Podcasts about mbie

There's changes happening in the construction sector. Construction Minister Chris Penk is launching the country's first fully independent residential building consent authority - with approval subject to certain conditions being met. The privately-owned company, supported by the government, promises to issue building consents within 10 working days for eligible residential projects. Penk told Mike Hosking it's another option alongside local councils. He says initially it will be too small to take on all the work council does, but it might be able to scale up depending on what the appetite is. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour is absolutely on the money with his call to cut the number of ministers in Cabinet and outside of Cabinet. In his speech yesterday, he proposed capping the number of ministers at 20 —currently there are 28— and scrapping the position of minister outside of Cabinet. “Right now, there are ministers that have seven different departments. There are departments such as MBIE that answer to 19 different ministers. There are portfolios, just to give you one example, not to pick on it, but the Minister for Auckland that Labour created – there's no Auckland department, there's no Auckland vote in the budget, it's just a made-up thing, frankly. And I think that really, we should be moving to a world where each department has only one Minister, no portfolios exist unless they have an actual department with a budget and a thing to do, and there should be no ministers outside of the Cabinet, everyone should be sitting around the same table. That's going to take a lot of people making a concession, but if we could get there, I think the whole thing would just get stuff done faster.” Couldn't agree more. I've always seen the roles of Minister for Women, Minister for the Voluntary Sector, Minister for Auckland, Minister for the South Island, sops to lobby groups. As David Seymour said in his speech, it's symbolism. Portfolios, he said, should not be handed out like participation trophies. Could not agree more. Michael Wood was made Minister for Auckland at the beginning of 2023 in Chris Hipkins government. Did he do anything? No. Did he have any power? Not really, no. As David Seymour said, there's no budget. So why create it? Because Chris Hipkins realised he needed to get Auckland back on side after the Covid response, after the crime waves that affected so many retailers in Auckland. It was a sorry guys, here's a Minister for Auckland we prepared earlier. Didn't work, too little, too late. Later on in ‘23, the red wall crumbled in Auckland and Labour strongholds went to National. Labour knows they need to win them back and Chris Hipkins understands they need to do more than appoint an Auckland spokesperson, but I suppose it's a start. Not everybody sees them as a waste of time – when the very sound James Meager was made Minister for the South Island, the Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown said it was a good move. South Island councils had told the government they felt their voice wasn't being heard, having a local MP promoted to minister outside of cabinet would provide a more direct connection with Wellington. Again, I don't think there's any real merit in having a minister for the South Island other than as a sop to South Islanders. You think we neglect you? You think Auckland's getting all the attention here? He is a minister, a fine young man we prepared earlier, have a Minister! In fact, everybody have a Minister! Minister for Hospitality, Minister for Racing, Minister for the Voluntary Sector. It nullifies the effect of having a Minister. If you don't have a budget and you don't have a vote, what is the point? If you make everybody a head prefect, what is the point? It devalues the position. It might make the minister themselves feel a little bit better, a little bit special, but if everybody's special, nobody is. The only good reason, perhaps to have a minister for anything, other than as a sop, is because you do have fine young talents like James Meager who are given a bit more responsibility. But are they? It's like an apprenticeship for becoming a real minister. It's an absolute nonsense. I couldn't agree with David Seymour more. We've had our disagreements in the past and this one I'm absolutely on board with them. There should not be a minister unless they have a budget and something to do. And government departments should only have one minister to report to, not 19. How could anybody argue with what David Seymour has proposed? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour's calling for fat to be cut from multiple areas of government. The Act Party leader wants a limit on the number of ministers – with no ministers outside of Cabinet, and no associate ministers other than in Finance. He wants 30 total government agencies, down from 41. Executive Director of business think tank New Zealand Initiative, Oliver Hartwich told Mike Hosking the current model doesn't make sense. He says there's a Minister of Housing but also a Minister of Building and Construction, as if they have nothing to do with each other. Hartwich also says the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is a prime example of a bloated cabinet. He says there are 16 ministers in charge of MBIE, and Ireland has 15 in its entire cabinet. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's Airports Association has voiced disapproval with the latest review of their regulatory arrangements - and suggested the scrutiny needs to be on Air New Zealand. MBIE has launched another review of airport regulations, just three weeks after the Commerce Commission gave Auckland Airport the tick of approval for an upgrade. NZ Airports Association CEO Billie Moore says it's clear there's plenty of strain on the domestic market - and Air New Zealand has a 'monopoly' over that market. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's Airports Association has voiced disapproval with the latest review of their regulatory arrangements - and suggested the scrutiny needs to be on Air New Zealand. MBIE has launched another review of airport regulations, just three weeks after the Commerce Commission gave Auckland Airport the tick of approval for an upgrade. NZ Airports Association CEO Billie Moore says it's clear there's plenty of strain on the domestic market - and Air New Zealand has a 'monopoly' over that market. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here we go again – the America's Cup. How many times have you heard the debates for and against the America's Cup? The Government, as you will have heard, has declined the opportunity to invest in hosting the America's Cup in 2027 and the usual arguments are raging over the wisdom or otherwise of that decision. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) chief executive Nick Hill said it was with great disappointment that they were confirming that Auckland would no longer be bidding to host the 2027 America's Cup, explaining that Auckland's bid was contingent on a three-way funding partnership between Auckland Council, central government, and the private sector. MBIE informed TAU that the government is unable to provide the funds required and, on that basis, he said, he bid cannot proceed. He said the situation illustrates the need for a long-term, sustainable funding model in New Zealand to support major events, and there, I would agree. Rather than having it on an ad hoc, piece meal, “hey, what about this guys?” kind of a basis, having some sort of structure to provide funding for major events as they come along would be a very good idea. Viv Beck, from Auckland's Heart of the City, also expressed her disappointment ruing a missed opportunity. “The reason it's so disappointing is it's ripe for the picking. I mean, we've got the infrastructure, the economic benefits would be there and if there had been quicker action on finding alternative funding. I mean we understand that there are other priorities for the government, but growth is also a big opportunity, a big priority and you know the reality is that the GST alone could pay for that money. So I think with some imagination and will and determination it could have been a different result. “We know we don't compete internationally now. Often, we don't, we're a small country, we get that. But I think we do have to have the energy and drive and will to try and find ways to actually grow this, because events are a great way of attracting people here. It's not just a one-time wonder that people come and have a great time. I mean the benefits from trade and jobs, international profile. You look at Barcelona. I mean, imagine if we had that in 2027, something along those lines at a time where we really do need to have something that actually excites people, that we actually are growing and not just full of problems.” Yes, yes, yes. But at risk of stating the obvious, we aren't bloody Barcelona, are we? We're not in the middle of Europe, surrounded by nations who are just a fair wind filling a spinnaker away. We're at the bottom, next stop, Antarctica. The last time New Zealand hosted our economy was left $293 million worse off. That was the 36th America's Cup in 2021, and that was according to an official cost benefit report. Auckland's economy alone was left with a financial deficit of $146 million, with a financial return of 72 cents back for every dollar put in. I am a financial and economic numpty, but even I can see that that does not make sense. To be fair, we were severely hampered by Covid-19, and according to the Trevor Mallard and the Clarke government – they crowed about the 2003 event, they said that generated around half a billion dollars of economic activity into the New Zealand economy which made the investment of around $10 million worthwhile. They said back in 2003, an extra 9360 full-time equivalent jobs were created. And while 85% of the extra economic activity was generated in Auckland, there was still a substantial effect in other regions as international visitors travel to other parts of the country. That was 22 years ago. The world is a vastly, vastly different place. Right now, an America's Cup is a nice to have. It would be lovely, it feels great. I've been in Auckland for a number of Americas Cup's, and they were fantastic, feel-good affairs. They boost morale, and the bars and restaurants do a roaring trade, and everyone with a bit of cash has a jolly good time. It's an absolute jolly. But then I'd like to put a pool in the backyard too, and I think ultimately it would have economic benefits, ultimately it would pay off. I could make the case that if I put in the money now, then I could put in the pool and get the pay off later. Well, except it's a nice to have right now. There are other priorities, and I would say the Government is absolutely damned if it does and damned if it doesn't. This is the price we pay for spending up over the last few years. I'm sure we could find the money. Admittedly, this Government doesn't have Grant Robertson's knack of finding millions down the back of the couch – he always seemed to pop up with $460 million just when it was needed. But what do the optics look like? Cutting the ribbon at a pared down Dunedin hospital while Auckland has a knees up on-board boats and drinking champagne, sure that's going to look fantastic, isn't it? Labour would be bleating away about “unnecessary expense” and “look at the waiting lists”. They're absolutely damned if they do, damned if they don't. We were warned. Wise souls told us on the show, during Labour's hoot's wahay spend up that ultimately, we would have to pay the piper, and this, turning down the opportunity to host an America's Cup is what it feels like. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been a few big news stories circulating, claiming that microplastics have reached such a level that 5% of our brain is now made up of them.While that data is… questionable, it's undeniable that plastic pollution is a major concern. That's why, in this episode, we're digging into the scientific evidence to separate fact from fiction. In what might be a slightly bleak but necessary conversation, I'm joined by Dr Olga Pantos to help clear things up about plastics and microplastics.Dr Olga Pantos is a Senior Scientist at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research and co-lead of the MBIE-funded project Aotearoa Impacts and Mitigation of Microplastics.Her background is in marine biology - she completed her undergraduate degree in Marine and Environmental Biology at St Andrews University in Scotland and her doctoral studies at The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. In this episode, she shares:Why and how she got into marine biologyHow she came to focus on pollutants in marine ecosystemsWhen plastic pollution first entered public awarenessWhat microplastics actually areWhy the term microplastic can be misleadingThe major issues plastics pose in the environmentAre plastics making their way into soil or water more?Why plastic always ends up in the environment, no matter whatWhether there are any perfect solutionsWhether PLA and PVH cause as much damage as conventional plasticsWhy our understanding of microplastics is far too simplisticWhat we can actually do about microplastic pollutionPractical steps she takes to reduce exposure to plasticsKey Quotes“Even if we turn the tap off now to plastic use, we've got a huge amount in the environment that is going to break down.”“Wastewater treatment plants have never been designed to deal with microplastics.”“We just need to reduce what we use, and its essential, reduce what we demand, because these companies will continue to make them.”You can get involved with the podcast onlineFind our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

