Larry Williams Drive

Glenbrook Steel Mill is in the process of applying for a consent to operate in their current form until 2056.  This is despite environmental concerns surrounding the mill, as it has been linked to causing 15 percent of Auckland's annual greenhouse gas emissions. The council has to decide if the mill can keep operating, but they can't consider any climate change impacts, because the laws requiring climate change impacts have been delayed from coming into effect. Until these laws come through, the council is currently forbidden from taking the environmental impacts of a coal-burning steel mill into account. The chair of Lawyers for Climate Action, Grant Hewison, explained his displeasure with the current situation, as it seems inconsistent for a steel mill that contributes to 15 percent of greenhouse gas emissions to be able to keep operating the way it does for the next three decades. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to data from Stats NZ, there are about 50,000 farms in New Zealand covering about 13.6m hectares. These numbers are also set to decrease further, as the number of farms and land used for farming goes down every year.  Jamie Mackay, host of The Country, explained that this Stats NZ data is concerning, as food and fibre production are prominent sources of export revenue, and farm environments provide jobs for a significant percentage of New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown told Watercare a week ago that all work on three waters should cease. The Watercare chair has now written back to Wayne, telling him that they will keep working on three waters reform regardless of what he says. Pattrick Smellie from BusinessDesk talked us through all the back and forth. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mortgage advisers have recently been suggesting that it may be time to start splitting your home loan.  Bruce Patten from Loan Markets has been saying that the forecast around interest rates is 'murky', and he's recommended that all his clients split their loans in order to spread their risks financially. Bruce Patten explained what's going on with the current market and why buyers may need to be prepared when it comes to the Reserve Bank, as it's too unclear as to what will happen with the market come December. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on The Huddle- Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners and former CEO for BusinessNZ and Ali Jones from Red PR joined us to talk about the following: Another death at an E.D - this time a 4 year old boy, the way Grant Robertson says that it's sad and nothing more during today's post cabinet wasn't great. How do you feel when you keep hearing these stories? Tesla owners are raking in the rebates! Does this annoy you? Christchurch city council has heard absolutely nothing from the Government after voting down the housing intensification bill - what's the Government's plan here? After the first round of cruise ships returned to the country with confirmed COVID-19 cases, do you plan on getting on a cruise anytime soon? St. Bede's has had to put a stop to a themed dress up day which the kids were colloquially calling wife beater Wednesday - the school say they weren't told of the theme's name. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the launch of the clean car rebate in April 2022, Tesla buyers have been reaping the benefits of the scheme. Tesla buyers have been paid out $35 million in subsidies since the rebate was established, and gas consuming vehicles such as utes are taxed more. This has been regarded as a 'reverse Robin Hood' scheme, where farmers and tradies of limited means are disproportionately taxed as they subsidise the wealthier Tesla buyers. David Vinsen, Chief Executive of Vehicle Import Association, says that this scheme was relatively pointless, as people had a vested interest in buying EV's before the tax scheme was established. "We're going to be limited by the availability of vehicles, we're going to be limited in our choices anyway. And so within the next one, two, five, or ten years, we're going to be limited to low emissions and electric vehicles. All the Government is doing is virtue signalling and waving the flag." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canterbury Museum is undergoing a $200 million dollar development. That means there's 2.3 million things to relocate, including a blue whale. Transporting this out will be difficult, given the weight of the bones in question. That's before we get to the elephant in the room… the 150 year old stuffed Asian elephant stuck in the attic, to be precise. Canterbury Museum Director Anthony Wright talked logistics with us. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

