Podcast appearances and mentions of Judith Collins

"I've seen some bad times in this house, but this is one of the lowest I've ever seen. When you go to that sort of standard of language, nothing's beneath you after that, is it?" That was Winston Peters yesterday after his coalition colleague, Brooke van Velden, used the c-word in parliament. And I'm with him 100%. He said he was disgusted that the word was said in Parliament, and he was disgusted that the word was used in a newspaper article at the weekend – which is why it came up for discussion yesterday. And the timing of it was interesting, because just hours after the c-bomb went off, it was announced that the co-leaders of Te Pati Māori have been suspended for three weeks, and one of their MPs suspended for a week. This is in relation to them getting out of their seats in Parliament and doing the haka as a protest against David Seymour's Treaty Principles Bill. The part of it that actually got them in strife wasn't the haka, it was the two-finger gun salute given to David Seymour while they were out of their seats. If you were to ask me: “What's worse? The two-finger gun salute in Parliament or an MP using the c-word in Parliament?” I would say that the bad language is way worse. Hands down. And if you were to ask me: “What's worse? MPs doing a haka in Parliament or an MP using the c-word in Parliament?” Same. The bad language is way worse than that too. I'm not defending the Māori Party MPs, because what they did is not the kind of thing I expect in Parliament. At the time, I thought it was a great piece of theatrics, but it's not appropriate. Just like I'm not going to defend Green MP Julie Anne Genter crossing the floor that time to go nuts at Matt Doocey. That didn't meet my expectations of parliamentary behaviour either. Which is why I think that ACT party deputy leader Brooke van Velden has to be hauled over the coals. Even though she, reportedly, had permission from the Clerk of the House. And why I agree with Winston Peters and with Judith Collins who have both been saying since yesterday afternoon that we have reached a new low. That behaviour in Parliament has reached a new low. It's believed that van Velden is the first MP to intentionally use the c-word in the House. This was when she was replying to a question from Labour about the Government's pay equity changes. Or, more to the point, a question referring to the opinion article at the weekend about the pay equity row, where the writer used the c-word. I don't know why Labour even brought it up, when it seems to have been silent about the derogatory nature of the article. I thought the article itself was appalling, but the writer seems to have gotten away with it because her employer is backing her to the hilt. But that doesn't mean that Parliament should turn a blind eye. I wasn't impressed with Speaker Gerry Brownlee's handling of things yesterday. Not once did he interrupt van Velden, only saying afterwards that it might have been better to refrain from using the word. Saying “more discretion” could have been used. The wet bus ticket treatment from the Speaker doesn't give me much hope that standards in Parliament are going to improve. I know people have been saying forever that parliamentarians behave badly but I think Parliament needs to up its game big time. That is where laws are made. Parliament is where we look-to for leadership. And this is probably a bit old school, but Parliament sets the standard for society. Some people say it should reflect society, but I say it should set the benchmark, and our politicians should show us what a civil society looks like. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are the Greens bonkers? The Greens have come out and criticised Judith Collins for tinkering with the Public Service Commission census – that's a voluntary survey run over three weeks and it's a follow up to the initial 2021 survey of the same name. Now Judith Collins and her office had a look at the 2021 survey, and they suggested a few changes. They had thoughts about the census, and they said we don't really need the questions about disability, rainbow identities, religion, te reo Māori proficiency levels, on-the-job training, and agencies' commitment to the Māori-Crown relationship. Instead, Judith Collins' office said, we want to put in a new question about whether public servants give excellent value for my salary, there are instances when I consider my work wastes taxpayers money, or I would rate my manager as someone who cares about the effect of my work. They're focused on productivity rather than personal well-being, which seems to be what the 2021 survey was all about. So the Greens and PSA Union have come out and said it's a form of political censorship, he says several ministers seemed more interested in fighting imported culture wars – there's all kinds of criticism for putting in questions on productivity. Judith Collins says she doesn't really care, to be honest. She says: “I think the Greens are frankly bonkers. I mean, how can they find it difficult that the public service should be delivering value for money? The Greens can go off on their fine little tangents. Frankly, that's their problem. I think it's very, very important.” So bonkers. The Greens received the same criticism from some quarters when they released their Budget this week. They pledged, among other things, free GP visits, free childcare, funded through new taxes and increased borrowing. The policies include a wealth tax, a private jet tax, ending interest deductibility for landlords, restoring the 10 year bright-line test, doubling minerals royalties, and changes to ACC levies. It would see net debt climb from 45% of GDP to above 53% by the 2028/29 financial year. Criticism was immediate. Idealistic pie in the sky, policies that would mean the death knell for Kiwi businesses. Clown show, economics, Marxism. You probably heard it, you may even have uttered a few criticisms yourself of the Budget. But is it bonkers? Yes, net debt would climb from 45% of GDP to above 53%, but 60% is considered a sustainable level of debt. It's considered a prudent level of debt by economists around the world. Sure, they're talking bigger economies and when you're a smaller economy, you don't have as much wiggle room, 60% would probably be way too much for a country as small as ours. But 53% – is that completely unsustainable? And do all Kiwi businesses think this is nonsense? I don't think so. Remember the group of millionaires who wrote to the government a year or so ago? I think it was in the final stages of the last Labour government. It was a group of 96 wealthy New Zealanders who called on the government to tax them more. In the open letter, they said the current tax system contributed towards the gap between the poor and the wealthy. They said they didn't mind if the taxation is done through increased income tax or wealth tax, or a capital gains tax, but the increases should only apply to the wealthy. Now, how do you define wealthy? According to the Greens, if you're on $120,000 a year, you should pay more tax, Under the Budget that they released —the proposed alternative Budget— If you're earning 120,000 a year, your tax will go up to 39 cents in the dollar. If you're on $180,000 your tax will go to 45 cents on the dollar. Does that then put you in the group of 96 wealthy New Zealanders wanting to be taxed more? When it comes to the differences between the parties, how helpful is it for the name calling, for the bonkers? Do we need to have a look at what policies might work? Are they aspirational policies? Are they policies that need more thinking through? I mean, when you look at the previous Labour government under Jacinda Ardern, initially there were some great ideas. I thought brilliant, fabulous, but they hadn't been worked through, and the unintended consequences was so damaging, and the fallout was so great, from nice ideas that hadn't been thought through. So before you dismiss ideas completely, is it worth looking through how they might work? Is it worth discussing rather than dismissing ideas completely out of hand? Could there be a generational and ideological divide that blinds us, perhaps to some good ideas? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heading into next week's Budget, Judith Collins says she doesn't want any more money for weaponry even if it was offered to her. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Parliament's Privileges Committee is recommending the harshest ever punishment for Te Pāti Māori's co-leaders, following last year's protest haka in the House. Committee chair Judith Collins spoke to Corin Dann.