A baby monitor could have disrupted 111 calls on One NZ's cell network

As you probably picked up from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's State of the Nation speech on Thursday, 2025 is apparently all about financial growth and saying ‘yes'. Those are two trends I am trying to adopt in our house for 2025 as well, especially saying ‘yes' when I ask someone to do something... I digress, back to the nation. Before COVID-19, tourism was New Zealand's largest export industry, so it's clear why the Prime Minister and his newly minted Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis have identified it as a priority area for the country to earn more. Data released in January reveals that in the year ending November 2024, visitor numbers increased to 3.26 million, an increase of 360,000 from the previous year, and 86 percent of pre-pandemic levels. So, the numbers are going in the right direction, but international tourism still remains our second highest export. There is more work to do! New Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston is the fifth minister to hold the portfolio in five years - so some stability in the portfolio is a good place to start. Nicola Willis has suggested the new Minister will look at how funding is currently being used, the visa processing system, and marketing campaigns. All good places to start - although you'd have hoped this happened when the coalition came to power over a year ago. The Minister will also be looking at how funding from the international visitor levy is being spent, after the levy increased from $35 to $100 in October last year. Increasing levies, adding user charges and targeted taxes on visitors has been recommended by MBIE in the past as a way to fund tourism - and we have seen DOC increase hut and campsite fees and the trialling of car parking charges at Punakaiki, Franz Josef Glacier, and Aoraki Mount Cook. But what about the visitor bed tax? Perhaps a crude idea in 2020 when hotels were empty; but with the industry recovering - is it time to resurrect the idea? Auckland Council has long advocated to central Government that some form of bed night levy or tax is required to support funding major events, destination marketing and visitor attractions. If one is not implemented by the middle of this year, there will be a budget gap to fund major events. The Government is not buying into the idea that tourism needs infrastructure support. In their view, if regions get more tourists then they can deal with it themselves. When it comes to one of our busiest tourist spots, the Government is very quick to point out that Queenstown is getting a $250 million roading upgrade. But that's not enough. As Queenstown mayor Glyn Lewers told me on Early Edition this week - “I'd welcome more tourists if there is a proviso that the infrastructure to support and accommodate more tourists and visitors is accounted for”. He pointed out Queenstown's airport needs to be better staffed with more customs and security staff to function well as an international airport. We all want growth and a thriving tourism industry. But we also want it to be sustainable - avoiding the degradation and overcrowding of our wilderness, pressure on infrastructure, and communities carrying the cost. So, if the Government wants growth - and tourism back in the number 1 export earner spot - it should perhaps consider putting in a little bit more so it can get more out. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enerlytica's head of research John Kidd has crunched numbers, including MBIE data, to reach his estimate. Figures show a 10 per cent drop in industrial electricity use for the June to September quarter compared to last year.

