runs to save a small amount nol thritty cost. 0:07:39.093 --> 0:07:42.573 And the answer appears to be absolutely not. They'll do 0:07:42.653 --> 0:07:46.773 a bit. And in the days when we made good 0:07:46.893 --> 0:07:50.613 use of water heating, we could reduce our load by 0:07:50.653 --> 0:07:54.573 five or ten percent just overpeak them on periods, but 0:07:54.653 --> 0:07:56.733 not enough to make a difference to a dry year, 0:07:57.173 --> 0:08:00.693 not enough to make a difference to the situation where 0:08:00.733 --> 0:08:03.493 the wind doesn't blow for several days. 0:08:03.333 --> 0:08:05.413 And we get those days now. 0:08:05.493 --> 0:08:05.773 Yeah. 0:08:05.853 --> 0:08:09.373 Another indeed, another assumption is that people will be happy 0:08:09.453 --> 0:08:12.173 to plug in their electric car and have the system 0:08:12.373 --> 0:08:15.493 deplete their battery whenever the system is in trouble. 0:08:16.173 --> 0:08:16.573 Yeah. 0:08:16.733 --> 0:08:18.813 Well, as far as I can make out, there's no 0:08:18.893 --> 0:08:22.333 evidence anywhere in the world of this being a substantial 0:08:22.653 --> 0:08:28.453 contributor to demand side management. And I can't imagine that 0:08:28.573 --> 0:08:32.493 people would want to risk having their battery flat when 0:08:32.573 --> 0:08:35.613 they get up in the morning just to safe make 0:08:35.693 --> 0:08:40.373 a few dollars selling pounds a year to the system. 0:08:40.933 --> 0:08:45.613 Well, that that's being reflected, it makes sense. Yeah, that's that's. 0:08:45.453 --> 0:08:51.253 Reflected in in this In this next observation, another assumption 0:08:51.773 --> 0:08:54.133 that sales of electric vehicles in New Zeala are going 0:08:54.133 --> 0:08:58.413 to increase rapidly. Yet the evidence indicates that now that 0:08:58.493 --> 0:09:03.213 the subsidies have been removed, the enthusiasm for electric cars 0:09:03.253 --> 0:09:06.933 has largely died away. Is that is that correct? 0:09:07.733 --> 0:09:12.973 Yes, that's dire, and I've got figures to prove it. 0:09:13.173 --> 0:09:17.693 Electric car sales this year were hardly greater than last year. 0:09:18.493 --> 0:09:20.773 And what you need for electric cars to be a 0:09:20.773 --> 0:09:26.173 success is something like a fifty increase year on year 0:09:26.293 --> 0:09:30.013 on year, and it's not happening anywhere in the world. 0:09:30.613 --> 0:09:34.253 And you must always remember that electric cars would not 0:09:34.373 --> 0:09:39.773 exist but the government mandates and subsidies. 0:09:40.813 --> 0:09:41.533 It isn't. 0:09:42.893 --> 0:09:45.773 An industry that would exist in a competitive situation. 0:09:46.653 --> 0:09:50.613 Let me throw it a personal observation here. It's my 0:09:50.733 --> 0:09:54.213 belief that part of the reason that is tied up 0:09:54.253 --> 0:09:57.773 with all this is that they want us out of 0:09:57.893 --> 0:10:01.573 cars anyway. They want us out of cars and into 0:10:02.613 --> 0:10:05.573 in the public transport, in the walking and on bikes 0:10:06.333 --> 0:10:10.013 and scooters and what have you. And they've made some 0:10:10.093 --> 0:10:15.293 progress in places like well, you've got your fifteen minute 0:10:15.773 --> 0:10:19.013 hounds that are developing around the country. I'm not sure 0:10:19.013 --> 0:10:21.173 how many there are, but there are some. But I 0:10:21.493 --> 0:10:25.373 always revert to Auckland, to Auckland Central for an example, 0:10:25.533 --> 0:10:29.933 where they've screwed up shockingly, disgracefully and very badly just 0:10:29.973 --> 0:10:32.053 to boot and wreck the city. 0:10:33.293 --> 0:10:35.853 Yeah, yeah, I know. The whole thing's crazy. 