Questions to Ministers DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the Government's fiscal position? LAURA McCLURE to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent announcements has he made regarding school attendance? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? SAM UFFINDELL to the Minister of Transport: What announcements has he made regarding the Government's crackdown on drunk drivers? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she agree with Christopher Luxon, when describing FamilyBoost, that "Our view is it doesn't cost much more to administer"; if so, how much has been spent on administering the scheme relative to the amount paid out? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? RAWIRI WAITITI to the Minister for Maori Development: Does he stand by his statement that "Over the past 50 years, the Tribunal has made significant contributions to the Maori Crown relationship and informed the settlement of both historical and contemporary Treaty claims impacting generations of whanau across the country"? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she agree with Andrea Vance, who said about the Equal Pay Amendment Bill, "It is a curious feminist moment, isn't it? Six girlbosses - Willis, her hype-squad Judith Collins, Erica Stanford, Louise Upston, Nicola Grigg, and Brooke van Velden - all united in a historic act of economic backhanding other women"; if not, how is unilaterally stopping 33 pay equity claims not a historic act of economic backhanding other women? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Immigration: What update can she provide about the recent changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa to attract more global investment to New Zealand? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for the Public Service: What impact will recent changes to the Equal Pay Act 1972 have on public sector workers, particularly women? TIM VAN DE MOLEN to the Minister for Veterans: What investments is the Government making to support veterans in Budget 2025? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions?

