1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: Barry Sopower seeing your political correspondence with us. 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 2: Barry, Hello, good afternoon, Heather. 3 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: Oh what a surprise about the Transpower. 4 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 2: Well, we could have saved them the inquiry, couldn't we 5 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 2: because we said within hours of seeing well within minutes, 6 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 2: i should say of seeing the photograph, was pretty obvious 7 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 2: that the pylon collapse because the bolts were. 8 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: What's interesting is that it's not the first time that 9 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: all of the bolts were taken out of more than 10 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: one leads. 11 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 2: Yes, exactly, and that's something that we've learnt from this 12 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 2: inquiry and also the absolute cost to the province of 13 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 2: Northland eighty eight thousand people without power. The cost to 14 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 2: Northland was massive, as the Energy Minister Simeon Brown outlined 15 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 2: in Parliament this afternoon. 16 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 3: The report identifies a range of estimates between thirty seven 17 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 3: point five million and eighty million dollars of lost economic 18 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 3: activity for Northland. The report recounts how concerns are raised 19 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 3: by a senior engineer within Transpower in twenty twenty one 20 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 3: regarding a gap in the knowledge of maintenance crews undertaking 21 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 3: foundation work, but that the recommendations for improvement by Transpower 22 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 3: were not acted on and The report also identifies that 23 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 3: the removal of all the nuts from the base plates 24 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 3: from more than one tower leg was not a one 25 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 3: off event. 26 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 4: To have a question to the minister whether or not 27 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 4: the government is considering compensation and whether that will be 28 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 4: provided to effective businesses and residents, and whether that is 29 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 4: something that has been actively pursued by the government. 30 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, well that question came from Megan Woods, who was 31 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 2: the Energy Minister at the time when Transpower was alerted 32 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 2: to the major problem the disconnect between maintenance crews and 33 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: the company itself. So I think you're. 34 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: Talking about the senior the senior engineer who in twenty 35 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: twenty one warned Transpower that this guy's. 36 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 2: Doing the word made recommendation, didn't. 37 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: Realize what they were doing. No, but do you really 38 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: expect that Meghan Woods knew that level of detail of 39 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: what Transpower. I think this is a Transpower problem, not 40 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: a Megan you know. 41 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 2: True, But I just thought that her getting up and 42 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 2: saying that that she was the minister at the time, 43 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 2: and I think it was probably a bit rich coming 44 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 2: from her. 45 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 1: I feel like there should be some copper for the 46 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: people in Northland. So whoever advocates for them at the moment. Whatever, right, Yeah, 47 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,239 Speaker 1: thank you, So you make Takuta Ferris is off to 48 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 1: the Privileges Committee. 49 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, we all know what happened last Wednesday. Today, though, 50 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 2: I've got to say, Ferris was digging his hole even deeper, 51 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 2: appairing holier than thou, quoting at length and Iahu chaired 52 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 2: justin deeper talking about the Treaty Principals Bill. 53 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 3: You can't have a reasonable, reasonable debate with a person 54 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 3: or party who just thought the truth. 55 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, he should look at his own principles following 56 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,239 Speaker 2: the denial he made last week lies. 57 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 3: In other words, many in this House are masters of it. 58 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 5: If that is what the members said, then he should 59 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 5: withdraw and apologize as quickly as possible. I haven't made 60 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 5: this statement. 61 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, well today these Speaker Jerry Browne sent him off 62 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: to the sinbin to explain himself. 63 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 5: Following a point of order alleging that he had called 64 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 5: members liars. Mister Ferris replied to me, quote, I haven't 65 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 5: made that statement, and denying that he made the statement. 66 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 5: It is possible that mister Ferris has himself deliberately misled 67 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 5: the House. That is a matter for the Privileges Committee to. 68 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: Judge, well, I can save them the time and effort 69 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 2: for that as well. Heather that he clearly did mislead 70 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: the House and now I guess it's the penalty that 71 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 2: now they'll now bestow upon him which will be of 72 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 2: the most interest, and I would imagine his risk is 73 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 2: going to be rather sore after a bust ticketsne. 74 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: I mean it's the Privileges Committee who cares. But but 75 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: have we heard from the Maori Party yet? 76 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 2: No, we haven't. Once he they had the opportunity And 77 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 2: this is supreme arrogance to me in Parliament if you 78 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: have some standards, and we've looked at the standards in 79 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 2: the debating chamber and they have diminished considerably. I think 80 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 2: in recent years. I've got to say there's nothing to 81 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: do with Jerry Brownie. Jerry Brownie, I think has been 82 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 2: a very good chairman. He gives much more latitude than 83 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: what other speakers have done, and I think people feel 84 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 2: that they're a bit more involved. But the standards in 85 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 2: the House for some of the morons that stand up 86 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 2: and make points like this one, I think they have 87 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 2: to be pulled up because I guess the dignity of 88 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 2: Parliament has to be maintained and you can't call your 89 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 2: colleagues liars. 90 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: Barry, what do you make of Chris Luckson's chief media guy, 91 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: Hamus Rutherford quitting after ten months? 92 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 2: Well job. It's interesting when you consider that he has 93 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: worked with and for Chris Luckson for almost two years 94 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 2: because when Luckson was the leader of the opposition, of 95 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 2: course Hamish left The Herald in his business role there 96 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 2: and went to work for him, so he knows he 97 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 2: would know Luxon pretty well. By now. I've done a 98 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 2: bit of a talking around to see what sort of 99 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:02,359 Speaker 2: boss that Chris Luckson would be. The phrases that I 100 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: was offered was hard charging whatever that means, relentless, tough 101 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 2: task master, doing a lot of social media, which has 102 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 2: said it has been suggested to me as something of an 103 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 2: obsession for him. But you know, you would say all 104 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 2: those attributes are what you would expect in a leader. 105 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: I've heard micro manager doesn't take advice. 106 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: Well, maybe that, and maybe at times is a bit 107 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 2: indiscreet about the people who are working for and around him. 108 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 1: I think when you listen, Barry, when you become the 109 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: media guy for someone who's going to be the prime minister, 110 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: and after ten months you decide you don't want to 111 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 1: do the job anymore. I think that's a poor reflection 112 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: of something's gone wrong here in the relationship between the 113 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 1: two of them, right. 114 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 2: Well, because something's gone wrong with one of them, one 115 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: or the other. I haven't talked to you, Hamish, because 116 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 2: I thought I'd rather talk to others just to see 117 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: how things. 118 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: He's too classy to say anything bad about Chris Luxen. 119 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: Oh all right, Berry, thanks very much. You had a 120 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: very soper Senior political correspondent, eight away from five. 121 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 2: For more from Hither Duplessy Alan Drive, listen live to 122 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 2: news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow 123 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.