1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,320 Speaker 1: Barry Sopower seeing your political correspondence with us. 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 2: Barry, Hello, good afternoon, Heather. 3 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Oh what a surprise about the Transpower. 4 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 2: Well, we could have saved them the inquiry, couldn't we 5 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 2: because we said within hours of seeing well within minutes, 6 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 2: i should say of seeing the photograph, was pretty obvious 7 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 2: that the pylon collapse because the bolts were What's. 8 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: Interesting is that it's not the first time that all 9 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: of the bolts were taken out of more than one leads. 10 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 2: Yes, exactly, and that's something that we've learned from this 11 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 2: inquiry and also the absolute cost to the Province of 12 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 2: Northland eighty eight thousand people without power. The cost to 13 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 2: Northland was massive, as the Energy Minister Simeon Brown outlined 14 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 2: in Parliament this afternoon. 15 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 3: The report identifies a range of estimates between thirty seven 16 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 3: point five million and eighty million dollars of lost economic 17 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 3: activity for Northland. The report recounts how concerns are raised 18 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 3: by senior engineer within Transpower in twenty twenty one regarding 19 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 3: a gap in the knowledge of maintenance crews undertaking foundation work, 20 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 3: but that the recommendations for improvement by Transpower were not 21 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 3: acted on and the report also identifies that the removal 22 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 3: of all the nuts from the base plates from more 23 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 3: than one tower leg was not a one off event. 24 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 4: To have a question to the minister whether or not 25 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,479 Speaker 4: the government is considering compensation and whether that will be 26 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 4: provided to effective businesses and residents, and whether that is 27 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 4: something that has been actively pursued by the government. 28 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, well that question came from Megan Woods, who was 29 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:37,119 Speaker 2: the Energy Minister at the time when Transpoer was alerted 30 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 2: to the major problem the disconnect between maintenance crews and 31 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 2: the company itself. So I think you're. 32 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,839 Speaker 1: Talking about the sor the senior engineer who in twenty 33 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: twenty one warned Transpower that this guy's doing the word 34 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 1: we made recommendation, didn't realize what they were doing. No, yes, 35 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: but do you really expect that Meghan Woods knew that 36 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: level of detail of what transpower. I think this is 37 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: a Transpower problem, not a Megan So true. 38 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 2: But I just thought that her getting up and saying 39 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 2: that that she was the minister at the time, and 40 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 2: I think it was probably a bit rich coming from her. 41 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:10,239 Speaker 1: I feel like there should be some copper for the 42 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: people in Northland. So whoever advocates for them at the moment. Whatever, right, Yeah, 43 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: thank you, So you make Takuta Ferris is off to 44 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 1: the Privileges Committee. 45 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, we all know what happened last Wednesday. Today, though, 46 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 2: I've got to say, Ferris was digging his whole even deeper, 47 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: appearing holllier than thou, quoting at length and Iahu chaired 48 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 2: justin deeper talking about the Treaty Principals Bill. 49 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 3: You can't have a reasonable, reasonable debate with a person 50 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 3: or party who just thought the truth. 51 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, he should look at his own principles following 52 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 2: the denial he made last week. Lies. 53 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 3: In other words, many in this House are masters of it. 54 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 5: If that is what the member said, then he should 55 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 5: withdraw and apologize as quickly as possible. I haven't made 56 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 5: this statement. 57 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, well today these speaker Jerry Brown. He sent him 58 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: off to the sinbin to explain himself. 59 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 5: Following a point of order alleging that he had called 60 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 5: members liars. Mister Ferris replied to me, quote, I haven't 61 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 5: made that statement, and denying that he made the statement. 62 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,399 Speaker 5: It is possible that mister Ferris has himself deliberately misled 63 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 5: the House. That is a matter for the Privileges Committee 64 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 5: to judge. 65 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 2: Well, I can save them the time and effort for 66 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 2: that as well. Heather that he clearly did mislead the 67 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 2: House and now I guess it's the penalty that now 68 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 2: they'll now bestow upon him which will be of the 69 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 2: most interest and I would imagine his risk is going 70 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 2: to be rather sore after a bus tickets. 71 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: I mean, it's the Privileges Committee who cares. But but 72 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: have we heard from the Malori party yet? 73 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: No, we haven't. Once he they had the opportunity And 74 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 2: this is supreme arrogance to me in Parliament if you 75 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 2: have some standards, and we've looked at the standards in 76 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 2: the debating chamber and they have diminished considerably. I think 77 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 2: in recent years. I've got to say there's nothing to 78 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: do with Jerry Brownie. Jerry Brownie, I think has been 79 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 2: a very good chairman. He gives much more latitude than 80 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: what other speakers have done, and I think people feel 81 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 2: that they're a bit more involved. But the standards in 82 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: the House for some of the morons that stand up 83 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 2: and make points like this one, I think they have 84 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 2: to be pulled up because I guess the dignity of 85 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 2: Parliament has to be maintained and you can't call you 86 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 2: colleagues liars. 87 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: Barry, what do you make of Chris Luckson's chief media guy, 88 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: Hamish Rutherford quitting after ten months? Well job. 89 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,359 Speaker 2: It's interesting when you consider that he has worked with 90 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 2: and for Chris Luxon for almost two years because when 91 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 2: Luckson was the leader of the opposition, of course Hamish 92 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 2: left The Herald in his business role there and went 93 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: to work for him, so he knows he would know 94 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 2: Luxon pretty well. By now. I've done a bit of 95 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 2: a talking around to see what sort of boss that 96 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:03,239 Speaker 2: Chris Luckson would be. The phrases that I was offered 97 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 2: was hard charging whatever that means, relentless, tough task master, 98 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 2: doing a lot of social media, which has said it 99 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 2: has been suggested to me is something of an obsession 100 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:20,280 Speaker 2: for him. But you know, you would say all those 101 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 2: attributes are what you would expect in a leader. 102 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: I've heard micromanager doesn't take advice. 103 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 2: Well, maybe that, and maybe at times is a bit 104 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 2: indiscreet about the people who are working for and around him. 105 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: I think when you listen, Barry, when you become the 106 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 1: media guy for someone who's going to be the prime minister, 107 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: and after ten months you decide you don't want to 108 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: do the job anymore. I think it's a poor reflection 109 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: of something's gone wrong here in the relationship between the 110 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:46,239 Speaker 1: two of them, right. 111 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 2: Well, something's gone wrong with one of them, one or 112 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 2: the other. I haven't talked to you, Hamish, because I 113 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 2: thought I'd rather talk to others just to see how things. 114 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 1: He's too classy to say anything bad about Chris Luxen. 115 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:00,359 Speaker 1: Oh all right, Berry, thanks very much apreciated a very 116 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: soper senior political correspondent. Eight Away from five. 117 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 2: For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to 118 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 2: news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow 119 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.