0:10:36.413 --> 0:10:39.453 And if you're looking to get people out of cars, 0:10:39.453 --> 0:10:41.213 and what you've got to do is provide them with 0:10:41.573 --> 0:10:46.253 a convenient door to door transport, and people are now 0:10:46.293 --> 0:10:50.653 developing electric self driving taxis that will do that job, 0:10:51.213 --> 0:10:55.693 and you know, the whole industry is waiting there to 0:10:55.733 --> 0:10:58.413 go ahead. Self driving is going to come sooner or later. 0:10:59.813 --> 0:11:02.973 You won't get people back into buses in the way 0:11:02.973 --> 0:11:05.613 that they expect, but you will get them into a 0:11:05.733 --> 0:11:08.973 self driving speaking their self driving service. 0:11:09.533 --> 0:11:12.653 You'd have to have a lot of them though. 0:11:13.413 --> 0:11:17.693 Oh yeah, yeah, okay, we went with with with great interest. 0:11:17.973 --> 0:11:21.853 Now worldwide, the evidence is that more wind and solar 0:11:21.893 --> 0:11:25.733 power connected to the system, the higher the power price, 0:11:26.773 --> 0:11:31.173 Australia being a perfect example. I think I think wholesale 0:11:31.213 --> 0:11:37.013 prices increased in Australia for about four cents to what 0:11:37.653 --> 0:11:38.373 about triple that? 0:11:39.533 --> 0:11:45.213 Yeah, yeah, pretty well, that's that's a characteristic that seems 0:11:45.213 --> 0:11:48.613 to be all over the world. They are always saying 0:11:48.653 --> 0:11:51.613 the wind and solar are the cheapest, and what they 0:11:51.733 --> 0:11:55.333 really mean is at the station gate that cheaper, but 0:11:55.413 --> 0:11:58.253 by the time you've paid for backup and transmission and 0:11:58.333 --> 0:12:01.213 all the other costs they impose on the system, it's 0:12:01.293 --> 0:12:07.133 very expensive. So it's basically nonsense to talk about wind 0:12:07.133 --> 0:12:08.173 and solar being cheap. 0:12:08.813 --> 0:12:14.693 Okay. Now, the group that being the market Developing Advisory 0:12:14.733 --> 0:12:20.373 Group under the auspices of the Electricity Authority, the group 0:12:20.413 --> 0:12:23.333 assumes that in spite of the declining income from wind 0:12:23.413 --> 0:12:26.333 and solar power when it is abundant and needs to 0:12:26.373 --> 0:12:29.893 be dumped and causes a price crash, generators and developers 0:12:29.933 --> 0:12:33.693 will continue building wind and solver. Now that to me 0:12:33.813 --> 0:12:39.093 seems to be nuts. Why do they believe that many 0:12:39.133 --> 0:12:43.053 of the consented products will be built in spite of 0:12:43.093 --> 0:12:46.413 the obviously declining economics as we get more and. 0:12:46.373 --> 0:12:50.813 More of them, Because they're ignoring the realities of the 0:12:50.813 --> 0:12:54.013 power system. And I think the people who've been involved 0:12:54.053 --> 0:12:57.413 in this report don't have a good understanding of how 0:12:57.453 --> 0:13:01.133 the power system works. The basic underlying problem, I think 0:13:01.213 --> 0:13:05.613 is that there is a whole amount of groupthink amongst 0:13:05.613 --> 0:13:09.413 the people in Wellington and among the senior people in 0:13:09.493 --> 0:13:13.253 some of the generating companies, and they all believe this 0:13:13.493 --> 0:13:17.893 and it's become an article of firm belief, and there's 0:13:18.093 --> 0:13:21.493 not enough people involved with experience of the power system 0:13:22.413 --> 0:13:25.973 who will point out that there's serious problems with it. 0:13:26.093 --> 0:13:29.493 Just a quick word on geo thermal good. 0:13:30.933 --> 0:13:34.453 We are developing more, and we should, but there's a 0:13:34.453 --> 0:13:38.053 limit to how much we can develop. We don't quite 0:13:38.173 --> 0:13:41.253 know what the limit is, but it's certainly good. 0:13:41.893 --> 0:13:44.933 Is it likely to be hindered by other groups? 