Podcast appearances and mentions of Simon Bridges

Auckland's Business Chamber CEO says we have nothing to lose by loosening transit visas for Chinese nationals. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's updated his Auckland Manifesto, laying out a Beehive to-do list. It includes calling for the Government to reconsider loosening transit visas for Chinese Nationals, giving them more freedom for short stays in the country. Simon Bridges told Ryan Bridge it would be an easy sugar hit for the economy. He says he can't think of single reason not to do it, as China's a lot more developed and wealthy than other South-East Asian countries. Bridges is also backing the mayor's renewed call for a tourist bed tax in the city. Browns calling for the Government to reconsider an Auckland tourist bed tax, adding a small levy on short term accommodation. Bridges told Bridge it'll help bring in funding so more major events can come to the city. He says both central and local government are failing Auckland when it comes to major events. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges speaks with Kathryn following an event this morning to discuss a strategy for the supercity.

Expectations we'll have a strong showing of investment opportunities for our venture-hungry guests. More than 100 offshore firms are making an appearance at the Government's Infrastructure Investment Summit in Auckland over the next two days. Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges told Andrew Dickens expects to see the opening up of public-private partnerships in areas like health, justice and the Māori economy. He says investors want the sizzle and the vision, but that's ultimately what they're coming to see - and we need their capital. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A coalition of energy leaders, led by the Auckland Business Chamber, is launching a 10-point Energy Action Plan. Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges spoke to Corin Dann.

The government, as you will have heard, is relaxing immigration settings to encourage migrants to invest in New Zealand businesses. While everyone was at the beach yesterday making the most of the golden weather the Prime Minister was suited and booted and spelling out the changes to the Active Investore Plus (AIP) visa category to the Auckland Business Chamber. The way it works is that there will be two “simplified” investment categories that will replace the existing “complex waiting system”, as set up by Labour. From April 1, the visa will be split into two categories: Growth and Balanced. The growth category applies to those making “higher- risk investments”, including those directly in local businesses and will require a minimum investment of $5 million for a period of at least three years. Visa holders in this category would have to reside in New Zealand for a minimum of 21 days. Not a long time. The balanced category focuses on mixed investment, allows for a minimum spend of $10 million over five years, and requires 105 days spent in New Zealand with the potential to get reductions if investments exceed $10 million. Several other changes have been made, including the stripping away of the visa's English language requirement, which demanded applicants have an English language background. Christopher Luxon said yesterday that the requirement had scared off many potential investors in recent years and the numbers certainly seem to support that. Since 2022, migrants entering New Zealand under the investor category have invested just $70 million. By contrast, in the two years prior to Covid-19 migrants invested $2.2 billion. There's a hell of a difference. However, Labour says by dumbing down the rules for the investor visa risks watering down the economic benefits for New Zealand. In his press release, Phil Twyford says “allowing people to buy residence by parking their money in a passive investment like property that won't generate jobs or sustainable economic development for New Zealand does not sit well”. And I guess that's the rub. Is it going to generate real jobs? Is it going to generate real growth? Or is it just going to be money washing around in the system? Simon Bridges talking to Andrew Dickens on Early Edition says it's a good move and most people don't realise just how important foreign investment is to the growing of the economy. “If you look at the results over time, under more permissive settings if you want to say that, the results pretty clear ... a lot of very wealthy came and I think history shows they invested in our best companies, our golf courses, they made bequeaths to our art galleries, they had an oversized contribution to New Zealand. Then we tightened them up, I think it was under the last Labour government. And we saw less of that right? You know, I think possibly New Zealanders don't quite understand how much good investment migrant settings can be really important to our economic success and we sure as hell need that at the moment.” Well, we certainly do. We certainly do need that kind of investment, but I think Simon Bridges from the Auckland Chamber is probably quite right. I don't understand how foreign investment is going to grow our economy. I can understand how bringing money in and just using it as an investment opportunity to offset your other investments if you're