Well, what a to-do. The image of Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters slumped in the House, head in his hands, summed it up really. Brooke van Velden dropped the C-bomb in the house, quoting a Stuff article whose author used the word in criticising the government's decision to amend the pay equity legislation. The coalition's female MPs are angry that Labour MPs, particularly the female MPs, have not condemned the journalist's use of the word, which was used as a derogatory in the article. Judith Collins, head of the Privileges Committee, was on with Mike Hosking this morning, ostensibly to talk about the suspension of three Te Pati Māori MPs for their haka in the House, but during the chat she deplored the decline of standards in the House. “There's a lack of civility now and it's not acceptable, and I feel that the comments of the print journalist in the Sunday Star Times this last Sunday was one of the lowest points I think I've seen in 23 years. That and what happened on the 14th of November in Parliament. It's just the sort of behaviour towards each other that is despicable. So I'd say to Brooke, you know I wouldn't use the word myself, but I did feel that she at least stood up for herself and for all the rest of us, and I am waiting for someone of the left persuasion in our Parliament, one MP, just one, to come out and say it's not okay to attack people just because you don't agree with what they do.” I think she'll be waiting a while. Karen Chhour has been consistently attacked by Labour MPs and Te Pati Māori MPs, really for just for being a Māori woman who has the temerity to be an ACT Party MP. And to be fair, when Jacinda Ardern and her preschool daughter were receiving violent threats —violent sexual threats, some of them very real and credible threats— there wasn't a universal condemnation of the abuse from National and ACT. Certainly Judith Collins, when she was the opposition leader, said she did not want to see Jacinda Ardern threatened when she visited Auckland in 2021 after the three-month lockdown. She said I don't want to see anything happen to the Prime Minister or have her threatened in any way. I think it's not good for our democracy and also it is not right for people to do that to each other, which is true, and good on her for saying that. But at the same time, it's hardly a universal, strident condemnation of the threats that the Prime Minister of the time was getting. We were discussing this before the show, one of our colleagues said politicians need to be better otherwise people will just give up. They'll look at the carry on, they'll read the stories and think I'm not going to vote. I argued that there are House of Representatives – they are us, to borrow a phrase. Abuse of MPs on every level increased in 2022, 98% of them reported receiving some kind of harassment. Women were considerably more likely to face abuse on most counts than male politicians. Abuse increased across 11 of the 12 different mediums, with social media overtaking emails, faxes and letters as the most prominent. That came from us. That's men and women, normally erstwhile, law-abiding, God-fearing people who suddenly became more strident. It was a result of societal factors, of lockdowns, of decisions made that had an enormous impact on people's lives and livelihoods and families. And there will be people who will never forget what happened. It can't be undone. But that all resulted in extremes, in the use of language and the vehemence of our opinions and our tribalism. I had a public Facebook page for years. I think in the in the seven or eight years I had it before Covid, I blocked two people. Once Covid started, I just got rid of it because it's why would you be a sitting duck? When I first heard about the death threats against Jacinda Ardern, I thought, well, who hasn't had them? You know that is not normal. That's not a normal response. The days of Socratic discourse are long gone. So does that mean we have to give up, my colleague asked, that we have no expectations of our MPs? No. But I think before we ask anything of our MPs, we look at ourselves. I was thinking about that this morning. Can I call out the Principles Federation representative and say before you start looking at the government, how about you call out the poor parents who send their kids to school unable to hold a pen and not toilet trained? Whose fault is that? That is the parents. Can I say that? Absolutely I can. Should I mimic her voice while I'm saying that? No, I shouldn't. Talkback's a robust forum. It's a bit like Parliament, people get heat up. We're allowed to have opinions. We should have differing opinions, but before I'm going to ask anything of our MPs, before I ask anything of my fellow journalists, I'll have a look in the mirror and check myself out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Speaker of the House is reminding MPs the rules of the House must be followed. The Privileges Committee have suggested three Te Pati Māori MPs be temporarily suspended from Parliament, ranging up to 21 days, for their role in a haka over the Treaty Principles Bill. Te Pati Māori says these suspensions are the longest in Parliament's history. Sir Lockwood Smith told Ryan Bridge members need to think before they ignore the rules. He says the three-week suspension and missing part of the budget debate will hopefully make people take notice. The recommendation will be put to the House next Tuesday and likely pass. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Minister has confirmed she's committed to cutting public service diversity requirements. Minister Judith Collins is looking to bring a draft bill to Cabinet in July, to remove diversity requirements when hiring chief executives. It would also remove their responsibilities to promote diversity. Collins says these requirements are holding the public service back - and she's looking to ensure the right people are hired for the job. "We're also hearing from public servants that they like to think that they are employed on merit, not based on little boxes that have been ticked." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister's keeping a cool head, despite being the subject of some colourful language in yesterday's papers. The Post's Andrea Vance wrote a column on Sunday levelling the c-word at Nicola Willis - as well as Judith Collins, Louise Upston, Nicola Grigg, Brooke van Velden and Erica Stanford in response to the Government's pay equity changes. Nicola Willis says she's used to criticism and insults as part of politics, but she's voiced concerns about the implications for other women. "I always think about other young women who want to go into politics, and I don't want them to think that it's okay to have their gender weaponised against them - and I don't want any young women to think there's a difference between girl maths and boy maths. It's called maths." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government sent a strong signal to boy racers that their days of running amok on the roads are over. Car crushing is not new, it's been announced before - Judith Collins was police minister in 2009 when car crashing legislation was introduced for recidivist boy racer offenders, hence her sobriquet, Crusher. In fact, only three cars were crushed and Judith Collins wasn't the police minister by the time it happened, because he needed three strikes before a car was crushed. Anne Tolley was the police minister when the first of the three cars was crushed. But despite the fact only three ended up in the jaws of the hydraulic crashes, Judith Collins said the legislation worked as a deterrent. Vehicle offences lowered by 15% in the first year of the legislation and she said police had seen a massive drop off in the number of complaints about boy racers. At the time, Collins wanted to see the legislation extended to cover those who fled police. Now, a decade and a half later, it's happening. Chris Bishop and Mark Mitchell have announced a suite of legislation aimed at dangerous drivers. According to Chris Bishop, Kiwi's are sick of seeing idiot drivers putting everyone around them at risk, so the governments going to take action through a range of much tougher penalties. And they are: Establishing a presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction or forfeiture for those that flee police, street racers and intimidating convoys and owners who fail toidentify offending drivers. Giving police more powers to manage illegal vehicle gatherings by closing roads or public areas and issuing infringements. And increasing the infringement fee for making excessive noise from or within a vehicle from $50 to $300. The changes will be introduced in new legislation and in mid-2025 and Chris Bishop says convicted fleeing drivers, boy racers and people participating in intimidating convoys will have their vehicles destroyed or forfeited. No three strikes. When you commit an offence that comes under this legislation your car will be gone. But I owe $30K on it! Tough. You'll keep paying it off to the finance company, but you won't have a car. Is this sort of heavy-handed legislation necessary? Well, yes according to the Police Association President Chris Cahill. The one conviction, rather than having to have three convictions under the current law, should make a difference. Look, we've got to do something. These things are out of control and they're not just anti-social boy racing. These things have got to the point where they deliberately antagonising police when they turn up – They're getting bottled, they're getting their cars rammed and the public had gutsful of it when it's in their neighbourhood, so I think it's worth a try. Worth a try? Well, yes, it worked before apparently according to Judith Collins, and she had the stats to support it. When it was introduced critics said, well, only three cars were crushed. Precisely, she said, because people changed their behaviour. She said clearly these boy racers aren't idiots. They don't want to lose their cars, so therefore they won't commit offences that mean their cars will be seized and destroyed and if it works as a deterrent, so much the better. I'm glad to see that they're going to extend the legislation to those who flee police. That can only make the roads safer. I'm all for it. Ever since I began doing talkback, which is going back a very long time, there have been problems with young people, men and women, and not so young, those who are old enough to know better getting together and deciding that parts of the roads belong to them and are going to be their private racetrack. And there's a school of thought that says, oh, they're just kids, they're just having fun, this is how they learn to drive. There's nothing for them to do, this is their passion. Well, no, there are plenty of places where these young men and women can go on race legally if they want to prove themselves. And don't come at with me with the ‘it's expensive'. You choose to spend money in all sorts of ways. Your cars are expensive. You take pride in them. Pay the money. Go to a racetrack where you can really prove yourself. It's not harmless fun. Not when people have been killed, maimed and injured. And not when it's costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not when you're filthy little oiks leaving your rubbish everywhere. Not when you're abusive. Enough. You won't get your car seized if you don't break the law - really easy. You won't get your car seized if you stop for police when they tell you to do so. You won't get your motorbike seized when you and your dodgy mates don't get together in a convoy and break the law and stick two fingers at the police and at us. It's really simple. Nobody's coming after you. If your car is seized, you've gone looking for trouble. Bring it on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The youth are out of control. We'll crush the cars. We'll crush the smartphones. Which all sounds nice this will... like most laws designed to make us feel like we're getting a handle on social problems, will all come down to enforcement. For all the time Judith Collins spent at the scrap metal yards for photo ops, was not quite the Crusher those photos ops made her out to be. In the five years after they passed the law, three cars were crushed. But that was a three-strike solution, Mark Mitchell, the destroyer, is moving us to a first strike programme... so you're one Gone in 60 Seconds Street race away from destruction or your car ending up on the Turner's auction site. If you've tried to get some sleep in an area where they convoy in some Subaru at 3am in the morning, you'll know how annoying these so-called meet ups are. It wastes so much police time. They're crashing into each other and hurting themselves. Ripping up the road. So yeah, why not double down on the crusher, but this won't make the problem disappear. Somewhat ironic, too, because we're saying screen time is bad. Get off your phone. Go outside and do something. These kids are off their phones, fixing their cars. Learning about engines. Chatting with one another face-to-face. Actually, out there doing something other sitting at home on Tiktok. The TikTok problem is the far bigger problem because it affects all of them not just the few who race cars. By their first year of High School, 90% of kids have a smartphone. This is interesting now because we've moved beyond Member's bill to a government bill being proposed, so a social media ban is now officially on the agenda. The problem with enforcement here is obvious - how do you do when there are so many workarounds. And the enforcers will not be police, they'll be parents. And here's the problem. Most parents spend time more time on social media than their kids. Nearly half of kiwi teens say their parent is at least sometimes distracted by their phone when they're trying to talk to them. Isn't that a bit hypocritical? Like telling them not to smoke while puffing away on a pack of winne blues? Enforcement of whatever rules we pass to manage the impulses of teenagers will ultimately determine how successful those measures are in stopping them doomscrolling or joyriding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is New Zealand deepening its defense ties across Asia?In this episode of Power Talks with Pia Arcangel, Defence Minister Judith Collins outlines the country's Indo-Pacific strategy. From its expanding security cooperation with ASEAN nations to the landmark signing of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with the Philippines, Minister Collins shares insights on regional stability, humanitarian missions, and how New Zealand balances defence partnerships with its longstanding commitment to an independent foreign policy.-----Producer: Lendle GozunProgram Researcher: Aubrey Sangalang Delos ReyesEditor: Piah Luna Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Featuring What's Up? with Judith Collins, a kōrero with Hemi Hemingway about new music, and the Aural Emporium!