0:13:46.693 --> 0:13:51.453 Probably if they spread out into new fields. All the 0:13:51.493 --> 0:13:56.213 fields are being developed were identified years ago as promising 0:13:56.373 --> 0:14:00.253 or better than promising. But there are other areas where 0:14:01.173 --> 0:14:05.133 there may be a good resource which needs expiration drilling, right, 0:14:05.533 --> 0:14:07.013 and there may be objections to that. 0:14:07.293 --> 0:14:11.013 Now, all these these questions, and there are more, but 0:14:11.093 --> 0:14:15.173 we've touched on I think the main ones. All these 0:14:15.253 --> 0:14:20.493 questions need responses. So is there anything in place or 0:14:20.533 --> 0:14:24.453 are you following any lines of shall we say, pursuit? 0:14:25.893 --> 0:14:29.413 I it is a formal letter to a member of 0:14:29.453 --> 0:14:33.653 the electricity authority what you've got in front of you? 0:14:33.693 --> 0:14:34.693 But only one member? 0:14:35.733 --> 0:14:36.213 Is that right? 0:14:36.933 --> 0:14:37.293 Yes? 0:14:38.133 --> 0:14:41.813 And I can't say I can't and will not say 0:14:41.813 --> 0:14:44.013 who it is. No, that would be wrong, all right? 0:14:44.093 --> 0:14:46.813 But is that one member in a position to be 0:14:47.493 --> 0:14:48.893 able to influence the. 0:14:50.053 --> 0:14:52.413 Authority reasonably high? Up? 0:14:53.053 --> 0:14:56.253 Okay? This will be shall we say interesting? Now? There 0:14:56.293 --> 0:14:58.853 is the other subject that I'm very keleen to talk about, 0:14:59.613 --> 0:15:06.333 albeit probably briefly, is nuclear energy. And I've been I've 0:15:06.333 --> 0:15:10.013 been keeping an eye on Australia and there is a 0:15:10.293 --> 0:15:14.373 there is a what i'd call a major shifting attitude 0:15:14.373 --> 0:15:18.373 in Australia from from people who were waking up to 0:15:18.493 --> 0:15:22.213 the fact that nuclear is the answer. And there is 0:15:22.253 --> 0:15:24.653 a There is also a what shall I call it 0:15:24.893 --> 0:15:29.333 a quote, and it doesn't matter who said it, but 0:15:29.453 --> 0:15:36.613 it was somebody of appropriate authority that without nuclear there 0:15:36.653 --> 0:15:39.893 will be no net zero. You want net zero, you 0:15:39.973 --> 0:15:41.173 have to include nuclear. 0:15:42.093 --> 0:15:42.293 Yeah. 0:15:42.813 --> 0:15:44.253 Has that applied to New Zealand? Two? 0:15:44.933 --> 0:15:45.253 Do you think? 0:15:47.093 --> 0:15:47.293 Yes? 0:15:48.453 --> 0:15:55.693 Even geothermal imits carbon darkside, so jeering amounts, some feels 0:15:55.773 --> 0:15:57.333 quite a lot and some not very much. 0:15:57.413 --> 0:15:59.613 All right, what about this? What about this? This this 0:15:59.773 --> 0:16:04.853 one question, and it's an obvious one, very obvious because 0:16:04.893 --> 0:16:09.013 it's been around forever, that that is likely to have 0:16:09.053 --> 0:16:13.133 an influence on members of the population, and that is 0:16:13.893 --> 0:16:19.053 nuclear safety. How far have we advanced enormously? 0:16:21.133 --> 0:16:25.813 And the fact is that in the Western world, no 0:16:26.293 --> 0:16:32.093 nuclear station has killed anybody from radiation. Three Mile Islands 0:16:32.093 --> 0:16:35.013 has cause of station to be shut down on a disaster. 0:16:35.933 --> 0:16:38.573 You've got more radiation from spending a couple of hours 0:16:38.573 --> 0:16:44.853 in Grand Central Station, which is made of granite whichmits radiation. Fukushima, 0:16:45.573 --> 0:16:52.533 According to the International Sensus, nobody has or will die 0:16:52.693 --> 0:16:56.293 of radiation from Fukushima, yet they shut down lots of 0:16:56.373 --> 0:17:02.373 nuclear stations. The whole thing's crazy. It's seriously safe. It's 0:17:02.413 --> 0:17:06.333 something like a hundred times safer than the next major 0:17:06.813 --> 0:17:10.693 generating technology, certainly safer than large stamps. 