60 percent of Christchurch businesses say immigration changes by the Government have made no difference. 9 out of 10 businesses say the Government isn't doing enough to fix the labour shortage. This comes from the Quartely Canterbury Business survey. Canterbury Chamber of Commerce CEO Leann Watson joined us to discuss how the recent crop of immigration rule changes have impacted the Canterbury business community. "It's one thing to open the doors, workers also need to want to come here. And we need to address some of the other issues like housing affordability, the cost of living, you know, how we stack up in comparison to other countries around the world." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An aim to do more than rid the health system of its patient backlog. The Planned Care Taskforce has released 101 recommendations for improving equity, increasing access and reducing waiting times. Chair Andrew Connolly says Covid is one of the main drivers for the expanding wait lists. He says the recommendations are more long term than just fixing the current patient buildup. Connolly says they're also designed to ultimately build a system that is far more resilient and can withstand these sort of problems, to keep delivering care in a more timely fashion. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been a fair amount of speculation as to whether or not Jacinda Ardern will quit her role as Prime Minister before the 2023 election. There's no official word as to whether or not Jacinda Ardern will step down, but it's generated plenty of discussion. Barry Soper, political editor, joined us today to point out that it may be bold to officially state that Jacinda Ardern will quit, but it's not out of the realm of possibility ahead of the 2023 election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, the new federal budget is set to be officially be revealed to the wider public. This budget announcement holds significance as the first Labour-backed budget in over a decade. Speculation indicates that the budget will take the public's mass spending in commodities into account, as more people are working and generating income tax. Aged care and healthcare are set to be big priorities and will have the most funding sent their way. Australian correspondent Murray Olds spoke to ZB ahead of the official announcement to speculate. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of 2023's Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks will play against South Africa in a test match in Twickenham. This test match will happen next August, two weeks before the 2023 World Cup is set to kick off. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained the significance of the test match and the appeal it held for fans here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Employment Court win for four New Zealand Uber drivers. First Union and E Tu sought declaration the drivers were employees- and entitled to things like the minimum wage, guaranteed hours, sick leave and the right to unionise. First Union's Anita Rosentreter says the court only has the power to declare them employees - but they hope that will bring wider change. She says the judge indicated there could be broader application of the decision - particularly where there's apparent uniformity in how the company operates - as in this instance. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Formal consultations began on Thursday aimed at giving Italy a new government within days, but feuding between right-wing campaign allies over Russia and Ukraine risks undermining the prospective governing coalition's pro-NATO, pro-Europe pledges. President Sergio Mattarella invited party leaders for talks at the Quirinal Palace before he gives a formal mandate to a premier-designate following the country's Sept. 25 election. Giorgia Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy party, at 26%, was the largest single vote-getter, is eager to become both Italy's first far-right leader to head a government since the end of World War and its first woman in the premiership. But her jubilation over her party's election victory has been tempered by troublesome words professing empathy for Russian President Vladimir Putin from Silvio Berlusconi, the former premier whose center-right Forza Italia's party has seen its popularity sag. Mattarella will give the mandate to try to forge a government in the hours or days after his meeting

China has abruptly delayed the publication of key economic data, one day before its scheduled release, as the ruling Communist Party gathers at a major political meeting against the backdrop of a faltering economy. The country's National Bureau of Statistics updated its schedule on Monday, with the dates for a series of economic indicators -- including the closely-watched GDP growth -- marked as "delayed." The indicators, which had been scheduled for release on Tuesday, also include quarterly retail sales, industrial production and monthly unemployment rates. The bureau did not give a reason for the delay or set a new publication date. Separately, the country's customs authority also postponed the release of monthly trade data, which were initially scheduled to come out on Friday. The delay of the highly anticipated data coincides with the week-long 20th Communist Party National Congress in Beijing, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to secure a norm-breaking third term in power. Priorities presented

The markets are breathing a sigh of relief as British Prime Minister Liz Truss calls it quits. Truss was in the job for only 44 days, making her the third to resign in as many years, and the shortest Prime Minister in history. Her tax cut plan proved to be her downfall, with the British economy tanking before rebounding after a dramatic U-turn earlier in the week. It's expected the markets will recover, but trust between the government and markets will take some time to rebuild. Business commentator Rod Oram joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mainfreight says its estimated profit before tax has improved nearly 66 per cent to $301.7 million after 26 weeks of trading. Estimated revenue after 26 weeks trading had improved 32.5 per cent to $3.01 billion, the international transport and logistics company said in a market update during an investor day presentation. The NZX-listed company will post its half year results on November 10. It outlined the profit estimate ahead of its 2023 half year result next month. A presentation by group managing director Don Braid and senior managers took investors through the company's global situation and outlooks, region by region. The New Zealand operation had shown good momentum in the 26 weeks, with all divisions trading ahead year-to-date. Profit before tax for the six months was up 55.2 per cent at $75m. Revenue was up 29.6 per cent at $645m. The New Zealand operation employed 2940 people in 88 branches and 28 locations. Planned capital expenditure on property and network development for New Zealand in 2023-2024

This could be possibly the best pivot to come out of Covid – the most remarkable business case. And it works. Dunedin tourism operates Bex and Paul Tobin lost their income during the pandemic, so they got creative. They started offering a bus trip to Invercargill – a six-hour return trip. And it went off. Bex Tobin joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finally from 2024, we will have a nationwide public transport card, replacing regional varieties. An agreement's been struck with Auckland Transport, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Environment Canterbury, and ten smaller councils. The card will be called NTS. Which is not the snappiest of names, but who cares? But here's the even bigger news. If you don't have a card you can just jump on a bus and swipe your credit or debit card. The big question is: why on earth has it taken so long for such a simple idea to happen?   It's because we're bloody-minded parochial people who sometimes would rather cut our own noses off than work together. HOP in Auckland was supposed to be a nationwide card but other regions were too attached to their own systems. So council after council wasted ratepayers’ dollars reinventing the same systems that other councils had either already built or investigated. But that's old news. Time for another Andrew Dickens I love public transport rave, because there aren't enough of these

Our old friend the ozone hole is back. So slip, slop, slap and wrap will be even more important this summer due to climbing UV radiation levels. NIWA data says they're 5 percent higher on average than last year in Auckland and up to 10 percent higher over the last month. The Cancer Society is now calling for people to be extra cautious as a result. Cancer Society spokesperson Hazel Potterton joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.