1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: This Monday morning, Prime Minister Christopher luxtionder is with us. 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: Very good morning to you. Good morning Mike, how very well, 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: and do just a couple of well, what are you 4 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: doing Wellington? Why aren't you in Auckland. What's going on Parliament? 5 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 2: Well and surely yeah, we've got quite a big announcement 6 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 2: about two thirty I think today around earthquakes red legislation, 7 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 2: and I've already read that out balance right between costs 8 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 2: and risk and stuff like that, So that's why I'm 9 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 2: here for that. 10 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: And now fair enough, well I read it out before. 11 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: So basically you're slashing the cost. You're going to say 12 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: US eight billion dollars, a billion dollars alone in Wellington. 13 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: So what will they go to from thirty four versus 14 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: sixty seven? Will that number change. 15 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 2: Or you'll have to wait to two thirty Michael. But 16 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 2: the key thing I'd say is that I think you're right. 17 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 2: I mean, there's been well intentioned but legislation that really 18 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 2: has been one size fits all across the country and 19 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 2: we just got to get much better at looking at 20 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 2: earthquake risk and then getting appropriate cost alongside that to 21 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: mitigate against that risk. So we're just trying to get 22 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 2: a rebalancing happening there, and I think Chris Pink's ons 23 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 2: some brilliant work. Has spent a good part of a 24 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 2: year going around talking to everybody about the issue, and 25 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 2: I think we have a sort of common sense solution 26 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 2: to it all today. WHI should be really good. 27 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: When you make that announcement. Will you be anticipating some 28 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: more angsty questions over Palestine? 29 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 2: Highly likely? Yes, I hope people focus on the earthquake, 30 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 2: but also very happy to address the Palestine questions as well, 31 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 2: because I actually think we got to the right decision, 32 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,199 Speaker 2: and we made the right decision for New Zealand, which 33 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 2: is confirming our previous position saying we're not if but 34 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 2: your complex issue. You know, there's people on all sides 35 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: that debate of strong opinions. There's equally people who don't 36 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: have any view on it across New Zealand. So I 37 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 2: think we got to a good place and I think 38 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:37,199 Speaker 2: we articulated our view very well. 39 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: Does it just one more question on Palestine? Does it 40 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: sit comfortably with you in the National Party as opposed 41 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: to the government. 42 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely. You've got to remember I'm the Prime Minister 43 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: who made the designation about Hamas as a terrorist organization, 44 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 2: and I believe very very strongly that you can't recognize 45 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 2: the state when terrorists play a significant role in the government, 46 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: and Hamas is the de facto government of Gaza, and 47 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 2: what happened on October seventh utterly unacceptable. Equally, I've also 48 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: been calling out Israel saying, look, it's a grossly disproportionate response. 49 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 2: I thought Winston talked to that and articulated a view 50 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 2: very strongly on that too. And we're not pro Israel 51 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 2: pro Palestine. We're actually friends to both and we want peace, 52 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 2: you know, And that's really the main event, irrespective of recognition, 53 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:20,959 Speaker 2: is really what do you do about the conflict and 54 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 2: how you get that resolved. 55 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: Also, this week, power reform on a scale of one 56 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: to ten. Ten you're going to blow the whole thing up. 57 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: One you're berely goin to touch it. Where are we 58 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: going to be at. 59 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: Roughly, well, I think pretty common sense. 60 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: Staff. 61 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 2: We've actually had a bit of rolling thunder, as I 62 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 2: would say, around power electricity over the last three while. 63 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 2: I mean there's two things going on, Mike. I mean, 64 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 2: first and foremost, we have to double the amount of renewables. 