0:17:10.773 --> 0:17:12.453 They're very dangerous. 0:17:12.813 --> 0:17:16.413 Well, my sister lived very close to three Mile Island 0:17:16.413 --> 0:17:20.293 when it happened, and she her husband and the two 0:17:20.333 --> 0:17:24.613 little kids who jumped in the car and left, as 0:17:25.173 --> 0:17:30.013 did so many other people. Yeah, and then I can't 0:17:30.053 --> 0:17:32.093 remember now how long it was before they moved back, 0:17:32.133 --> 0:17:37.373 but they certainly did and seemed to have suffered no 0:17:37.453 --> 0:17:38.213 ill effects. 0:17:38.813 --> 0:17:43.013 Of course they wouldn't. They've probably probably less radiation than 0:17:43.053 --> 0:17:46.533 what you've got from a long airline trip. What did 0:17:46.533 --> 0:17:47.053 you go about. 0:17:47.933 --> 0:17:50.933 Yeah, if you go up further up in the sky, 0:17:51.093 --> 0:17:53.613 you get more radiation. Yeah. 0:17:53.853 --> 0:17:59.493 No, it's the problem is that according to the rules, 0:18:00.013 --> 0:18:05.133 they're not reality. Six thousand milli seabirds will kill you, 0:18:05.973 --> 0:18:08.813 none will not hurt you, and three there and will 0:18:08.813 --> 0:18:12.893 half kill you. So the more of it, the more dangerous. 0:18:12.973 --> 0:18:16.853 Is The reality, which is well proven and well established, 0:18:17.613 --> 0:18:20.053 is up to about three thousand, two or three thousand 0:18:20.133 --> 0:18:25.773 millisivers are harmless. And the proof of that is medical radiation. 0:18:26.933 --> 0:18:32.573 When you get radiated in some cancer, it's the cancer 0:18:32.613 --> 0:18:35.773 itself is subject to a lethal dose of radiation. Six 0:18:35.853 --> 0:18:40.093 thousand more more milionsiverts. These stuff just outside of the 0:18:40.173 --> 0:18:44.213 cancer gets a very still gets a very high radiation dose. 0:18:44.373 --> 0:18:50.853 You don't you can't suddenly cut it off. So all 0:18:50.893 --> 0:18:55.613 the people who have radiation for cancer are radiated, also 0:18:55.653 --> 0:18:59.733 get radiated healthy tissues, and their death rate is not 0:19:00.813 --> 0:19:05.893 abnormally higher than normal. They don't die of radiation sickness 0:19:05.933 --> 0:19:11.173 afterwards at all. Right, So the whole thing is based 0:19:11.213 --> 0:19:15.533 on assumptions which are demonsterly not true, and it is 0:19:15.653 --> 0:19:16.613 seriously safe. 0:19:17.653 --> 0:19:21.493 Okay. My response to that, if I were of such 0:19:21.493 --> 0:19:26.013 a mind, would be to say to you that convincing 0:19:26.133 --> 0:19:29.453 people that it's safe is not going to happen because 0:19:29.493 --> 0:19:32.693 we won't let it happen because we don't want we 0:19:32.733 --> 0:19:35.413 don't want nuclear in New Zealand. End of story. And 0:19:35.493 --> 0:19:38.573 so it will be the subject will be shut down, 0:19:39.053 --> 0:19:41.533 the same as matters of climate change have been shut 0:19:41.573 --> 0:19:45.253 down by the media and elsewhere. Is that the way 0:19:45.333 --> 0:19:46.133 you see it? 0:19:48.133 --> 0:19:51.533 No, I give quite a lot of public lectures on 0:19:51.653 --> 0:19:54.813 net zero, the dream and the reality, and I usually 0:19:54.853 --> 0:19:57.853 mention nuclear power, and I often ask the audience, which 0:19:57.853 --> 0:20:01.613 is in the older age group, whether they think New 0:20:01.693 --> 0:20:07.413 Zealand should be considering nuclear power, and from usually round 0:20:07.453 --> 0:20:10.133 about a half foot they hands up. When I ask 0:20:10.733 --> 0:20:13.333 who thinks we shouldn't, a few put the hands up. 0:20:14.773 --> 0:20:19.653 It's something we should be talking about. If men made 0:20:19.693 --> 0:20:22.773 carbon dioxide really is real and dangerous, which I don't believe, 0:20:23.373 --> 0:20:28.013 it is the only satisfactory solution and an acceptable price 0:20:28.213 --> 0:20:29.973 and an acceptable reliability. 