Larry Williams Drive

National, the Greens, ACT and a former Reserve Bank chairman are calling for a public inquiry into the Reserve Bank's response to Covid. It comes after Graeme Wheeler says central banks made serious errors in wake of the pandemic which now need to be acknowledged and corrected. A research paper co-authored by Bryce Wilkinson for the New Zealand Initiative argues central banks were too confident about their monetary policy framework; were too confident about their models; were too confident they could control output and employment. Business commentator Rod Oram joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumer confidence may be low, but New Zealand households are still spending. This is according to the latest ANZ-Roy Morgan numbers, which show that while consumer confidence is still really, really low, it has gone up a little bit this month, which is good news. ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaron Smith has taken aim at All Blacks critics. The veteran half-back has labelled criticism after the Ireland series loss as “hurtful, ridiculous and ruthless”. It comes after former NZR CEO David Moffett has called for Mark Robinson’s resignation. The Manly Sea Eagles jersey saga has come to an anti-climactic end after their loss to the Sydney Roosters. Seven players refused to play after they were not consulted about a rainbow-themed jersey to celebrate diversity. The Commonwealth Games medals could come as early as tonight. Triathlete Hayden Wilde and para swimmer Dame Sophie Pascoe are among our potential medallists. Matt Brown and Ross Karl joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the week’s sports newsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A motorist tired of waiting for council to fill in a road of potholes that resemble Swiss cheese has taken to fixing it himself - and he's sending a bill to the local authority for the repair. The gravel rural road in northwest Auckland was left with more than 20 holes on a 20-metre stretch so densely pitted there was no way for drivers to avoid running into them. A post has appeared on a local northwest Auckland Facebook page featuring the efforts of locals making running repairs on the pock-marked road. One person shovels gravel from the bucket of his digger into the rain-filled holes, while another on a bike further up the road manages oncoming traffic. An Auckland Transport spokesperson said they were aware of the situation and understood road-users' frustration but would not be paying the man's bill. "We do need to ensure all work is done under AT's authority." Rodney Local Board chairman Phelan Pirrie said while he could understand locals' frustration, turning to DIY was not going to solve the problem.

Changes could be coming to the feebate scheme. The scheme has paid out nearly a $100 million more in rebates than it has collected in fees. Until the end of June, the scheme paid out $116.9 million in discounts, but it only collected $25m in revenue. It only began collecting fees on April 1 this year, and was funded by a $300 million loan from July 1 last year to April 1. Labour seems to be rushing through its donation legislation. The legislation – which will see donations of more than $5000 disclosed – had its first reading yesterday, with National and ACT opposing it. We could be hosting a future Commonwealth Games. Grant Robertson – who is in Birmingham attending the games – hasn’t ruled out the possibility. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Barry Soper joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up to 20 meteors an hour will be flying across New Zealand skies tonight. Three meteor showers are combining this weekend. Otago Museum director and astronomer Ian Griffins told Heather du Plessis Allan there's no moon so it's a great time to see it. “If you've got a decent view of the sky and a relatively dark spot, you'll see quite a few meteors. And it's not just tonight, it's over the whole weekend.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A call not to panic about our road toll. The number of road deaths is set to be higher this year after an 11 percent reduction between 2018 and last year. Road safety advocate and former motorcycle racer Aaron Slight says the focus on increasing median barriers on motorways doesn't make sense. He says it's hard to predict where people will cross the road so it's only guessing when the barriers are lead. Slight told Heather du Plessis-Allan in his view our road toll is improving. “It's been going down for years and the amount of cars on the road has been going up. So percentage-wise, we're actually getting a lot lot better.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls for a more targeted approach to tackle the cost of living crisis. On Monday, the Government makes the first of three $116 payments to those earning less than $70,000. It was the flagship announcement in the Budget, designed to help Kiwis hit hardest by the record-high cost of living. But financial adviser Liz Koh told Heather Du Plessis-Allan it should have been targeted to the poorest Kiwis. “We need to be helping people who are really at that end of the spectrum or they’re struggling to just have a basic standard of living, and there’s an increasing number of them.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beijing grumbled but swallowed its irritation in 1997 when then-Speaker Newt Gingrich of the U.S. House of Representatives visited Taiwan, the island democracy claimed by the mainland’s ruling Communist Party as its own territory. China had other priorities. President Jiang Zemin’s government was preparing to celebrate Hong Kong’s return and wanted to lock in Beijing’s emergence from diplomatic isolation after its 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. Gingrich, a booster of closer U.S.-Chinese ties, had just helped that campaign by meeting Jiang in Beijing. China avoided a disruptive clash with Washington. A quarter-century later, conditions have changed drastically. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government is richer, more heavily armed and less willing to compromise over Taiwan following news reports the current speaker, Nancy Pelosi, might become the most senior U.S. official since Gingrich to visit the island. Beijing sees any official contact with Taiwan as recognition of it