The Government has announce $2 billion from the upcoming Budget has been set aside for new Defence Force helicopters, alongside an additional $957 million in funding. The current Seasprite helicopters were built in the 1960s and 1970s, and were overdue replacement. The announcement is part of a bigger plan to improve Defence capabilities. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Defence Minister is tight-lipped over whether a major investment in the military, will mean better pay for frontline troops. Defence contractors will be lining up their bids to build the Defence Force's new maritime helicopters. Judith Collins revealed yesterday two-billion dollars has been set aside for new helicopters, while 957-million's been earmarked over four years for Defence Force activities. She told Ryan Bridge troops already had quite large pay rises last year, and every time they go overseas, they get extra money on top of their usual pay. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alright it's time for Friday confessional. With the Pope passing away, all this focus on Catholicism's got me feeling repentant. There are two things I predicted would happen last December as I was signing for Christmas here at Newstalk ZB. One of those things hasn't happened and the other one is about to not happen. Poilievre winning the Canadian election and Albo losing Australia's. We all know who's to blame. You know who – the wildcard, the kamikaze, the outlaw, it was the Trump Bump that did it for both of these guys. Carney, while he's won, will have a very tough term in office given the whole rally round the flag effect in support of Canadian sovereignty will fizzle out as quickly as Jacinda's Covid election high – the underlying problems Canadians felt before this month-long love-in will remain. This will surely be his high tide mark. But that's no excuse. I got it wrong. Fair cop. And as for Dutton, who's been looking behind every couch and under every rock for something relevant to say, he's now beating up on the return to country. Which during a cost of living crisis people want sorted, is akin to Judith Collins' attack on fat people at the ill-fated 2020 election. Remember that? If you want to lose weight, then eat less. Actually, not an unreasonable thing to say for most but it's the timing, isn't it? It's the focus on that when it should be on bigger things. And that brings us to the elephant in the White House: Donald Trump. While I predicted he'd win last November, I think most of us underestimated just what “America first” meant for the rest of the world. When somebody comes first, somebody loses. And both Albo and Carney have been beneficiaries of that. His power of course has swung global political pendulums before. Remember the rise and international star power of Jacinda Ardern was born out of an anti-Trump backlash. The liberal young female prime minister banning assault rifles in a country post mass-shooting became the darling of global left – just the tonic for those who not just dislike, but despise Trump and his band of merry MAGA supporters. So the political lesson is don't underestimate the Trump Bump and Dump on any foreign election. The question is, what does it mean for our election next year? We're less affected by his tariffs, unless China implodes. We're not yet being threatened with invasion. Unlike the Aussies and Canadians, our incumbents are bent to the right. So the risk of a Trump Bump getting Chippy over the line here if he starts singing from Phil Goff's songbook is perhaps more limited – but not non-existent. When Washington coughs, somebody gets a cold. How Luxon and Winston et al. navigate the next 18 months will determine whether it's them that catches it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Judith Collins, Anna Fifield, Paris Marx and Laura McClure

