1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,000 Speaker 1: On the huddle with us this evening. Connor English of 2 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: Silver Eye Communications, Jack Tame, host of Q and A 3 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:08,639 Speaker 1: and Saturday Mornings on z B. Hi you two, I'm well, 4 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: thank you Jack. Are you like me? I am sick 5 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: of talking about this. I just want to know what 6 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: she's announcing. 7 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 2: Ah, so sick of talking about her. I mean, like you, 8 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 2: does you know he's doing an earnest job there? But 9 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,599 Speaker 2: I think he I think he kind of summed everything 10 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 2: up with the second or third sentence he gave you, 11 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 2: which was he doesn't have the tools to address the 12 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 2: major issues in the short term. I mean it comes 13 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 2: down to the government, right, I think I think the 14 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 2: report today kind of shows the government what most of 15 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 2: us already knew. There might have been a few marginal improvements, 16 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: but there's still a distinct lack of competition in the space. 17 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 2: It'll be fascinating to see what Nicola Wis does decide 18 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 2: to do, because I'm sure she's got all sorts of 19 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 2: pretty connected you know, companies and people speaking in her ear. 20 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 2: But you know, you can imagine, given the price of 21 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 2: groceries at the moment, it's you know, it would potentially 22 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: be a pretty pop of a political move. If she 23 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 2: were to take a big step in trying to address 24 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 2: problem like what well, like some sort of structure separation, 25 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 2: you reckon. 26 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: You reckon, that would be popular. 27 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 2: Uh well, if it could be proven that it would 28 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 2: lead to greater competition. And this is I mean that 29 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,759 Speaker 2: the proof of the pudding is always in the eating right, 30 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: So that might be that might be a potentially difficult cell. 31 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 2: But I think anything that was that was shown to 32 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 2: make more of an impact than just annualized reporting on 33 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 2: the on the margins relative to other OECD countries, I 34 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 2: think would probably be welcome. Booed. There's some numbers in 35 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 2: that thing today. Absolutely astonishment so that five billion dollars 36 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: is being paid in rebates and discounts and promotional payments 37 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 2: by suppliers to system markets. I mean there is a 38 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: fantastic figure. And you can see how that sort of 39 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 2: thing locks out smaller players. But yeah, I mean it's 40 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 2: it's these things are always delicate question. 41 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: Let's give let's go Connor. Connor, if Jack is right 42 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: that it's going to be something popular, something big like 43 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: that is popular that is devastating for investor confidence in 44 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: this country, isn't it? 45 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 3: Well, maybe But what the government's got to do is 46 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 3: deal with is cost of living in crisis that we're 47 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 3: all dealing with. And you know groceries as a crucial 48 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 3: area that Eve New Zealand is affected by every day. 49 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 3: It's the same in the energy sector. You know, energy 50 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 3: prices are through the roof. Grocery prices feel like that 51 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 3: through the roof. The report might be saying our flattening 52 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 3: off for whatever, the margins are flattening off, but we 53 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 3: are still a very expensive country to buy some taket, 54 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 3: to have some dinner. 55 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: So do you think if she was to announce something 56 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 1: as big as that, you would you give her a 57 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: round of applause for it. 58 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 3: Well, we've run with the current model for the last 59 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 3: fifty years and everyone seems to be complaining about the 60 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 3: price of groceries. So what do you do that's different 61 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 3: and that is significant. So you know, governments do restructure 62 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 3: industries from time to time. We saw it in the 63 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 3: dairy sector with the formation of Fonterra. We've seen it 64 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:08,799 Speaker 3: in other sectors. They're doing it in the health sector, 65 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 3: they're doing it in the education sector. Why wouldn't you 66 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 3: look at the grocery sector and say the energy sector 67 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 3: when they are things that are making a real difference 68 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 3: in people's lives. 69 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,079 Speaker 1: Well, maybe because you'd freak everybody out and they wouldn't 70 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: put any money into the country. Right, you're back on 71 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: the huddle with Jack Tame and Connor English. Jack, what 72 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:27,799 Speaker 1: do you think about it this side idea of ditching 73 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: the petrol tax and moving to rucks. 74 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, no problem with it personally, It's not going to 75 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 2: make much of a difference in our household. It was 76 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 2: probably just a case of when rather than although I 77 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 2: think one thing to give a close eye on is 78 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 2: whether or not this ends up being revenue neutral in 79 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 2: the long term. For anyone who's followed some of the 80 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 2: challenges in the infrastructure space, basically the way we fund 81 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 2: most roads is through the Land Transport Fund, which comes 82 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: from the UIXIS tax, but that hasn't been enough for 83 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 2: some of the projects in recent years, so the government's 84 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 2: been topping it up with capital allocations and increasingly with 85 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 2: some of the big roading projects that this government is prioritizing. 