0:20:30.333 --> 0:20:37.573 By the way, Cop twenty nine is upcoming is I 0:20:37.653 --> 0:20:47.013 can't help but laugh because after twenty nine cops, what 0:20:48.013 --> 0:20:49.853 improvements have they made to the world. 0:20:51.053 --> 0:20:51.493 None? 0:20:52.813 --> 0:20:55.933 Last year, we've burnt more coal than we ever had before, 0:20:57.653 --> 0:21:02.933 and give mean us or the world, the world, the 0:21:02.973 --> 0:21:07.053 world more coal than ever has before. Consumption of oil 0:21:07.133 --> 0:21:11.493 and gas is still going up, and people like us 0:21:11.493 --> 0:21:16.453 are here poverishing ourselves in a feeble attempt to make 0:21:16.493 --> 0:21:18.253 a tiny change to the world's climate. 0:21:18.373 --> 0:21:19.053 It's crazy. 0:21:19.853 --> 0:21:20.773 A tiny change. 0:21:20.893 --> 0:21:25.173 Hey well, well not even that. I suggest no change, 0:21:25.533 --> 0:21:28.173 no change, Yeah, no measurable change. 0:21:27.973 --> 0:21:30.853 That'll do. I'll settle to no measurables. 0:21:31.333 --> 0:21:31.693 Yeah. 0:21:31.733 --> 0:21:36.133 Well, it's it's a fascinating life. We're living at the moment. 0:21:36.493 --> 0:21:40.413 May what's the Chinese saying, May you live in interesting times? 0:21:40.973 --> 0:21:44.493 Yeah, it's a curse. By the way, we're certainly living 0:21:44.493 --> 0:21:47.013 in interesting times. There's no doubt about that exactly. And 0:21:47.013 --> 0:21:48.413 it's going to get more interesting. 0:21:49.373 --> 0:21:53.253 Oh, I think so, Brian appreciate it. Thank you, hips, 0:21:53.933 --> 0:21:54.413 and we'll. 0:21:54.293 --> 0:21:56.253 Talk you very much. We shall love you to talk 0:21:56.293 --> 0:22:07.933 to you always. We'll talk again, Layton Smith. 0:22:09.533 --> 0:22:13.973 Leverrix is an antihistamine made in Switzerland to the highest quality. 0:22:14.213 --> 0:22:18.053 Leverx relieves hay fever and skin allergies or itchy skin. 0:22:18.533 --> 0:22:22.853 It's a dual action antihistamine and has a unique nasal 0:22:23.053 --> 0:22:27.693 decongestent action. It's fast acting for fast relief and it 0:22:27.773 --> 0:22:30.853 works in under an hour and lasts for over twenty 0:22:30.893 --> 0:22:34.693 four hours. Leverrix is a tiny tablet that unblocks the nose, 0:22:35.013 --> 0:22:38.933 deals with itchy eyes, and stops sneezing. Leverrix is an 0:22:38.933 --> 0:22:43.253 antihistamine made in Switzerland to the highest quantity. So next 0:22:43.333 --> 0:22:46.853 time you're in need of an effective antihistamine, call into 0:22:46.893 --> 0:22:52.973 the pharmacy and ask for Leverix lv Rix levrix and 0:22:53.093 --> 0:22:56.733 always read the label. Takes directed and if symptoms persist, 0:22:56.933 --> 0:23:05.733 see your health professional Farmer broker Auckland. Christian Smith is 0:23:06.053 --> 0:23:10.133 a New Zealander. He's an X at least for the moment. 0:23:10.413 --> 0:23:13.013 He lives in London. He works in London. He is 0:23:13.093 --> 0:23:17.293 a lawyer. Spent a couple of years working for a 0:23:17.333 --> 0:23:21.613 top law firm in Auckland, then went to London and 0:23:21.613 --> 0:23:24.573 decided he wanted to be in media, so he did 0:23:24.613 --> 0:23:28.373 some studies in journalism and now he is a lawyer 0:23:28.773 --> 0:23:33.453 journalist and he has a family background of media. His 0:23:33.493 --> 0:23:37.333 father is moderately successful in the New Zealand radio market. 