The Government wants to launch the first satellite controlled by New Zealand. Currently we rely on satellites from "friendly countries" - such as the US and the UK. Options are now with MBIE – but what would a sovereign satellite mean for us? Auckland University physics professor Richard Easther joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A village of relocatable houses for whanau displaced by Cyclone Gabrielle has been finished on marae land in Hawkes Bay. The collaboration between iwi, hapu, the Ministry of Business and Innovation and Omahu Marae has seen 11 homes built 20 months on from the extreme weather event. MBIE has a three year lease for the land at the marae for the temporary village. Today, families and community got to see the finished product. Meihana Watson, the general manager of Te Piringa Hapu spoke to Lisa Owen.

I'm joined again by Sharon Robinson and Glenn Harley for a chat about the possibility of builder self-certification and MBIE's updated weather files. 

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is asking for feedback on Kiwi postal services. It's proposing changes to NZ Post - including fewer weekly deliveries and reduced postal outlets People are sending 813 million fewer mail items than they were 20 years ago. MBIE Communications Infrastructure and Trade General Manager James Hartley says this is the right time to hear from the public on the best way to maintain services. "We know Kiwis are sending a lot fewer letters than they used to - 2002, for example, one billion letters went through the postal system. It's now down to $180 million. There's been a huge decline over that period... we think it's the right time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Josie Pagani from Child Fund joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! We've got a week to go until Election Day in the US - what do we think at this point? Between Trump and Harris, who's going to win? Labour's Ginny Andersen raised a few eyebrows after re-sharing a meme poking fun at King Charles over the weekend. What do we make of this? Is she a liability to Labour? MBIE is proposing to cut back on services following a drop in mail volume? Is this the right move? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is asking for feedback on Kiwi postal services. It's proposing changes to NZ Post - including fewer weekly deliveries and reduced postal outlets People are sending 813 million fewer mail items than they were 20 years ago. MBIE Communications Infrastructure and Trade General Manager James Hartley says this is the right time to hear from the public on the best way to maintain services. "We know Kiwis are sending a lot fewer letters than they used to - 2002, for example, one billion letters went through the postal system. It's now down to $180 million. There's been a huge decline over that period... we think it's the right time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westport now has the most expensive power in New Zealand. And the latest figures from MBIE show its still going up. 

For more than two years the country's mega-ministry Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has been incorrectly calculating its cost benefit analysis for taxpayer-funded events. Political editor Jo Moir spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss

I know, I know we're celebrating this morning, the OCR, the money back in your pockets that's coming, inflation coming down. But MBIE has warned the government that electricity prices are likely to rise significantly over the next two years – this is a story from BusinessDesk. See, we have all seen the spot prices market increase, skyrocket even, but we haven't felt that at home because our gentailors, the guys that we get it off, insulate us by hedging. However, getting power to us is expensive and we've just been talking to Grant McCullum from Northland about this exact point. 40% of our bill is distribution and transmission. Forget your weather, whether the wind blows, you know, the sun shines the rainfalls, whatever. Just getting it to us costs almost half of our total. And that job is done by essentially monopolies: the distributors, the lines, companies, Transpower. So the Commerce Commission regulates their profits, we would expect them to do. The contracts last five years, the next contract up for renewal in March. Your household bill for electricity could go up $15 per month or $180 per year, for some households that will be $20 per month, $240 per year. MBIE say there is a serious risk that some homes won't be able to afford heating. And we know what happens when people can't heat their homes, the hospitals fill up, industry and business feel the squeeze, and our thin growth forecasts could also be squeezed by something like this. So what's the moral of the story? Well, basically, go and buy yourself a nice warm jumper, get a hot water bottle. And if you are single and living alone, you have until April to find someone to cuddle at night. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a belief from the Minister that reopening oil and gas exploration won't make a dent in New Zealand's climate impacts. The public have until tonight to submit on the Government's bill, reversing the previous Governments ban on exploration off the coast. MBIE figures show it will result in millions of tonnes of additional emissions. But Shane Jones told Heather du Plessis-Allan New Zealand needs energy. He says those opposed are simply "woke" in thinking it is a mortal threat, a claim he's rubbishing. Jones says protestors are entitled to their views, and he's happy to engage with those who disagree with him. He says kiwis want to hear someone put an alternative view to these frog-loving and lizard-obsessed environmentalists. The Government's own advice on repealing the oil and gas exploration ban, released under the Official Information Act and obtained by RNZ, says no new gas fields are likely to be discovered and developed in the next 10 years. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A team of Otago University researchers looking into a spray that could control red meat spoilage has won a 1 million dollar grant from MBIE. New Zealand's red meat industry generates 10.8 billion dollars a year in annual revenue, but up to 1% of its export product is rejected due to spoilage. Jesse speaks to Otago University researcher Dr Sam Wardell.

The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment has used fake social media accounts in investigations for years, up to 30 times on average a month back in 2021 to impersonate someone to catch out immigration fraudsters. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An employment lawyer says workers should think twice before writing to colleagues on any platform, including chat apps such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, or even Facebook messenger. Eight staff at Immigration NZ have been stood down after a series of what agency is calling "inappropriate and unprofessional Teams chats" were discovered while investigating an unrelated complaint. Immigration head, Alison McDonald, says the comments appear to be in breach of MBIE's Code of Conduct, which includes expectations staff are professional and objective in their language, actions, and interactions. Employment lawyer Barbara Buckett spoke to Corin Dann.

The country is not going to produce enough gas to meet expected demand in at least the next three years, according to the latest data from MBIE.

New MBIE data reveals New Zealanders will be using 80% more power than we do now by 2050.  It shows demand is expected to grow as fossil fuel use switches to electricity, electric vehicles increase, and new demand, such as data centres, come online.  MBIE market manager Mike Hayward told Mike Hosking he's confident we can rely more on electricity from renewable sources.  He says the last quarter showed a 51% increase in generation from solar.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The decline in gas supply has led to production cuts and a 99 percent increase in coal-generated electricity, according to MBIE. Methanex, New Zealand's biggest energy consumer, has cut back on its methanol production as a result. Director of Enerlytica, John Kidd, says the system will adjust - but unfortunately this is not a costless exercise. "Structurally, we're short on energy - full stop. So it's often lost on people that we don't have enough energy in the country to be able to support our demands. So we do rely on international markets anyway." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While researching a presentation to open the NZGBC 2024 Housing Summit, I looked into the climate initiatives of Europe and the US.  In Europe, over €83b has been recently been committed by the European Parliament as part of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The ultimate goal is that the building sector will be climate neutral by 2050. Importantly, there are interim goals for 2030 and 2040, which encompass both new buildings and retrofitting existing buildings.  https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficient-buildings/energy-performance-buildings-directive_en Over in the US, there is the Inflation Reduction Act which will see a staggering $783b invested into energy security and climate change initiatives.  https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/inflation-reduction-act-guidebook/ Back here in Aotearoa, aside from recently updating H1 Energy Efficiency in our building code, MBIE has laid out a programme called Building for Climate Change.  https://www.building.govt.nz/getting-started/building-for-climate-change The implementation plan for BfCC has reporting requirements suggested for 2025. 