It would be great if we didn't have to spend $12 billion on our defence force. But we do, and I'm good with it. To be honest though, while we'd known the Government had some sort of plan to increase defence spending, I was still blown away a bit by the scale of it when the announcement came through. So, $12 billion over the next four years. There'll be new helicopters, more missiles, autonomous vessels, the air force's clapped-out 757s will be replaced. And that's just the start, because it's all part of a bigger 15-year plan to up the ante on the defence front. The Government says it will boost defence spending to more than 2% of GDP within the next eight years, which we haven't seen since the early 1990s. Defence Minister Judith Collins says defence personnel are excited, because under-investment over the last 35 years has left the force gutted. Former NZ First defence minister Ron Mark is over the moon too. But he says the Government should sign contracts for the new gear ASAP, so any future government can't ditch the plans. But he says it's not just about missiles and helicopters, there's an issue with people power, as well. And recruiting the people needed to deliver the Government's 15-year plan will be a big challenge. Which Judith Collins acknowledges – you might have heard that the defence force has lowered some its academic requirements for people wanting to join the forces. Which I think makes sense. Judith Collins does too. And she says what we pay our defence personnel —as opposed to this $12 billion that's going to be spent on kit— will be covered in the Budget next month. What this all brings us to is the question of what sort of operation you think our defence force should be. Should it use this new capability that it will have to focus on peacekeeping? Should there be more of a focus on surveillance? Or do you think we need a defence force that is capable of attacking? Professor Al Gillespie is an international law expert from Waikato University. He says this big investment in defence shows New Zealand has joined the arms race. He's saying today: "We've avoided doing it for quite some time but there's been a lot of pressure on us to increase the amount of money that we spend.” So the Government is responding to that pressure. And I think it's great. Yes, the money could be spent on health and education, but our defence force is in such bad shape that the Government has no choice. And, in terms of what sort of capability I want our military to have, I think we need to cover all of the bases. We have to be equipped to keep the peace. Surveillance is another critical role. But if we think we can do either of those things without some sort firepower to back it up, then we're dreaming. And the government knows that, which is why it wants our ships to be combat-capable. I'm not saying that I want our defence force going in all guns blazing, but it needs to be capable. Way more capable than it is now. Which is why I think this $12 billion —and everything else that comes on top of that— is going to be money well spent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Defence Minister discusses the plan for a massive boost in defence spending - up to levels not seen since the early 1990s.

New missile systems, better strike capability and a focus on drones and new technology, those are just some of the features of the government's long-awaited Defence Capability Review. Defence Minister Judith Collins spoke to Corin Dann.