0:23:38.093 --> 0:23:44.373 Now it is fifteen months since we spoke in London. 0:23:44.733 --> 0:23:48.053 Fifteen months and I don't know where it's gone, but 0:23:48.093 --> 0:23:51.893 it's down the drain. And we did a very interesting 0:23:52.373 --> 0:23:56.333 We had a very interesting conversation on the podcast and 0:23:56.373 --> 0:23:59.213 a lot of people appreciated it. This was about life 0:23:59.253 --> 0:24:03.573 in London and for expats from here moving over there. Now, 0:24:03.893 --> 0:24:08.133 my belief is that based partly on a couple of 0:24:08.493 --> 0:24:10.253 lines that I'll read you at a moment, but my 0:24:10.333 --> 0:24:14.373 belief is that things have changed somewhat in the last 0:24:14.413 --> 0:24:18.893 fifteen months, not necessarily in fact, I'll say not for 0:24:18.933 --> 0:24:22.053 the better and by the way, welcome to the podcast. 0:24:22.173 --> 0:24:25.013 How right am I? Well, thank you for having me back. 0:24:25.293 --> 0:24:27.413 Not particularly not particularly right. 0:24:27.493 --> 0:24:32.773 Sorry. What's changed in fifteen months? I would say, having. 0:24:32.533 --> 0:24:34.733 Read those articles you referred to, I would say many 0:24:34.773 --> 0:24:37.653 of the problems they talk about were there before. I 0:24:37.653 --> 0:24:40.213 don't think much has changed in the last fifteen months really. 0:24:40.933 --> 0:24:42.973 I think, I mean, we can come onto politics in 0:24:43.013 --> 0:24:45.613 a minute in the sense that is a new government 0:24:45.653 --> 0:24:48.973 after the election in July, and that will or may 0:24:49.333 --> 0:24:53.573 bring about big, big changes, but particularly on a kind 0:24:53.573 --> 0:24:59.133 of micro personal lifestyle level, not much has really changed. 0:24:59.173 --> 0:25:03.773 Of course, the UK went through plenty of issues surrounding 0:25:05.933 --> 0:25:08.853 the cost of living and pandemic and said over the 0:25:08.893 --> 0:25:11.973 last sort of eight years or so, a lot of 0:25:12.013 --> 0:25:15.253 those issues still exist. I think, perhaps of anything, what's 0:25:15.293 --> 0:25:17.333 changed in the last for fifteen months is things seem 0:25:17.413 --> 0:25:20.573 to have calmed down a wee bit. Inflation is down. 0:25:20.613 --> 0:25:23.693 It's back down to kind of pre pandemic levels I 0:25:23.693 --> 0:25:26.973 believe was around two percent and the most recent numbers, 0:25:26.973 --> 0:25:30.093 which is obviously around where they target it. Cost of 0:25:30.133 --> 0:25:32.773 living is still a big issue, but it does feel 0:25:32.933 --> 0:25:36.613 less intense for people. I think people have adjusted, but 0:25:36.733 --> 0:25:38.493 also it's easy for me to say that as a 0:25:38.653 --> 0:25:42.533 kind of single individual not having to support a family, 0:25:42.853 --> 0:25:45.373 the job market is I am mixed reports. 0:25:45.373 --> 0:25:49.053 It's all right, I think, you know, generally things are 0:25:49.133 --> 0:25:53.293 much the same, I suppose. Okay, So the two articles 0:25:53.333 --> 0:25:56.453 I'm talking about, we're both in the Telegraph a couple 0:25:56.453 --> 0:25:59.053 of days apart. First one is it's time for the 0:25:59.133 --> 0:26:02.773 young and ambitious to leave Brittain. Fly into Britain through Heathrow, 0:26:02.893 --> 0:26:04.533 and one of the first things you'll see on getting 0:26:04.533 --> 0:26:06.413 off the plane is a helpful sign pointing a little 0:26:06.413 --> 0:26:09.413