This time yesterday when we were talking about the gas shortage we didn't have a couple of facts.  The first is that Genesis would later in the day announce their intention to import more coal and would be doing so for the next couple of years  They talked of the unreliability of the so-called renewables. It's not just coal of course, but Indonesian coal, which is not exactly top of the line environmentally.  The second fact came in a ministerial statement to the house from Simeon Brown, who told us of the lack of gas production this year so far. It's about 28% down and this is the equivalent of all the domestic usage in the country for two years.  Think about that. You and I, everyone who has gas and all that we use for two years is what they have not produced so far this year.  So as the ship loads of coal start arriving MBIE has set up a group to monitor where we go from here and how we do it, to get an accurate picture as to what's really going on specifically.  They will also set about reversing a few laws around licences and exploration. The trouble with that part is our reputation as a reliable player in the market is shot and needs rebuilding and then even if the drills arrived tomorrow the answer is years away.  Which brings us back to how we got here. Jacinda Ardern.  Yet again the carnage her and her fellow travellers, many of whom are still in Parliament and present during Simeon Brown's statement, has arrived at our doorstep as we head into a winter that, even at the best of times, we struggle to keep warm in.  Beyond the democratic mechanism of booting idiots out of office, how bad and how catastrophic does the damage to our lives have to be before you mount an argument that suggests these wreckers are the worst Government we have seen in our lifetime?  How many who got sucked in by it all now regret putting their faith and vote behind the idiocy that has driven us here?  Of those who are left listening to Simeon lay it out so starkly yesterday, who stands up and proudly backs their decisions?  Who defends the licence bans, the lack of gas and the importation of coal, as they told us renewables are the only way?  You've rarely seen such a catastrophic example of the cart before the horse.  We have rarely lived through such chaotic, bordering on criminal, negligence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising unemployment is seeing more people in mediation - putting pressure on already stretched services. 

The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment only has two senior fire engineers - and is proposing to axe one of them. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Renewable energy is on the rise.  Recent stats from MBIE show that the renewable share of electricity generation was 90.3% for the October to December 2023 quarter.  Ernst & Young's Director Angela Ogier told Mike Hosking that 95% renewable energy is definitely doable in this country, it's where we're trending naturally with current technologies.  She said that bureaucracy is slowing down some elements of the rollout of out wind and solar farms, and they need to be sped up in order for us to meet our energy targets.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Tuesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) It's Always About the Coffee/Wait, What Did You Say?/It's All About Attitude Too/The Usual PM Plane Problems/The Latest Apple Toys Are Surprisingly AffordableSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I found it confronting listening to Tova O'Brien's guest this past week as she described the experiences of staying in motel emergency accommodation with a young daughter. From my relative privilege (of choosing the right parents and having things turn out ok for me so far), I find it hard to imagine being in this situation. But it's the reality for nearly 6,500 people across Aotearoa, half of whom are children.  This is an emergency, and the problem is complex. The solution will require more than simply building more houses because the underlying issues are more complex than that. Related to this is a proposal from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to review the building consent process in New Zealand. This is something I'd like to look at in more detail because we must get the balance right. In 2023, MBIE sought public submissions in response to an options paper on a review of the building consent system. This week MBIE published a summary of the 270 submissions received. At the other end of the spectrum, I caught up with Jonathan Holmes about living in a Certified Passive House Premium home and working on assessing the embodied carbon in our buildings.  Other links for this week's podcast episode: Jonathan Holmes on LinkedIn Holmes House, Sustainable Engineering Hawea Flat, Home Style Green Be sure to register for Reimagine Buildings '24

A review has found Immigration New Zealand didn't properly assess the risk of visa abuse when it loosened settings for its Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme. The scheme, launched 18 months ago as part of the then-Government's post-Covid settings, resulted in numerous cases of migrants paying to come here for jobs but arriving to overcrowded living conditions and little or no work. The Public Service Commission report also found staff at Immigration New Zealand raised concerns about migrants being exploited but say they were ignored. MBIE chief executive Carolyn Tremain spoke to Corin Dann.

