Larry Williams Drive

The Solomons Islands' security pact with China has become an Australian election issue. Australia's Opposition is calling it the worst foreign policy failure since World War II.  It was a major point in last night's first leaders' debate, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor's Anthony Albanese going head-to-head. Australian correspondent Murray Olds told Andrew Dickens the Government is telling voters it's better at national and international security than the Opposition. “Clearly this is a big, big problem, having China sign up a deal with a country that New Zealand and Australia have poured a lot of resources into.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More details today on the new health authorities set to replace DHB's. The government has announced that Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority will be getting advice from sixty to eighty "locality networks" that will represent local communities. The first nine networks have been announced today, but there'll be a consultation period before a final decision is made on how many others there'll be and where they'll be located. Health Minister, Andrew Little joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Annual inflation has hit 6.9%... The highest figure in 30 years.  The number wasn't as bad as some economists feared. Finance Minister Grant Robertson said if the government hadn't cut the fuel excise tax, inflation could have been worse. Michael Reddell, a former Reserve Bank economist, joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave joined Andrew Dickens on Wayne Smith's appointment as coach of the Black Ferns.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mounting frustration over a central North Island bridge sitting idle. Construction has finished on the 11-million-dollar bridge connecting the Manawatu and Rangitikei districts ... with just some final checks still needed.  But Rangitikei District Council agreed with local iwi an opening ceremony would be held in June, so no traffic can pass until then. Manawatu District councillor Andrew Quarrie told Andrew Dickens he isn't happy. “We are not objecting to an opening, what we’re objecting to is the bridge being closed, we would like to have an opening, we would like to celebrate the opening, but we want the traffic to go through first.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I didn't want to talk about inflation today but it's unavoidable as it rose to its highest level in 30 years. The annual inflation rate is now 6.9 percent after the consumer price index rose 1.8 percent in the three months ending in March. The problem for the government's narrative that it's caused by global factors is that inflation has been driven by fuel, food, and housing costs. With the exception of fuel, this is what's known as non-tradable inflation. The rising price of goods and services we produce and consume domestically. In fact, housing was the largest contributor to annual inflation figures. Inflation from homeownership is up 18 percent for the year, and 3.5 percent for the quarter. While the total increase from housing and household utilities was 8.6 percent for the year. So, we can sheet this home to our incoherent housing policy over the past 30 years. As we stumbled into the pandemic, we were given wage subsidies by the Government and interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank. But as Paul Bloxha

China's deal with the Solomon Islands has turned into an election issue across the ditch. The two countries officially have signed a landmark security deal and the Australian government's being accused of failing to prevent the deal.  Scott Morrison's judgement is being questioned after he sent his Pacific Minister to the Solomon's, rather than his Foreign Minister, to talk the country out of the deal.  Eryk Bagshaw, Sydney Morning Herald's North Asia correspondent joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK PM meets his MPs behind closed doors to call for unity after his first Commons defence of his ‘Partygate’ scandal fine.  New proposals to driving rules in the UK mean people using self-driving cars will be allowed to watch television on built-in screens.  The Duke of Sussex has revealed the Queen was "on great form" during their recent meeting – as he describes making sure she is "protected".  UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China is now one of the only countries still following a Covid Zero strategy, what are the latest developments we are seeing there? If Covid Zero could negatively impact China’s growth, why are they sticking to Covid Zero? Deborah Lambie from Milford Asset Management joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've been talking about it for days – tomorrow we'll actually find out how bad inflation has gotten. Brad Olsen, Infometrics principal economist, joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building consents in New Zealand have hit such a high level that our construction industry may not be able to keep up. There were 49,800 consents issued in the 12 months up to this February but according to estimates, our industry can only actually build 30-35 thousand homes a year. New CoreLogic data out today also shows the rate of construction cost growth has reached a record high. Kelvin Davidson, chief property economist at CoreLogic, joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon has said he wants to get rid of Labour Day, in exchange for Matariki to decrease the cost on business.  The latest Taxpayer Union/Curia poll has the Nats leading ahead of Labour for the first time and Labour/Greens unable to govern.  An Auckland bus lane racks up $12k in fines every single day. Auckland Transport says they fulfil a purpose and a fine actually teaches drivers not to do it again. Netflix is bleeding subscribers. Neil Miller, former National Party staffer, and Jack Tame, host of Saturday Mornings and Q&A, joined Andrew Dickens for the Huddle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon says he's just trying to make a point – calling for scrapping a public holiday if we're adding one.  The National leader maintains he's highly supportive of Matariki – and today suggested cancelling Labour Day to make up for it.  But Luxon told Andrew Dickens it doesn't really matter what holiday is cancelled – and he was being a bit 'facetious.'  He also accepts a National Government wouldn't follow his call up – if voted into power. “Sorry I won’t be able to follow through on the commitment of removing it because once it’s done it’s going to be set in place, all I’m saying is before it gets locked and loaded, before we get committed to it, have we actually thought it through?” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netflix is losing subscribers for the first time in more than a decade.  The streaming company lost 200,000 members in the first three months of this year.  It had raised prices in key markets – including the US and UK, and pulled out of Russia.  Tech commentator Bill Bennett told Andrew Dickens the company's considering running adverts, as a fair trade off for cheaper subscriptions.  Netflix also hinted it'll start to crack down on account sharing, as it pushes to sign up new members. “If you’re still paying the full price and you’ve gotta have ads as well then that’s not on, you can go back to watching old-fashioned television.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National continues its upward trajectory, overtaking Labour in the latest Taxpayer Union/Curia poll.  National sits on 37.8%, one point ahead of Labour. Both ACT and the Greens fell in the poll. And both National and Labour would now need the support of the Māori party to govern.  David Farrar, principal at Curia Market Research, joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are claims our health industry's understaffed because people are getting better pay at places like Bunnings and KFC. 10,000 health workers have voted to strike next month – after 18 months of failed pay negotiations with DHBs. Sterile services technician, Steve, is one of them – and told Andrew Dickens he works a second job to support his family.  The PSA allied, scientific and technical workers will strike for 24-hours on May 16 – and work to rule between May 9 to 20. “I get paid more at my second job than I do at my first job; I work security at a bar so it’s not exactly safe.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The PM is heading to Japan today. The latest Taxpayer Union/Curia poll has Labour trailing National for the first time. Any comment on the deal between China and the Solomon Islands that's officially been signed? Newstalk ZB chief political reporter Jason Walls joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johnny Depp takes the stand in his defamation trial against Amber Heard. Joe Biden has reportedly told Barack Obama he's going to run again in 2024. Netflix has opened its books and the stock's down as much as 25% as a result. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyson Fury denies he has any links to an alleged Irish mobster. Tonight, D'Arcy will be speaking to a netballer who has suited up for three separate ANZ premiership teams this season, so far. Host of Sportstalk D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cameras along a 160-metre length of bus lane in Auckland's Newmarket generated $4.3 million in fines last year. RNZ reports almost $29,150 fines were issued to people driving more than 50m in the Khyber Pass Road bus lane. That's almost $12,000 worth of fines per day. AA policy director, Martin Glynn told Andrew Dickens it must be a poorly designed bus lane. “I’ve had a look at AT’s annual report and that is almost 10% of all revenue they collect across all their investment activity, including parking.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.