1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,560 Speaker 1: So straight to that fairy announcement yesterday that actually told 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: us very little. It is being reported this morning that 3 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: actually there is a deal to buy two fairies. Nichola 4 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: Willis is hammered it out sometime in the last year, 5 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:13,079 Speaker 1: but nothing's been announced because Winston Peters first wants to 6 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: see if he can strike a better deal. 7 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 2: First. 8 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 1: Main Frights Managing director Don Braid is with us now. 9 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:19,920 Speaker 2: Morning Don, Good morning Heather. Don. 10 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: Now if this is the case, if it is true 11 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 1: what's being reported, then probably what's going on is Winston 12 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: still wants to try and find some fairies that are 13 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: rail enabled. Is that important to you to have them 14 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: rail enabled? 15 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 2: You railed enabled, rail compatible? To play on words, isn't it. 16 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 2: At least they're acknowledging that rail has a role to 17 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 2: play in the movement of freight across the country. And 18 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 2: I think the other good thing is to have a 19 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 2: Minister for Rail is a good thing. We at least 20 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: I've got someone inside the government that thinks about rail, 21 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 2: that is happy about using rail and investing in rail, 22 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 2: whereas previously you'd have to say that they're all road focused. 23 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: Were you expecting a little bit more than we got 24 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: yesterday though. 25 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, of course we were. And you know, will 26 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 2: we find that the March deadline will come and go 27 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 2: as well likely? I mean, I think it's sort of 28 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 2: the behavior of this current government that things are delayed. However, 29 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 2: I mean, if what you are saying is right, that 30 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,279 Speaker 2: they have actually managed to do, there will be there 31 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 2: is at least a plan in place and they're underway. 32 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:26,680 Speaker 2: That's a good thing. 33 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and we're still having to wait another five years 34 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: until twenty twenty nine to get these bad boys on 35 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: the water. How do you feel about that? 36 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 2: Oh? Yeah, but it was always going to be that 37 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 2: case anyway. I think it was going to take some time. 38 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 2: And key we rail a confident that they think they 39 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: can get this current lot through to twenty nine with 40 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 2: the investment that they're making and maintenance. So you know, 41 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 2: and if you read between some of the lines in 42 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 2: terms of Nikola Willis's announcement, you know there has been 43 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: a lot of work done. Suppose lead with shipyards saying 44 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 2: that they can get these things in place by twenty nine. Well, 45 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 2: if that's the case, then at least we know that's underway. 46 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 1: Imagine yourself as the Minister of Rail, what's your dream plan, 47 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: what would you buy? 48 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 2: Oh, I mean, I think the mistake made by Kiwi 49 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 2: Rail is that when those costs ballooned out to three 50 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 2: or whatever it is, four billion, they should have rethought 51 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: the process and you know, taking a step back and 52 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 2: gone to something that's more efficient. But we certainly need 53 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: rather than this country, I'd be investing in below the 54 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 2: line and making sure that above the line the thing 55 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 2: makes money. 56 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: You're good to talk to. You don't always is, Thank 57 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: you very much, Don brad mainfre It's managing direct down 58 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: by the way, Winston Peters is with us after half 59 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 1: past seven. 60 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 2: For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to 61 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 2: news talks they'd be from six am weekdays, or follow 62 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.