A former NZR boss has called for the current NZR boss to resign. David Moffett appeared on the Mike Hosking Breakfast this morning and suggested that Mark Robinson return from Birmingham immediately – where he’s with the All Blacks Sevens for the Commonwealth Games – and resign immediately. And New Zealand has a good chance to get its first Commonwealth Games medals tonight. Hayden Wilde is taking part in the triathlon overnight, and Dame Sophie Pascoe and Erika Fairweather kick off their swimming campaigns. Wellington sports reader Adam Cooper joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel agents are frustrated Air New Zealand is slashing commissions. The airline has cut longstanding three percent short-haul commissions for travel to Australia and the Pacific Islands. It’s also reduced long-haul commissions from five percent to one. Travel Agents Association President Greg Hamilton told Heather du Plessis Allan the timing isn't good after the pandemic. He says agents are working very hard supporting the airline and they should reconsider the timing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB Political Editor Barry Soper joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the Prime Minister telling everyone to make sure IRD has their bank account in order to receive the first cost of living payment, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield's last day of media rounds before retirement and Winston Peters comments made about Nania Mahuta. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns have been raised that there is too much red tape in the way of weeding our roundabouts and traffic islands. It's up to councils to weed them, but the Hamilton deputy mayor says its being slowed down immensely by Waka Kotahi's overzealous safety regulations. Hamilton deputy mayor Geoff Taylor joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has slammed New Zealand Rugby, saying the divide between the top players and those making decisions has lead to the All Blacks' on-field struggles. To give an assessment of what Hansen has right, but also what he has wrong, another former All Black coach, Laurie Mains, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A building company director says nowhere near enough plasterboard is arriving in the country. Housing Minister Megan Woods says a taskforce set up to address an industry shortage has made good progress Twelve plasterboard importers, four of them new, have 100 containers of product en route to the country. Brightbuild director Jennifer Taylor says they can't access enough of it, and are turning away work. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker has called for an apology from Education Minister Chris Hipkins for turning the country's polytechnic education system into "a national disgrace". It comes in the wake of last week's apology from Te Pūkenga's acting chief executive over its beleaguered financial situation and its delays in transitioning the country's polytechnics into a single entity. However, Hipkins said the system was no longer sustainable and change was necessary. Ker agreed change was needed, but believed the problems the system faced were not being addressed. "The so-called reforms are basically a solution for the wrong problem. "Actually, I think they were simply an ego trip on the Minister of Education's part, to be frank." Ker told the Otago Daily Times the core issue was the inadequacy of funding for the polytechnic sector, and between now and the final transition, there would need to be severe staff cuts across the entire network of providers and subsidiaries. "I'd be staggered if t

Anger over Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's comments on "race-mixing", labelled as Nazi speech by a resigning advisor. More rail disruptions in the UK, which could have implications for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham. UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does it seem like the Reserve Bank has learned anything over the last couple of days? This is in relation to Graeme Wheeler's comment that central banks drove inflation. Since then, the Reserve Bank has released a statement acknowledging their role in creating the high inflationary environment we're in right now. Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyese are on the US Federal Reserve tomorrow. They're announcing the interest rates, and a economists are expecting a 0.75 percent rise to 2.5 percent. If it happens, it will be second big increase in a row and the fastest pace of rate hikes in 40 years. Milford Asset Management Global Equities Analyst Deb Lambie joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Crown has started recapitalising the Reserve Bank. It comes after the Government provided a backstop for the bank to buy bonds at the start of the pandemic. Now the value of these bonds has fallen, and the change in value is worth $8.8 billion. Wellington Business Editor Jenée Tibshraeny joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.