The Government's promising to spend big in areas of defence, including improving its fleet in the air, and on the land, and sea. The long-awaited Defence Capability Plan was released yesterday afternoon, with $12 billion worth of public spending across four years – $9 billion of which is deemed new spending. It includes plans to bring defence spending up to two percent of GDP, with procurement for maritime helicopters, vehicles, and a replacement plane fleet. The Defence Minister is confident in the work done by Finance Minister Nicola Willis, reassuring they're not spending money New Zealand does not have. Judith Collins is also standing by changes making it easier to enter the armed forces. Since last year most Defence Force roles now only require three years of high school to Year 11, instead of passing Level One credits. More technical roles now only require a Level Two certificate. Collins told Mike Hosking being smart academically is helpful but isn't the first port of call. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 8th of April, the Government has announced a major defence spend – the highest since WWII. Defence Minister Judith Collins and former Minister Ron Mark share their thoughts. A New Zealand restaurant has is in the top three – worldwide. Famed singer and pianist Bruce Hornsby has been on Mike's interview bucket list for decades, and he's finally on the show. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's keeping its cards close to its chest on how it'll fund a mammoth defence splurge. It's injecting $12 billion over the next four years into building up our Defence Force workforce and equipment. It's signalling it'll go into system upgrades, replacing helicopters - and enhancing maritime strike capability. Defence Minister Judith Collins says the investment includes $9 billion on top of what we already spend on defence. "It is a lot of money, but I also know this - there is no economic security without national security." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The news that New Zealand is going to spend 12 billion dollars on defence is not news to welcome, and yet it is welcome news. In an unsettled world, defence is essential. And the equation for a credible defence is spending 2 percent of GDP. So now within 8 years we'll get to that target - it's a doubling. The question is why we are only just doing this now. If we'd spent that for the past 30 years we would not be facing so dramatic a spend today. But we didn't. Fat and complacent in a mistaken belief that we were safe and sound, and if something went wrong our friends would come and save us. For as long as I've been in the news business, Australia and the States have warned that coat tailing did not cut it and that we had to do our bit. So fair play to Judith Collins, she's finally accepting the responsibility that we've always needed. But it comes at a difficult time. Firstly, the world has become more dangerous so time is of the essence. And secondly, we're broke. It comes at a time when barely reported mass redundancies are happening in defence to meet government spending targets. And yet they've also announced this new plan. They fire with one hand and employ with another. But you can argue that both are necessary because we've sat on our hands for so long. And we've spent irresponsibly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I find it incredible that within a few days of a report into the sinking of the Manawanui - a damning report that revealed the crew and the Commanding Officer of the Navy ship were under trained, ill-prepared, not up to the job, the boat wasn't up to the task it was doing when it grounded on a Samoan reef - we learn that the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has lowered its standards to make it easier for people to apply for a job. This is an RNZ story and documents obtained by RNZ show that last year the Defence Force quietly removed some entry requirements for NCEA levels 1 and 2, which you would have hardly thought were the most onerous of qualifications to get. To apply to train as an army combat specialist, an auto technician, a plumber, a Navy diver and logistics specialist, and an Air Force firefighter- among other roles - you'll now need three years of high school up to year 11, you don't have to pass Level 1 credits. The Defence Force says the changes prompted a surge in applications in 2024, however, it's unclear whether that surge is continuing or whether it has had a marked effect on enlistment numbers. The drop in standards - because however you dress it up, that's exactly what it is - came about because people were leaving the army in droves and bosses needed to get boots on the ground however they could. There's a great piece in North and South Magazine from 2023 looking at just this problem, the attrition within the Army and the decline in standards and the decline in it being an attractive career option. More than one in 10 military personnel left the organisation in 2023. In the interview with North and South, Chief of Defence Force Air Marshall Kevin Short, estimated that the attrition rate for the most skilled personnel was even greater, somewhere between 20 and 30 percent. So you're losing the experienced people, those who are able to be good leaders, they're going. It's almost certainly higher now. Short said “We cannot sustain that loss.” Then defence Minister Peeni Henare said these are some of the worst rates the Defence Force has seen in its history. The consequences of that, the Royal New Zealand Navy idled three of its nine ships for lack of people to crew them. A recent briefing to Henare explained that the NZDF was experiencing significant fragility and presumably the new Defence Minister, Judith Collins, has got that briefing as well. When asked whether Defence Force could maintain a peacekeeping operation in the South Pacific - the organization's most important task after after civil defence - Short says it would struggle. And that's despite the most significant boost to military spending in living memory. However, the boost - that money - was all spent on new planes, ships and vehicles. Money needed to be spent on them, you couldn't keep some of those planes in the air and the dear old Manawanui was bought and that disappeared. The problems causing the mass exodus of personnel weren't addressed. And that is the poor pay - they're about 7% to 16% percent less than civilian counterparts - substandard housing, the lack of career advancement and the lack of leadership. So those are the problems, that is why people are leaving. They can't see any way to advance their careers. It used to be a great career option - if you wanted to get you go to university, if you wanted to learn a trade, you'd join the forces, you'd have subsidised housing, you'd put in your service to the country, and in return you'd have a great career. You'd have options after you've done your time. If you decided to leave, you could go into Civvy Street, you'd be snapped up in no time because they knew that training was great, that you'd be a benefit to any organisation. That's just no longer there. The reason why people are leaving is the poor pay, the substandard housing, the lack of career advancement, the poor leadership. And that simply hasn't been addressed, other than to dumb down, lower and compromise standards. And we've seen what happens when you do that. Loose lips might sink ships, but so too do loose standards and loose training. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Te Pāti Māori MPs, Hana Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, and Rawiri Waititi, did not attend the Privileges Committee over their contempt of the House, following their haka in Parliament protesting the Treaty Principles Bill. The party instead are planning on holding their own hearing regarding the matter. Privileges Committee chairwoman Judith Collins, called the no-show “unprecedented” and has given the MPs “one final chance” to attend the hearing. For our weekly catch up, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Kemp about the party's action, and why they are going about the hearing in their own manner. We also spoke about the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act passing its final reading. But first, we discussed the party not attending the Privileges Committee.

Human error and failing to disengage autopilot has been confirmed as the root cause of a New Zealand Navy ship running aground and sinking in the Pacific, a report has concluded. Crew were unaware the ship was on autopilot mode when they tried to adjust course, and key personnel were distracted and not properly trained; the report found. The $100 million HMNZS Manawanui motored into a reef off the coast of Samoa at a speed of 11 knots last October. Defence Minister talks to Ryan Bridge about the report. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judith Collins says she believes public service productivity has increased under her Government. It's on track towards the goal of cutting $400 million off contractor and consultant spending - with a forecast it'll cut more than double that figure. The Public Service Minister says it's not a case of just shifting work onto public servants, because the service as whole shrank four percent in the year to June. "Quite clearly, people are working better - but more people are focused, I think, on delivering better results for taxpayers." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, CTU chief economist Craig Rennie and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Eden Park has won the Auckland stadium battle, with Auckland Council overwhelmingly voted to endorse the Park as the city's main stadium over a new site near the waterfront. Do we agree with this? Has Tamatha Paul done damage to the Greens' election chances with her comments on the police? Or is she playing to her voters? Judith Collins has exceeded her target for consultant cuts, almost doubling the original cuts. Does this not prove the Government's point that there was plenty of fat to cut in the public service? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A census sent out to all government workers is wider reaching than simply identifying cost cutting advice. Thousands of public servants across all agencies have been asked in a census to identify taxpayer value in their work and any changes needed, with results expected in July. The survey's done every five years. Public Service Minister Judith Collins told Mike Hosking how to save money is just one of many focuses. She says it also asks about concerns people have around any unacceptable sexual harassment and bullying, adding it's therefore a two-way exercise. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 24th of March, we get the first inside look at the discussion and process behind the potential FTA agreement with India. The public service has been asked where they think their sector can make cuts – Judith Collins explained the census as the Minister in charge of our version of DOGE. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine discuss Liam Lawson's weekend in China and the impact of Alex “Grizz” Wylie in the Commentary Box. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RNZ's explainer editor Katie Kenny explains what's been happening with the new gene technology legislation, announced by Judith Collins last year.

