Larry Williams Drive

Labor's Chris Minns is the new premier of NSW, but the remaining votes show he'll run a minority Government. New South Wales Labor currently holds 45 seats in Parliament, two less than required to form a majority Government. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says that Australia now has Labor Governments from coast to coast, everywhere except Tasmania. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An independent economist suggests moving the financial goalposts may help get inflation back on track. The current inflation target is between 1 and 3 percent, but the target band had moved from 0 percent to 2 percent to 0 percent to 3 percent once before in 1996. Independent economist Cameron Bagrie says the debate about shifting the inflation target is likely to be raised as the economic and social costs of taming inflation become more pronounced. "The real pain variable around the corner is not falling house prices, it's what's happened to unemployment. And as unemployment moves up, that has both economic and social consequences. And I wonder about whether we are prepared to go through that economic adjustment." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are early signs that China's economy is rebounding after Covid-19, but dairy farmers may have to wait to reap the rewards. Westpac's senior agri-economist explained that the Chinese economy is expected to grow by 6 percent over 2023, an upswing from 2022's 3.5 percent, but dairy prices have yet to budge. The Country's Jamie Mackay says sheep meat markets and export log prices have picked up since early 2023, but global dairy prices have dropped by 5 percent. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greymouth Gas Turangi Limited has today been granted an offshore petroleum exploration permit from the Government. In April 2018, the Government announced an end to further offshore petroleum exploration permits and Greymouth Gas Turangi Limited's application was initially denied in March 2018. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explained that the High Court had determined the Crown was wrong to decline Greymouth's application and ordered them to reconsider. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queenstown's deputy mayor says the district needs Government intervention to solve its housing crisis. The region has some of the highest property prices in New Zealand up against a relatively low-wage economy centred on tourism and significant demand for short-term tourist accommodation. Quentin Smith, Queenstown's deputy mayor describes this situation as a 'perfect storm', as they're struggling to find workers and the workers will struggle to find rental accommodation. Smith also says Airbnb is also driving up rents and adding to the shortage of rental properties. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses are still being plagued by worker shortages. An Employers and Manufacturers Association survey shows 90 percent of businesses are struggling to fill vacancies, and nearly a third have had roles in the market for more than six months. Up to 44 percent say things have gotten worse. EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald says it's down to a lack of skills and people in the workforce. "Only about a third of our cohort of school leavers have university degrees, so two thirds of the workforce is in the vocational side of things. And that's the bit that we're short of." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've changed my opinion on Marama Davidson’s comments. Just a little bit, not completely.  But having read a lot more and hearing defence of her, I think I understand what she was trying to say. I think she left out a key word: “Sexual". If she had said: “It is white cis men who cause SEXUAL violence in the world”, then she’s actually right. Statically, 46 percent of the country’s sexual violence crimes are committed by Pakeha and 29 percent by Maori.  And not only is she right, but what she was trying to do is also well-meaning, because she was at a rally where Posie Parker was whipping up fear of trans women committing sexual crimes against other women. And Marama Davidson was saying it’s not trans women who predominately commit these crimes, it's men who commit these crimes. And she is correct.  The problem though is the word white. Even if she is factually correct that it is white men, that word is the problem.  Let’s flip it around. If a white parliamentarian was walking down the street at a rally holdin

Prime Minister Hipkins will be making a decision about MP Stuart Nash's future after it's emerged he emailed business leaders about cabinet meeting information around a commercial rent relief package in 2020. He wrote to them expressing his annoyance around the final outcome around the package. It follows past transgressions around his Police Minister profile over which he resigned. ZB's senior political correspondent Barry Soper says  it creates a liability for the Prime Minister. "I guess what Chris Hipkins has to worry about is what is going to emerge in the future if he does remain on in Cabinet." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumer New Zealand is shining a light on how many greenwashed products can be found on supermarket shelves. The watchdog claims it has found in a basketful of goods - products with false or misleading claims included Proper Crisps, Dilmah tea and Glad. Consumer NZ's Rebbecca Styles says in these tough times, people should shop to match their needs because you can't always trust green claims. "In terms of whether you want to buy the cheaper thing or the more expensive thing, just make the best decision for your wallet at this stage, I would say." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zero warning signs have been installed near fixed speed cameras since the policy was announced in 2019. Over three years ago, then-associate transport minister Julie Anne Genter said a new 'no surprises' approach to speed cameras would see signs installed in high-risk areas. Simon Douglas, AA Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer says that these signs would be a useful safety tool for drivers in high-risk locations. "We want the signs up to tell them then and there to drive slower. There's little point, in our view, to sending a ticket to them through the post up to two weeks later. Put the camera where it's needed, sign it, get them to slow down then and there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protests in Auckland on Saturday helped the last minute decision to can another controversial event. The Council's nixed an anti co-governance meeting in Mount Eden tonight, as well as a protest group's booking immediately after. The group are now planning a rally outside. On Saturday, more than 2000 loudly protested at an anti-transgender rally, including tomato juice being thrown at the speaker. The Council's Claudia Wyss says they didn't want altercations. "Following the weekend's events, we were just taking a much more careful approach to this and we wanted to be sure that we could keep members of the public safe." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second ODI match between Black Caps and Sri Lanka has been washed out by heavy rain. Christchurch umpires made the call just before 4:30pm, some two and a half hours after play was due to start. The third and final game is on Friday in Hamilton Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further- and weighed in on the state of New Zealand cricket as a whole. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greens co-leader Marama Davidson has refused to publicly apologise for her controversial 'white cis men' remarks. Appearing before media and Parliament on Tuesday, Davidson stated that she felt it appropriate to clarify her comments, but has yet to apologise. National's Chris Luxon has called for a public apology from Davidson to 'all the people she caused offence to'.  ZB's senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it was clear that Marama Davidson had no intention to publicly apologise once she got in the House, as she used her time to 'clarify' her remarks. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enrolments are well down in all the North Island's five universities. They say it's about the tight job market and fewer school leavers having University Entrance qualifications. University NZ CEO Chris Whelan says some students are finding the South Island more appealing. "In cities like Auckland and Wellington, cost of living is getting very high and student allowances are not really keeping up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany's transport network has ground to a halt during today's strike. Staff at airports, railways, buses, ports and subways have walked out of their jobs shortly after midnight for a 24-hour stoppage. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the strike has crippled several networks already, according to recent reports. Gavin Grey explained the unions are striking to get their workers higher wages to cope with the cost of living crisis. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labor MP Chris Minns is set to be the party's first NSW MP in 12 years after Saturday's election. While counting wrapped up on Saturday night, eight seats in Government are still hanging in the balance. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Labor is still expected to form a majority Government, and it won't make a difference who gets the remaining seats. Oliver Peterson says Chris Minn's election win is surprising, as Dominic Perrottet had a higher profile for most of 2022. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former Labour Press Secretary Kaine Thompson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day: Posie Parker's rally inspired fights and heckling, and Posie Parker was pelted by tomato juice and escorted out by police before she got to say anything- which side came out looking worse? Greens co-leader Marama Davidson has come under fire for her comments at the rally blaming 'white cis men' as the leading cause of violence- should she be fired over this outburst? An investigation is underway over another 'waitlist' death in Waikato, is this a sign the health system is in crisis? Do you have confidence the system can make it through another winter? LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are growing concerns ChatGPT is coming for white-collar jobs.  A global equity analyst has warned ChatGPT will take up one third of office roles and upend finance and law professions by 2030. Jarden Global Equity Analyst Ben Stewart says the finance and law professions in particular require training to process data, something ChatGPT has already been taught to do. Ben Stewart notes that technology has required workers to move into newly created positions that are more focused on creativity and strategy, and that ChatGPT could be a useful tool in these roles. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has returned from her visit to China. Nanaia Mahuta used her meeting with China's foreign minister to raise concerns about China’s human rights abuses, developments South China Sea, and China's ties to Russia. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says the machinery of Government on both sides needs to work these discussions through and more information will come to light. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson was revealed to have sought advice from the Reserve Bank about a bank 'tax', but decided not to pursue it. The Finance Minister explored whether the Reserve Bank could pay banks less interest on the settlement cash kept at New Zealand's Central Bank. Grant Robertson explained that he asked the Reserve Bank for advice about this proposal, and determined that it wasn't a reasonable course of action. "Given that interest rates are rising and we have to pay interest on this, could we vary that rate? I didn't find many examples of anyone overseas doing it, and also it would severely disrupt what's quite an important part of what the Reserve Bank does." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.