86 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 2: It's very hard to see how even with TOLD and 87 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 2: the Land Transport Fund, they're going to get anywhere near 88 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 2: the money they need to fund some of those projects. 89 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 2: So I think the question over time is whether or 90 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 2: not we all end up paying much more with rucks 91 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 2: than we were with excise taxes in order to fund 92 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:21,840 Speaker 2: some of the stuff. 93 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: I reckon Connor. Enforcement is going to be the big 94 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 1: problem here because already people muck around with the rucks 95 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: and they don't pay them, and it's apparently it's tens 96 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:30,919 Speaker 1: of thousands of people who just don't bother to do it. 97 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 1: So if this is across the whole roading community, the 98 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: whole motoring community, it'll be massive, won't it. 99 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 3: Look, I know that there's a lot of technology solutions 100 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 3: you can bring to be in now that'll simplify the 101 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 3: administration of it as well as the enforcement of it. 102 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 3: So I think that, you know, technology will solve all 103 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 3: that problem. I would imagine probably. 104 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 1: So do you think, Connor that we go for the 105 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 1: bike the cyclists as well, check a little ruck on them? 106 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 3: Well, I guess, and theory they wear out the roads 107 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 3: as well, don't they. But you know, maybe maybe they 108 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 3: should get a rebake because you might be a bit 109 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 3: healthier because they do a bit more exercisele a reckon Jack. 110 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: You go to the electric scooters and the bikes. 111 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 2: You know what, I reckon? I reckon, I reckon. We 112 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 2: want to see devise as many people to cycle as possible, 113 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 2: because every person who cycles instead of driving makes the 114 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 2: congestion that much better for you getting to work. Who's 115 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 2: you hither? Duplicity? 116 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: You think I don't ride a bike? 117 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 2: No, I think you ride a bike for sometimes, Queen, 118 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,280 Speaker 2: I'm using the queen us the queen. 119 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 3: I think you make a good point hither though, that 120 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 3: there is a lot of cycle lanes in New Zealand, 121 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 3: and I'm not sure that the cyclists are paying for 122 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 3: those being paid, you know, just because Jack. 123 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 1: Wants a freebe Jackson like pays except for me. 124 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 2: The thing is, though, guys, we want to get people 125 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: out of cars and onto bikes because it reduces the 126 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 2: congestions everyone less. 127 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:57,719 Speaker 1: But they still got to pay. I mean, everybody's got 128 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 1: to pay for what they're doing. 129 00:05:58,960 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 2: Right. 130 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: Why don't you just make broccoli freezing? Jack? 131 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 2: Do I make what exactly? 132 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 1: Nond don't worry about. 133 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 3: Don't you want more people in the same car instead 134 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 3: of three cars driving along the road or four cars? 135 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 3: Just have you know, four people in one car? 136 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 2: Yeah? 137 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: Why don't we do that? Why don't we have a 138 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 1: discount for people with multiple people in the car? Hey, 139 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 1: are you surprised, Connor that the cops only fired their 140 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: guns three times last year? 141 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 3: I am, because that's not many times, is it? And 142 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 3: given the amount of crime that we see reported in 143 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 3: the newspaper every day, you would you would think that 144 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 3: they'd do three every half air. So I'm very surprised. 145 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: By that too, Jack. 146 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 3: I'm pleased about it. I'm really pleased about it too, Jack. 147 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 1: What do you reckon is this? Is this actually an argue? 148 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: Does this actually lead us closer to saying, well, maybe 149 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: they can be trusted with a gun on their hip. 150 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't think it's said. I think it's 151 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 2: suggest that police perhaps don't don't need to be ready 152 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 2: a little routinely armed at the moment. But I wasn't 153 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 2: just by the three last year. I was surprised to 154 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,119 Speaker 2: learn that they only averaged about five and a half 155 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 2: times after over the last people. So actually, police trying 156 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,919 Speaker 2: the guns is generally very rare in New Zealand. That 157 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 2: being said, they're still being shot at many more times 158 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 2: than they are discharging their own firearms. But yeah, I 159 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 2: mean I think it probably shows that some of the 160 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: de escalation stuff is working pretty effectively, and you know that, 161 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 2: you know, the tasers and that sort of thing. So yeah, yeah, 162 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 2: I think it's great. 163 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm stoked, but I'm really impressed. Actually, guys, it's 164 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: wonderful to talk to you. Thank you, Connor English, Jack 165 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 1: tam Our Huddle eight Away from six. 166 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 3: For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen live to 167 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 3: news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow 168 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 3: the podcast on iHeartRadio.