Get ready New Zealand, a massive defence budget is going to drop in three months. Judith Collins told the show on Friday the Government wants to get to two percent of GDP. We're currently at 1.1 percent with our spending. We spend almost $5 billion a year on defence. So we're talking about double that - almost $10 billion. Now, Nicola Willis set her spending allowance for new money at $2.4 billion for the next three budgets, excluding savings. So at that rate, it'd take more than nine years and ALL the extra money available to get to 2 percent. That would also mean nothing extra for health and education or anything else. So that is quite unlikely. Here's what they should do - come out and say we're getting to two percent within 15 years. They're announcing a 15-year defence plan, so it'd signal plenty of time to scale up. Then there's the why - and on what? The why is easy. America is in retreat mode. China is waiting in the wings. We're in the middle, though down the bottom of this battle. China now has the world's largest navy - 234 warships. The US has 219. Donald Trump, and more importantly the American people who voted for him, don't want to play global cop anymore. Trump will only help Ukraine if he gets 50 percent of their mineral wealth in return. He's doing economic deals. So we're quite vulnerable. The US spends between 3 and 4 percent of GDP on defence. Australia spends 2 percent already. There'll be plenty of people - the Greens, the academics, and the experts - who'll say we shouldn't spend $10 billion on defence. They want more school lunches and more pay for teachers. But what's good's a school lunch if you've got no country? Security is more important. But the challenge for the Government will be making sure they spend any extra cash on the right stuff. Not just spend the money for sake of hitting an arbitrary target. We should spend wisely, so we're useful enough to a more powerful player. If the Government is serious about this, which they certainly sound to be, then perhaps its time they also let nuclear-powered warships into our waters. If we're worried enough to drop $10 billion on defence, then surely letting an ally dock here wouldn't be such a bad idea? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spend up large. That's my message to the Government. Go large, spend up big and drag our military into the 21st century. That's not me having a go at the military, by the way. Anyone reading this at Burnham Camp, for example, might feel like I'm having a go at them. But I'm not. But, what I am saying, is that we need to be spending more on defence - and I'm not saying that just because of what's going on out in the Tasman, with those three warships from China. A situation that went next level on Friday and over the weekend, with the live firing exercises. I say next level - but we also need to remember that China isn't breaking any laws. It's fully entitled to have those ships there because they're in international waters. My view last week was that we needed to calm the farm about the ships being out there. It wasn't time for us to start banging on the table and getting on the blower to Beijing and giving China's president what-for. And I'm not saying this just because of what's been happening over the weekend - but I agree with Defence Minister Judith Collins when she says we have no choice but to to invest heavily in our defence forces. And she says it won't just be a one-off investment, either. Over time, it will be billions of dollars. As she pointed out on Newstalk ZB today, successive government over the last 30 years have underinvested in the military. And Judith Collins says defence personnel are up for it. But are you up for it? Because it's very easy to say ‘oh yeah, buy more planes, buy more ships etc", but when you ask people where the money's going to come from, they don't have an easy answer to that question. Reason being: there isn't an easy answer. What do you spend less on So more money can go into the army, navy and air force? Finance minister Nicola Willis will give us a bit of an answer to that when she delivers this year's Budget in a few months. But, right now, the bigger question is whether we support the idea of the government pouring a truckload more money into our military. I do. There will be people who don't. But, according to one defence expert, what happened on Friday and over the weekend might actually it an easier sell for the Government. This is Professor David Capie from the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University. He's saying that the live firing exercises forcing commercial airlines to divert to avoid the area makes the situation much more significant than it was last week. And he's going as far as saying that the warships are “a gift from Beijing” to our government, to help it convince us of the need to spend more on defence. I'm convinced already. But what about you?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China says complaints from New Zealand and Australia over recent Chinese live-fire naval exercises in the Tasman Sea are "hyped up" and "inconsistent with the facts". Defence Minister Judith Collins spoke to Corin Dann.