65 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 2: A lot of that's around fast track. We've certainly passed 66 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 2: an RMA amendment bill just dealing with the electricity side, 67 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 2: which is saying it shouldn't take eight years to consent 68 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 2: to win farm. Let's make it one year. Let's make 69 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 2: these things permitted activities because no one endeavors, and also 70 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 2: let's get them larger consenting duration. So that's the renewable side. 71 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 2: A real challenge, as you well know, is actually what 72 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 2: do you do about the firming or firm or capacity generation, 73 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 2: which is the stuff that we need when actually there's 74 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 2: not enough wind, rain or sudden and you know, we've 75 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 2: overturned the oil and gas band. It would be nice 76 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 2: if Labour had a bipartis an approach to that, because 77 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:18,679 Speaker 2: we actually need gas for the foreseeable decades, and we've 78 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: put money alongside to co invest in incentivize investors to 79 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 2: come and explore for natural gas on the ground. Here. 80 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 2: We've put in place a strategic coal reserve and hard 81 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 2: lea so that we can keep the lights on and 82 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 2: keep keep prices, you know, with the downward pressure and 83 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 2: with the other thing that we've done recently that you 84 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 2: and I've talked about is that we've made the gen 85 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 2: Taylors offer the price of generation being generated out for 86 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 2: their own the same price they sell to their own 87 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 2: retailing operations. They've got to sell to the smaller competitors 88 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 2: as well. But we've got you know, someone what's will 89 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: talk about that this week. But I think we've got 90 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 2: just good common sense things the hard issues, you know, 91 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 2: like essentially the oil and gas ban, easy convenient decision 92 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: to make in twenty eighteen, but didn't think through the 93 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: consequences and the implies of that. And we've got a 94 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: pooper scoop and clean that. 95 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: Up, right. So having said that, so you opened it 96 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: up for anybody as of I think it was Friday officially, 97 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: and you've got the two hundred million dollars which you 98 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: just referenced a moment ago. Is actually anybody in line 99 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: set to go? And do you run the risk of 100 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: actually spending any of that two hundred million dollars. 101 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 2: Well, we're very open to spending it. There's constant conversations 102 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,799 Speaker 2: going on about potential investors wanting to invest in energy 103 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 2: and New Zealand and either in gas and or in renewables. 104 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,159 Speaker 2: For sure, there's a lot of focus on renewables, but 105 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 2: we want to make sure we're doing everything we can 106 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 2: given the chilling effect that that decision sent to international 107 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 2: investors that this is the government that supports your investment. 108 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 2: And that's why the repeal of that legislation and overcoming 109 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 2: that was kind of important. But look, there's it's complex, right. 110 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 2: I mean, we've got to make sure that we can 111 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 2: actually generate therm or firming conditions electricity, and part of 112 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:53,720 Speaker 2: that is yep, we've had to use a big coal 113 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: reserve and put lots of coal in the back of 114 00:04:55,560 --> 00:05:00,159 Speaker 2: Huntley deliberately so for those dry riskyeers. But you know, 115 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 2: there's a series of things we're just gonna have to 116 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 2: keep working through. 117 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: Okay, Paul Goldsmith, actually let me get to your comments first, 118 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: your comments about the Electoral Commission counting faster. There was 119 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 1: some sort of blowback on that. What do you see 120 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: the line as between you commenting and offering an opinion 121 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: on something versus the Prime Minister going at an independent 122 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: organization and then them being affronted by those comments. 123 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 2: Well, look, i mean I'm thinking I'm just reflecting what 124 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 2: Keywi's view, which is it just takes too long to 125 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 2: get our vote counted. It used to always be two weeks. 126 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 2: Last election, it blew out to three weeks. A lot 127 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 2: of the advice we had as well, that's because there 128 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 2: was a massive increase in special votes, and that's because 129 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 2: people are registering on the day. What we've then said is, okay, 130 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 2: we're going to pull that back to two weeks prior 131 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 2: to an election. You can get yourself organized at two 132 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: weeks out from election. I'm sure Keywys can do that. 133 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 2: Australians do it. Four weeks out from election shouldn't be 134 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 2: a problem. And you know, as a result, that should 135 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 2: help speed up the processing of the votes on the 136 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 2: other side of an election. You know, I respect their independence. 137 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 2: I'm not telling them what to do, but I also 138 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 2: expect them to go back and review their processes and 139 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 2: improve and constantly improve their processes to deliver a faster 140 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 2: vote recognition. I just say, around the world, there are 141 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 2: other countries of five million people and they process and 142 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 2: do their vote much faster than three weeks. So I'm 143 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 2: respecting their independence. I'm not telling them what to do, 144 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 2: but I am reflecting where New Zealanders are at, which is, 145 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: you know, we're sitting there three weeks after an election 146 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: with a vote not counted if you remember last time, 147 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 2: and I don't think it takes that long, and I 148 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 2: think in twenty twenty five there's things that we should 149 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 2: be constantly looking to improve the process. So by pulling 150 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,280 Speaker 2: forward the special vote registration, I trust Kiwis they can 151 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 2: get organized two weeks out from election. You can do 152 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: it right now tomorrow if you feel so inclined and 153 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 2: get yourself enrolled. 154 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: Paul Goldsmith, in talking to the Law Association last week 155 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: warning about unique court rulings in this country and bespoke 156 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: legal systems and putting off investors, does he speak on 157 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: behalf of the government or has he gone off off 158 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: peace and just done this by himself. 159 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 2: Think on behalf of the government, which is that you know, 160 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 2: we just want to make sure the rule of law 161 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 2: and the legal system is internetally recognize. It's really clear 162 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 2: for people, particularly if you're an overseas investor, you need 163 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 2: predictability and certainty in how law is going to be interpreted. 164 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 2: And I don't think you want that clarity for investors 165 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 2: and clarity around the rule of law. So you know 166 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 2: he's just saying, look, you know, we acknowledge there's some 167 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 2: unique aspects in his Zealander around checking. But actually, you know, 168 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 2: we want to make sure there's also a real clarity 169 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 2: for people and if there is. If there isn't clarity, 170 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 2: we're happy to legislate or open to legislating over the 171 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 2: top as we have been Like. 172 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: What what would you be happy to legislate over the 173 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: top of? 174 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: Well, I'm not sure, but I mean as the issues 175 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 2: come up. I mean he was reacting I think to 176 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: questions around Peter Allison and certainly around I think the 177 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 2: game patch return or something like that. But but all 178 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 2: he's saying is a broader point in an academically law 179 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 2: society kind of conversation that look, we need to make 180 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 2: sure that we've got a consistency around how our laws 181 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 2: are going to be interpreted, because if you are coming 182 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 2: investing billions of dollars in New Zealand, you do want 183 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 2: certainty to know that if you've got remedies that are 184 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 2: needed in a dispute or a conflict that you may have, 185 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 2: you know how that's going to be handled. 186 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 1: Okay, this property stuff that got made news last week, 187 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: and your old mate Carl wires twenty five houses that 188 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: he didn't know what's going on. The law's not clear. 189 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 2: Well, I mean the registrar. You know, as I understand 190 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 2: at carltok advice from the Registrar on that actually that 191 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: explicit point, and he's followed that advice subsequently. It turns 192 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 2: out I think there's six or seven MP's or something 193 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 2: that people, you know, the registrar you know, thinks may 194 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 2: be caught by the same sort of position or a 195 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 2: similar position. Long story short, there's something called standing orders 196 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 2: here in the Parliament rules. I can't comment too much 197 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 2: on it, but suffice to say, you know, the Registrar's 198 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,079 Speaker 2: now decided to have another look at it. But as 199 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 2: I understand it, you know, Carl had asked for advice 200 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 2: around that from the Registrar himself and has followed that advice. 201 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 2: But let's see where that goes. And if we need 202 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 2: to tighten up anything then I'm sure we'd be open 203 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 2: to do. 204 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:01,359 Speaker 1: You agree with me. I thought the test on Saturday 205 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: was better than the South African win. It was a 206 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: bitter game. 207 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so too. I think that first twenty 208 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: five minutes they were on fire. I mean it was 209 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 2: the passing skills were unbelievable. There was very little kicking. 210 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 2: I thought they were absolutely fantastic, and I spoke to 211 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 2: a number of the players at the end of the 212 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 2: game and yeah, the Australians were good, right, they were 213 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 2: quite quick and fast, and yeah they played well actually, 214 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 2: and Joe Schmid's done a good job with that team. 215 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 2: But I personally thought, no, they played really well. 216 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly right, Go, well, we catch up next week. 217 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:29,959 Speaker 1: Appreciate our Prime Minister Christoph Lux and that announcement on 218 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: the earthquakes coming at two thirty this afternoon. 219 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 2: For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to 220 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 2: news talks i'd Be from six am weekdays, or follow 221 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.