Immigration New Zealand's boss says it's unacceptable staff concerns were ignored. The Public Service Commission's released its report on the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme, which began after a whistle-blower alerted the Minister to a lack of checks and balances. The review has found Immigration New Zealand should have done more to minimise migrant exploitation risk, when regulations loosened post-Covid. MBIE Chief Executive Carolyn Tremain says concerns were first raised internally last April. "What has occurred here is not good enough, and we're making sure that we have a two-way conversation with people about issues." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building activity may be easing as new numbers show demand returning to pre-Covid levels.  Recent years have seen a strain on the sector, with record demand after lockdowns.  An MBIE report shows consent numbers steadying.  But the Ministry's Combined Building Supplies Co-op Chairperson Carl Taylor told Mike Hosking that demand is affecting parts of the sector differently.  He says some large companies are struggling with sales, but smaller building operators are doing well.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment released an impact evaluation report on Friday which says the FIFA Women's World Cup was an economic success. It valued the economic net benefit for New Zealand at more than one-hundred million dollars. MBIE's New Zealand Major Events manager Kylie Hawker Green spoke with Corin Dann.

Organisers of the FIFA Women's World Cup are thrilled with the legacy left by the event.  Auckland played a major role in the tournament by hosting nine matches.  Over $87 million in GDP was injected into the region's economy, surpassing the initial projection by just under 50%.  MBIE NZ Major Events Manager Kylie Hawker-Green told Mike Hosking that the event exceeded expectations.  She says the tournament boosted the economy in the quieter months of July and August.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's support from the other side of the House for the new Speaker.  National's Gerry Brownlee took up the role yesterday as the new Government and Opposition were sworn in for their first term.   Fellow Christchurch MP, Labour's Megan Woods, told Mike Hosking that Brownlee's love for the business of the House will work in this favour.   She's worked closely with Brownlee over the years and is sure he'll be able to make the switch.    The Police Minister is confident it wasn't a cabinet member who leaked a confidential cabinet paper.   The paper, which was for Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden, was leaked to Newshub and related to the repeal of fair pay agreements.   MBIE has launched an investigation into the leak.   Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that that's a good step.   He says if someone isn't being a team player something needs to be done about it.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from Capital and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  The National Māori Action Day Protest happened today- did it achieve anything of note? Will Luxon and National feel the pressure? What comes next? The MBIE has begun an investigation into how a confidential Cabinet paper made it into the public domain- is this a bad look for the Government? A number of councils are staring down the barrel of potential double-digit rate rises as part of their long-term plan discussions. Does the system need an overhaul? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The MBIE Intelligence unit, MI, says it is using a controversial Internet search tool, Cobwebs, exclusively to counter the risk of a mass arrival of asylum seekers by boat. A business case shows it wanted a tool that could search the private Whatsapp channel, as well as open-source social media platforms. The Immigration Minister Andrew Little says the risk of a mass arrival is increasing - and he's confident agencies are handling it. MI's budget has almost tripled, but Little says it is simply consolidating, and Muslim community alarm is not necessary. OIA reports show several Cobwebs projects went ahead before there was a way to monitor them.

A confidential government project with a big US tech firm had grandiose ambitions to trigger "system-wide change" for making life easier for businesses - but went nowhere. The so-called "lighthouse" project with Microsoft was set up two years ago - although not disclosed until recently. OIA Documents show the ministry of business MBIE hired consultants to run workshops to try to save it. Phil Pennington is looking into the deal.

Right, after a bit of announcements by Brian, the show is returned to its previous host, Mr. Benjamin Whitworth CFSP, MBIE and best of all, a proper chap and embalmer.  Allow us the opportunity to be redirected by another undertaker who cares. This is a show worth sharing.  Learn more about the British Institute of Embalmers here: https://www.bioe.co.uk/  They're sorry for Brian, it's in the minutes. Hear more TVB stories here: https://www.toddvanbeck.com/ Donate to the Todd Van Beck Memorial Scholarship here: https://www.ccms.edu/alumni-and-support/supporters/ Do you follow RavenPlume Consulting? Check them out and find more Undertaking: The Podcast content here: https://ravenplume.com/

By Nikki Mandow: The government spent $51.5 billion of taxpayer money on buying stuff last year. The criteria for how they spend it have had a shake-up.

Firefighters have told Auckland leaders that a lack of water for hoses, and increasingly jammed-up roads and jammed-in housing are making fighting fires worse. Fire and Emergency has a long list of urgent pleas lodged with Auckland Council for help - saying the government did not take this into account in pushing for intensified housing. FENZ cites a case study of a construction site house in Manukau that firefighters struggled to reach, got half as much water as they needed - and ultimately the fire badly damaged three other cheek-by-jowl homes. John Duguid the council's general manager of plans says their hands are tied when it comes down to the Building Code, Building Act and MBIE. FENZ has also gone to all the country's councils over its concerns with the impacts of housing intensification.

Technology correspondent Paul Matthews looks at new rules adopted overnight by the EU around AI use in an effort to manage the privacy risk while adopting the technology. What do the new rules say? And in New Zealand, MBIE, became the first government ministry to ban ChatGPT use by staff last week. Paul will also look at new Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino and what her appointment might mean for the troubled platform. Also: Romance scams, investment scams, text scams and more as a big rise in digital scams - online and via text - hits New Zealand. What should you look out for?

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has released its biennial national consumer survey and Rebecca says it points to some worrying trends. The survey found that while most consumers are aware there are laws to protect their rights, less than half of those surveyed understand how the laws are applied and have at least a moderate understanding of consumer laws. Consumers' confidence in the enforcement of consumer laws has also declined after having improved in 2020, the survey found. Rebecca Stevenson is a senior writer at interest.co.nz

Katherine Trebeck is a political economist, writer and advocate for economic system change. She is the co-founder of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, an international collaborative organisation focused on economic system change. Dr Trebeck's roles include writer-at-large at the University of Edinburgh, consultant to the Club of Rome, a Strategic Advisor for the Centre for Policy Development, and Economic Strategy Advisor to The Next Economy. She's also the author of The Economics of Arrival: Ideas for a Grown Up Economy. Dr Trebeck has been in New Zealand for a series of talks and workshops with MBIE, the Productivity Commission, talks hosted by Wellington and Auckland Councils, and accounting firm Grant Thornton. She talks to Kathryn about where she stands on the many different ways people are trying to rethink the 'economy'.

The country's biggest council says it's not going to compensate home owners whose homes were devastated in the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. Affected homeowners are now setting their sights on the government's Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery Taskforce and next week's budget for support. In Auckland, almost 600 homes were red-stickered, 357 due to the January floods, and 227 due to Cyclone Gabrielle. Even more were yellowed stickered; 1943 homes were yellow-stickered after the floods, and 335 after the cyclone, according to data from MBIE. Morgan Allen is the spokesperson for the group West Auckland is Flooding, which has been calling for urgent managed retreats after the floods. His Massey home flooded during the January 27 floods, and is now yellow-stickered. Clare Bradley has a home on Domain Crescent in Muriwai, a road that has been badly impacted by slips, and also a business - the Muriwai Lodge on Motutara Rd. Both are red stickered.

Four final bids have been lodged to buy Ruapehu ski fields, but time is running short for one to be confirmed in time to open this winter season. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts which ran the Whakapapa and Turoa skifields, went into voluntary administration last last year, owing tens of millions of dollars. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is reviewing the four bids which were finalised last week.But PWC Partner and Voluntary Administrator John Fisk says the MBIE process has taken longer than expected, and a watershed meeting with creditors, set for the 9th of May will need to be delayed. He says a planned season pass sale had to be deferrred because of the uncertainty, and he believes it will be very difficult to get a new operator in place for this ski season. John Fisk says it would be possible for PWC to operate the ski fields this winter, but that would require underwriting by the government.