Three Chinese warships have been docked off the coast of Sydney since last week, and they have since been seen carrying out a live weapons drill. Commercial flights had to be diverted as a result of the exercise, with pilots being told to avoid the area. Should New Zealand be worried? Defence Minister Judith Collins talk to Mike Hosking about China's presence in the Pacific. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Chinese navy vessels have entered the Tasman Sea, off of Australia's coast. The New Zealand Defence Force is monitoring the vessels - which are about 280 kilometres east of Sydney. Defence Minister Judith Collins says this is the first time China's sent such capable war ships this far south. "They're really quite stunning pieces of equipment and we've never seen them in this area before." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Sarah Trotman from Business Mentors and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! What do we make of Judith Collins' latest warning to the public service? She told industry leaders to show respect to taxpayers and not use so much bloated language. What do we make of this? Plans to build Wānaka's first McDonald's have been thrown out after the council declined the restaurant's application for good. Do we agree with this? New Zealand has slipped to its worst ever ranking on the least-corrupted country list - it's now sitting on number four. Should we be worried? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's some agreement with a plea from the Public Service Minister for sector bosses to be more genuine - but questions have also been raised. Judith Collins has advised public service leaders to show respect for taxpayers in their communications - and to treat the money as their own. She asks them to be sure they're not speaking 'gobbledygook', or sounding superior. PSA Acting National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says she shares some opinions with Collins. "She talked about using plain English, the importance of free and frank advice and the value of public servants. It's a bit rich to hear some of that from a Government, though, that has cut so many jobs." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The group advising the government on overhauling the science sector is pleased most of its recommendations are being implemented. Key changes announced by Judith Collins include merging Crown Research Institutes, scrapping the Callaghan Innovation and removing the ban on gene technology. Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins spoke to Alexa Cook.

Christmas and New Year's leave has been cancelled for military personnel set to cover for striking from non-uniform staff. The Defence Minister last month invoked the Defence Act, letting uniformed servicemen and woman fill the gaps. Advocacy group Mission Homefront has written to Judith Collins - saying that's unprecedented and unacceptable. Co-founder Hayden Ricketts says uniformed staff already give so much. "You know, those uniformed staff have worked their butts off during the Covid-19 response, they occupied and looked after our country and MIQ and the managed isolation facilities, they've done their best through Cyclone Gabrielle." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rog, Mel, Ryan & Mitch join you for todays podcast intro where we dive in to tongue piercings, Radio hunks and where they rank and Judith Collins.

Judith Collins has revealed the Defence Force's major spending blueprint release has been delayed until next year, citing escalating world tensions. Speaking after appearing before a Select Committee this afternoon, the Defence Minister says the capability plan has been pushed back because she's taking the time to get things right. Collins says there's more 'militarisation' efforts coming out of places like China - and it's unlike anything she's seen before. "The recent Chinese Navy Renhai-class cruiser and destroyer visiting Port Vila, Vanuatu, in October this year - that's the first time we've seen ships of that capability in that position when they weren't just coming back from somewhere else and stopping off." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some action's already been taken to try and prevent a repeat of the HMNZS Manawanui sinking. The navy vessel went down nearly two months ago after hitting a reef during a survey of the Samoan coast. The interim Court of Inquiry report's found it was caused by a series of human errors - with the crew failing to turn off the ship's auto-pilot when they were supposed too. As they tried to slow it down, they instead accelerated faster into the reef. Defence Minister Judith Collins told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's incomprehensible. “Except that we also know that sometimes even with the best will in the world, people make mistakes, and then someone else makes a mistake, and it becomes, in this case, a lost ship and people's lives being unnecessarily put at risk.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

42 members of the King's Counsel, some of New Zealand's most senior legal minds, are calling on the Government to abandon the Treaty Principles Bill. The group has written a letter to the Prime Minister and attorney-general Judith Collins outlining their 'grave concerns' about the bill - claiming it 'seeks to rewrite the Treaty itself'. One of the signatories is Karen Feint KC, and she says the bill will erase several key Treaty principles. "You can't just rewrite the constitution of New Zealand without having a proper dialogue about it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ua faaalia e le minisita o le puipuiga i Aotearoa Niu Sila, Judith Collins, lona te'ena malosi o faasalalauga tau faifai a nisi i luga o le social media e faatatau i le kapeteni o le HMNZS Manawanui, Capt Yvonne Gray, ona o le faalavelave e pei ona goto ai le va'a i gatai o Si'umu ma a'afia ai le si'osi'omaga o le gataifale o le itu i Saute o Upolu.

The Defence Minister says she wants to know why the Navy's dedicated seabed mapping ship the HMNZS Manawanui, hit a reef and sank off Samoa's main island Upolu. Minister of Defence Judith Collins spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Pacific Defence Ministers are warning the region is not a testing ground for long-range missiles. Defence Minister Judith Collins spoke to Corin Dann.

See more here: https://wp.me/p58EtD-7u4 Judith Collins, now in her seventies, has been seeing auras since she was three years old. She witnessed the personal and social changes in human auras during the 1950s to now. It wasn't until her twenties that she learnt how to turn her aura vision OFF, consequently when she was a young child and teen, what she saw in people; ‘messed her up', she says. She believed everyone was a liar and a cheat, because they produce the loudest colour combination in the aura. Host: KAren Swain https://karenswain.com See our links https://linktr.ee/KArenSwain More shows here: https://karenswain.com/listen/ Appreciate KAren's work Awakening Consciousness? THANK YOU for your Support for the content. Share your appreciation on this link https://www.paypal.me/KArenASwain Join our Awakening Empowerment Network Facebook Group / awakeningempowermentnetwork THANK YOU for your support

Tens of thousands have gathered at Tūrangawaewae Marae over recent days for the tangi of Kīngi Tuheitia, who died on Friday morning after 18 years on the throne. Fresh from a visit to Ngāruawāhia, Annabelle Lee-Mather joins Toby Manhire and Ben Thomas to describe the mood on the ground, Tuheitia's legacy, and the role of the Kīngitanga in New Zealand politics. Plus: infrastructure, meta-infrastructure and a rethink on the fast-track bill, and Shane Jones' remarks about the judiciary, which have earned him a slapdown from Judith Collins, and from Winston Peters, but why not from the boss, Christopher Luxon? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices