Larry Williams Drive

Marama Davidson has been required to explain her controversial outburst at the Posie Parker protest. After Davidson blamed 'white cis men' as the leading cause of violence, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was forced to come to her defence at today's post-Cabinet briefing. Hipkins said her comments were inappropriate, but it was important to consider context, as Davidson had been hit by a motorcycle and confronted on camera by Counterspin shortly after. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's incredible that Marama Davidson would come out and say something that inaccurate.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The skirmish at Posie Parker's weekend rally has opened up a debate about the limits of free speech. Controversial anti-trans activist Posie Parker was forced to abort her attempted event after counter-protestors clashed and Posie Parker was doused in tomato juice and escorted out. The Free Speech union has written to the Police Commissioner about Saturday's events, as they believe the actions of the counter-protestors go beyond exercising free speech. Free Speech Union chief executive Jonathan Ayling says the union has always condemned violence, be it at the protest at Parliament or this weekend's rally. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ongoing backlog in surgical procedures may have already had fatal consequences. An investigation is underway after it was revealed that a Waikato hospital patient died while on the cardiac surgical waitlist in October last year. The surgery should have taken place within 90 days, but the patient had waited for 115 days before the unexpected death. Health commentator Ian Powell says these events are concerning, but not surprising. "I think it's fair to say that there was the pressure on the health system primarily due to severe shortages across the various relevant professional occupations. There are a significant number- difficult to quantify yet- of avoidable deaths." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Annoyance about ferry cancellations and breakdowns have spilled over for Waiheke Island residents. Frustrated locals are taking their concerns about Fullers to the Commerce Commission. Waiheke Local Board Chair Cath Handley says people need ferries to get to work and medical appointments. She says it's about more than just the cancellations. "Communication has been dreadful, letting people know that a boat's not coming so people have headed down to the wharf, let's say to get to work, and the boat hasn't turned up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The protester who doused an anti-transgender activist with tomato juice says she'd do it again - and again, and again. After the drenching, British campaigner Posie Parker left her rally in Auckland's Albert Park on Saturday, cancelling her speaking event. Eli Rubashkyn says if it means she has to go to prison, so be it. "This is my country that gave me safety, that gave me the right to be the person I am, and I will not let anyone take that away from me." About 2000 trans-rights supporters attended the event, with sympathy demonstrations in Christchurch and Wellington yesterday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors are off to a solid start to the 2023 NRL league season. The team are four games in with three wins and one loss, and they currently occupy fourth after yesterday's 16-14 win over the Bulldogs at Mt Smart. Weekend Sport host Jason Pine says the team's successful run this season is down to the coaching abilities of Andrew Webster. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No clear date for when the Interislander's Kaitaki will be back on the sea, after being out of order since March 6. Interislander passengers with trips planned in early April have been told their sailing is off. It'll be at least April 10 before the Kaitaki's crossing Cook Strait again. Executive General Manager Walter Rushbrook says meanwhile, they're doing all they can. That includes adding some Easter weekend sailings. "We're looking to make sure that we provide certainty that they know the status of their booking, and get across Cook Strait as soon as possible. And as soon as we know when Kaitaki's going to be back in service, we'll open up our booking system fully again." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tell you what surprises me today; it's the apparent lack of self-awareness from key members of that protest against Posie Parker at the weekend.  Max Tweedie from Pride Auckland – who wasn’t one of the organisers I believe, but did support the protest – had it put to him in an interview this morning that it was an ugly scene. And he said, no it wasn’t ugly- there was a lot of joy, a lot of celebration, support for trans communities, and this is what happens when you spread hate and division  Mate, that was ugly. By any objective critique of what happened, that was ugly. I watched videos of a drag queen shoving an old man around the head and of a short angry guy punch an old lady in the face more than once. That's ugly, and that is unacceptable. Those protestors who behaved like that ceded the moral high ground to Posie Parker, and that is saying a lot given how obnoxious she is. But she has it. Because she might be hurtful and obnoxious, but they were violent and that is always worse. Max Tweedie’s inability 

Hamilton's Mayor says Auckland's withdrawal has left a big gap in Local Government New Zealand. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has cast the deciding vote to pull the council out of the national lobby group. Timaru District recently left the organisation, Manawatu District Council has reduced the membership fees it’s paying, and Christchurch City Council has also reconsidered its membership in recent years. Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that there's strength in numbers. She says with Auckland electing to leave, their voice around the table will be missed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters has reaffirmed he definitely won't be working with Labour, even after the change of leadership.  The New Zealand First Leader's delivered his State of the Nation address to supporters in Auckland this afternoon. Peters told Heather du-Plessis Allan that Labour betrayed his party and "went down a pathway of division and racism," and they will not be dealing with them in any future Government. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rainbow charity has denied that advocates are drawing too much attention to Posie Parker. A coalition of groups filed to have the anti-transgender activist barred from the country, but it was thrown out by the High Court in Wellington. Parker will speak in Auckland tomorrow and in Wellington on Sunday, where protestors are planning to meet her. InsideOUT managing director Tabby Besley says that the groups all sincerely hoped it would never get to this point. But, she says, it escalated and they're not willing to stand by and just let it happen. Instead, they'll show the trans community they've got their backs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's Get Wellington Moving is expecting outside experts’ fees will soar to $60 million in the coming year. LGWM has already spent $38.5m on external consultants in the past three years and $35m this year, all going towards their forecast price tag of $7.4 billion. The plan features tunnels, light rail, bike and bus lanes, footpath changes, and speed limit alterations. Wellington regional councillor Thomas Nash told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the city's been waiting for this for a long time. He says a public transport system major revamp is overdue, and if they're going to spend $7.4 billion they need to do it right. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So Posie Parker is on her way to NZ, due to land in about an hour’s time. The court case to try to ban her failed this morning.  The Judge said he had sympathy for the rainbow community, but courts are reluctant to weigh into whether a Minister like the Immigration Minister should or should not have used discretion to ban her, and so for technical reasons he dismissed the application. Let me tell you... that will surprise just about no one. Because I don’t think anyone actually expected a court to ban her. Just like we didn’t expect the Immigration Minister to ban her. Just like we didn’t expect the Immigration Department to ban her. Because it’s a high bar to ban someone who has permission to come here. She is a British citizen, and so she has visa free entry. Which begs the question: why did her opponents do this?  Why did they kick up this massive song and dance, and draw all this attention to trying to ban her when they must’ve known the chances were slim to nil?  Every single opponent of hers who drew at

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has published his long-awaited personal tax returns. According to these published tax details, Rishi Sunak made nearly £5 million pounds ($9.8 million NZD) over the past three years. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Sunak released these tax details during the heavily publicised Boris Johnson hearing, drawing criticism. Enda Brady explained that most of Rishi Sunak's earnings came from his US investment fund and were taxed at only 20 percent. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Sam Johnson, Projects Director at Still and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day:  Auckland Council has just decided to resign from Local Government NZ - is LGNZ dead now? Was it worth the extra costs? National has just released their proposed education policy- how helpful is this? Can Labour argue with these curriculum changes? Child poverty figures haven't moved in the last year, what do we make of this? How does this reflect on Labour? LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 soldiers on board an army helicopter were lucky enough to be rescued after an unexpected crash.  The army helicopter crashed into the ocean off the coast of New South Wales during a routine training exercise, submerging the Defence Force personnel onboard. Two crew members only sustained minor injuries.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the chief of army praised the ADF personnel and emergency services for moving quickly and circumventing a tragedy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former All Black Tu Wyllie has won a landmark case after a five-year campaign.  Tu Wyllie has gotten his CTE condition recognised and compensated for by the ACC after a long legal battle. Less than four other athletes have successfully gone through this compensation process. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained how this verdict may set a precedent going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National leader Chris Luxon today revealed National's plan to boost education if elected. Students would be required to spend an hour per day on reading, writing, and mathematics, with standardised tests twice a year for Years 3-8. ZB's senior political correspondent Barry Soper says that Hipkins criticising Luxon for turning education into a political football is 'rich', given Labour's first move in 2017 was scrapping National standards. Barry Soper added that removing National Standards was unpopular, with 84 percent of voters in a Stuff poll voting against the change. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An unlikely new addition to the Beef and Lamb New Zealand board is making waves in the red meat industry. Groundswell-backed farmer Geoffrey Young has recently been elected to the Beef and Lamb New Zealand board, having won the election by 8,777 weighted votes. Geoffrey Young beat out incumbent director and chair Andrew Morrison by 2,190 votes. Jamie Mackay says Geoffrey Young wants to rectify the disconnect between farming advocacy groups Beef + Lamb, Federated Farmers and Dairy NZ and disenfranchised farmers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chief economist Paul Conway has issued a warning as the Reserve Bank works to curb inflation. Paul Conway says New Zealand is at risk of a deeper recession if businesses and workers try to counter the effects of inflation through higher wages and profit margins. NZ Herald business editor Liam Dann says if consumers keep spending, it'll get harder to keep inflation under control. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.