1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: Jenative Trainey, Herald Wellington Business editor with us now. But currently, 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: where are you, Jane? Where in Japan? 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 2: Hey, Heather, I am in Tokyo and we are in 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 2: this beautiful sort of office area filing our stories. We 5 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:18,159 Speaker 2: have the New Zealand Business Delegation next door, lots of 6 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 2: people in shaking hands, business deals being done. It's a great, 7 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 2: great vibe here in Tokyo. 8 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: Is the Business delegation just fizzing about the fact that 9 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: they're the A listers? 10 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 2: They must be, I mean, how good would that be 11 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 2: to be the A Listers? But the awkward thing here 12 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 2: is that some of the people on the current business 13 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 2: delegation were on delegations when Labor was in government. So 14 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 2: you know there'll be some people here thinking, oh, well, 15 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 2: why has the Prime Minister effectively called us C listers 16 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 2: and tag alongs as well and people who couldn't convert 17 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 2: talk into business during previous trips? Do you think? 18 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: I mean, I can see what Luxan's trying to do here, right, 19 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: He's trying to talk himself up as the big this guy, 20 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: as opposed to Jacinda who was just sort of like 21 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:04,839 Speaker 1: it's cool, the kind of like the cool Prime Minister 22 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: but in the crossfire of this are people who you know, 23 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: he's having a crack at right, not so smart. 24 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 2: Well, yeah, look, that's the thing. It's one thing to 25 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,559 Speaker 2: criticize labor, but it's another thing to criticize businesses ahead 26 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 2: of a trip aimed at selling businesses to the world. 27 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,759 Speaker 2: I think that the timing of this was really poor. 28 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: And you know, even if Chris pH Luxen believed he 29 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 2: had a good point to make, you know, this business 30 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: allegation undoubtedly is excellent. We have the CEO's chairs from 31 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 2: some of the largest companies in New Zealand. Even if 32 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: he thought he was making a point, it is just, 33 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 2: you know, absolutely the wrong thing to say, and you know, 34 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 2: a real kick in the guts for businesses that went 35 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 2: on previous trips also just just naive. And the thing 36 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: with us is that he didn't. It wasn't just a 37 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 2: slip of the tongue to New Stalk lev He made 38 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 2: the point to my colleague Jason Walls, and then he 39 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: made similar comments to me during interview I had with 40 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 2: him ahead of the trip. So you know, it's not 41 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 2: a good look. And another point that I had thought 42 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,920 Speaker 2: I went on a business trip when Jasinda Radun was 43 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 2: Prime Minister, and there were in fact smaller businesses that went, 44 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 2: like you know New Zealand fashion brands and luxury goods, 45 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 2: these sorts of things, special types of food, handbags, so on. 46 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 2: But those for those smaller businesses, those trips are pretty valuable. 47 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 2: It's harder for them to get into new markets alone 48 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 2: than it is for Sponterra or an A and Z. 49 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 2: You know, these guys already have the connections around the world, 50 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 2: so you know there is still value. I believe in 51 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 2: doing trade trips with smaller companies. 52 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 1: You know, you make some really excellent points, they enjoy 53 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: the rest of the trip and thanks for your time. 54 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,639 Speaker 1: That's gnative training. The Herald's Wellington Business edit or over 55 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: in Japan. 56 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 2: For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to 57 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: news talks'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the 58 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 2: podcast on iHeartRadio.