a wealthy foreign investor just allows you to slush money around. How does it grow it? It is it going to be the next Rocket Lab or the next Xero. How? Art galleries and golf courses are all very well and good, but they're lovely, gorgeous vanity projects and gifts to New Zealand from wealthy investors that don't really generate jobs. Where's the benefit to the ordinary Kiwi? So the government has banged the sign on the shop door and is sitting about telling the world we are open for business. But what sort of business? You know, where is it going to franchises? It going to nail bars? Is it going to fast food? Is it just money going round and round in a continual cycle within the economy? How do we ensure it's going into these businesses where we've got brilliant Kiwi entrepreneurs, brilliant startup businesses that need that extra capital to go to that next level? How do we direct it there? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is replacing the current visa settings with two new categories that will see visa settings relaxed. In a bid to encourage more foreign investment, the Government is introducing the balanced category and the growth category, the latter requiring a minimum a $5 million invested for a minimum of three years. Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges explains the change to Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a push for the Government to focus on increasing tourist numbers to maximise economic growth. Nicola Willis —the minister now charged with driving the growth agenda— is considering visa changes to pull more tourists through the door. She wants to see Chinese visitor numbers back to pre-Covid levels. Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges wouldn't be drawn on whether increasing the international visitor levy last year was a good idea. He told Ryan Bridge the sector has real issues, and if the Government's looking to get the economy back on track, visa issues are a start. Bridges told Ryan Bridge incentivising airlines could be the answer. He says there's nearly as many flights coming in from China as the US. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Covid phase one report – the verdict is in, and it's pretty much ‘guilty your honour'. Fine to begin with, and then they as the single podium of truth basically went too far, for too long. Tell us something we don't know. Trust in our institutions as shot, media took a hammering —and rightly so in some cases— Labour supporters and hysterical scientists and other groups went full militant. I never spoke about the messages I got from some of them during my interviews, challenging old Jacinda Ardern during that period, especially those outside of Auckland during the lockdown to end all lockdowns. They were threats of beatings on my social media, loads of homophobia, I was killing people with my questions, there was hate, there was vitriol. Now I'm not complaining about this, this is part of my job. But it just shows how wacko everyone got. Which is not to say the anti-mandate lot were angels either, but what we, the public were fed was a meal from only one of the two menus. Then there was the MIQ cruelty – you will never get another opportunity to kiss a loved one goodbye. Never. I watched Hipkins in his media stand up yesterday with the usual half mere culpa lines. We can learn lessons from this in the future and the benefit of hindsight is a great thing. What's the problem with that? Well, there were plenty of people with plenty of advice at the time. He could have listened to but chose not to. Instead, they labelled the protest as a river of filth, we wrote off entire sectors of scientific community in the name of social cohesion. Like a pack of rabid dogs attacking a limp lamb – that's what we were, we turned into that. Had they listened to Auckland, to the Plan Bers, some economists and experts and other fields, to Lady Deborah Chambers who bravely put her head above the parapet on behalf of the legal fraternity, Simon Bridges basically lost his job over a Facebook post, pointing out many of the problems that turned out to be quite accurate. But now it was all Siouxsie Wiles and Co. crying because we didn't go further and go harder. And where are we now? Kids not going to school, productivity jabbed in the face, crime out of control. Mental health and anxiety, particularly for kids, also taking a hit to the face. The wait list for critical medical treatments delayed, construction stopped, projects delayed despite the Aussies being faster and looser on both counts. It was the biggest overreach of power, both in real terms and in some cases, legally, this country has potentially ever seen. And only now do they say we might reconsider forcing a barista to get a jab that they don't want. Don't get me wrong, I got the jab twice, but that was my choice to a large extent. And is this all Labour's fault? No. The bigger culprits, in my mind: media hype, social media pylons, and unwavering support for the party pushing that lockdown agenda. The problem was tunnel vision. It was arrogance, ignorance or both, and now we're all paying a very hefty price tag for it. There was just one thing missing from yesterday. Any response from the four horsemen of the Apocalypse: Grant Robertson, Jacinda Ardern, Ashley Bloomfield, and Adrian Orr. Where were they? Grant's on $800,000 at Otago University, Orr's doing victory laps for cutting rates he hiked too high and then flooding the country with cash. And Adern, remember, she said her single biggest driver in politics was to fix child poverty, now living in New York while the cost of living crisis she helped engineer, then deny was existing, hammers some of our poorest, and to use a word they made famous during the Covid catastrophe, our most vulnerable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's relationship with the incoming Trump administration will be the main topic at a US Business Summit in Auckland today. It will feature speeches from the Prime Minister, Trade Minister Todd McClay, US Ambassador Tom Udall, and a variety of business voices. Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Bridges says it will be a great chance to get the Government's perspective on the American relationship. He told Mike Hosking that Trump's win is hugely consequential, and it's not enough for the Government to simply say they'll wait and see. Bridges believes there can be some optimism though, as New Zealand is generally good at riding the waves and trade with the US flourished after Trump ripped up the CPTPP during his last term. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What about all the weasel words we've been hearing from the Government about Andrew Coster? Who's stepping down from the job of Police Commissioner to head the Government's new Social Investment Agency.   He's leaving the police force a bit earlier than expected. He was due to stand down in April and, if I was a suspicious person, I'd see this as a win-win for him and the Government. Because, despite all the platitudes coming from the Beehive, the Government is going to be delighted that he's moving on. But, unlike the Government, I'm not going to be so kind.  Coster himself is describing the move as going from the bottom of the cliff in the police force to the top of the cliff running this new government agency, which is all about investing in people and supporting people to try and help them avoid getting into a life of crime in the first place.  And I think “Cuddles Coster” —as some people like to refer to him as— is the perfect person to run this new agency. He's been a lawyer, he was 2IC at the Ministry of Justice for a couple of years, he's been a cop and, since 2020, he's been commissioner.  So he knows how the justice system works. He's seen and understands some of the things that lead people into crime, he's worked for a government minister, and he's felt the heat when things haven't gone right.  So, hands down, he's the best person for the new job.     But, listening to Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, you would think they reckon he's the best person to be Police Commissioner, as well.  Let's start with the Prime Minister. Here's what he said yesterday about Andrew Coster: “He has done a really good job. Since we came to power, we made a really clear set of expectations, and laid that out really clearly. He has done an exceptionally good job.”  The PM got a bit brassed-off when reporters reminded him that his predecessor Simon Bridges had described Andrew Coster once as a “wokester”, but Luxon wasn't having a bar of that.  And then there's Mark Mitchell, who's saying that the only reason he gave Coster a hard time was because the commissioner was working for a wishy-washy government back when Labour was in charge.  But we all know that the reason they're being so uncharacteristically kind about Andrew Coster is that, even though he's leaving the Police, he's still going to be working for them. And you can't bag one of your honchos in public, because, if you did, you might get slapped with some HR legal action. And why would you make anything other than glowing comments about someone who's still going to be working for you.  In this new role Coster will still report to a government minister. Instead of Mark Mitchell it'll be Nicola Willis, who is the Minister for Social Investment. But let me say what the Government isn't saying. When it comes to Andrew Coster's performance as Police Commissioner, I can't let him away with the shambolic way he handled the anti-vax, anti-everything protest at Parliament back in February/March 2022.  That was when we all started to learn about “policing by consent”, which Andrew Coster was big on. Which, in a nutshell, is about the police working in a way that encourages people to co-operate with them - instead of waving the big stick at them.  Andrew Coster's leadership of the police response to the Parliamentary protest two years ago was a shambles. There were all the shallow threats about seizing all the vehicles that were clogging up the streets.  “If you don't move those vehicles, we're going to move them. We mean it. We mean it. Aww…maybe we don't mean it.”   What it meant is that by the time the Police did finally flush out the muppets who reckoned they were there for a genuine protest, the battle was lost.  His policing by consent was in tatters and it was the beginning of the end for Andrew Coster. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inland Revenue is being asked not to seesaw on its stance, with rising liquidations across the country. Centrix's July figures reveal business liquidations are up 19 percent overall year-on-year. They sparked spiked sharply in Auckland in the second quarter, up 33 percent annually. Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Bridges says he thinks IR's hard-line approach is behind a majority of closures. "I think it's probably a movement from Covid settings, where, like the RBNZ, they realised they overdid it one way and they came back in hard on the other way." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 3 September 2024, the Government is hiking the tourism levy to $100 - against advice from the industry. But Tourism Minister Matt Doocey tells Heather it's not going to lead to fewer visitors. The boss of NZ's spy agency tells Heather there's a "realistic possibility" of a terrorist attack in New Zealand... and who's the most likely person to attempt such an attack. The number of liquidations is up almost 20% year on year. Auckland Chamber of Business boss Simon Bridges says an IRD crackdown might be to blame. Plus, the Huddle debates why more and more people in their 50s are getting divorced ... is menopause to blame or men not emptying the dishwasher? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inland Revenue is being asked not to seesaw on its stance, with rising liquidations across the country. Centrix's July figures reveal business liquidations are up 19 percent overall year-on-year. They sparked spiked sharply in Auckland in the second quarter, up 33 percent annually. Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Bridges says he thinks IR's hard-line approach is behind a majority of closures. "I think it's probably a movement from Covid settings, where, like the RBNZ, they realised they overdid it one way and they came back in hard on the other way." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber, Simon Bridges, sits down for a fireside chat with Todd to discuss the future of Auckland and his outlook for the city.

Hopes that business can be kept separate from geopolitics arise at today's China Business Summit in Auckland.  Key issues on the card include the Government's goal to double exports by value within 10 years, and the implications of expanding into other markets alongside China.  China Business Summit co-chair Simon Bridges told Mike Hosking “In China, it's very interesting times.”  Bridges said “With China's economy – critics say it's in trouble, and supporters say it's robust.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, you can't keep a good idea down, can you?Strike Force Raptor is back! Do you remember that? That was Simon Bridges' big crime plan when he was the National Party leader in opposition. He announced a dedicated anti-gang police squad called Strike Force Raptor which would go around "harassing and disrupting gangs every single day”. He was mocked for it and the idea was put to bed.And guess what Police Commissioner Andrew Coster just announced today - it's basically the same thing. He's not calling it Strike Force Raptor, but that's basically what it is, it's a specialised National Gang Unit across the country.We're still a little bit light on detail today, Coster couldn't say how many officers there would be or what the targets would be and I'm guessing some of these questions may be answered in the Budget in a couple of weeks.But the the bones of the idea are there, and it's a pretty good idea. Because it's worked in Australia. Strike Force Raptor wasn't our idea, it was set up in New South Wales in 2009. Its numbers got boosted last year, it's won international crime fighting awards. And it was so successful, it had reportedly broken the back of the bikie gangs in Sydney so badly that many of the bikie bosses moved overseas to continue their drug operations - because it had just gotten too hard.  Here, we've just seen the value of hassling the gangs. That gang funeral for the Ponsonby shooter yesterday seemed to be a non-event, because the cops were there en masse to give the gang members a hard time. Compare that to the infamous gang tangi in Optoiki last year, which shut down a main road to citizens, had schools shut and basically just seemed to get out of hand - because the cops were watching from the side of the road and being impotent. It seems like it's a good idea to hassle gangs - who would have thought? Coster can call this whatever he likes, if it keeps the gangs in check, it's a good idea. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon looks at a new Curia poll revealing who Aucklanders favour as their next mayor. Simon Bridges is out in front, with Paula Bennett and Wayne Brown trailing behind. 

Simon is the former leader of the National party, and the first ever Māori to lead a major party in New Zealand. We cover a lot of ground here- the good, the bad and the ugly. And there is plenty of each!We chat about his very recent serious fall off a Lime scooter, his early acting role on Hercules, his law career including his time as a crown prosecutor and the toll that takes on a person's mental health. Then we get into politics- including his regular TV appearances with Jacinda Arden and the on-screen chemistry they had. Getting told off by then PM John Key, receiving death threats, being publicly mocked for how he speaks, his reflections on voting against hay marriage. Life after politics and much much more.Thanks to my friends at Radix and Generate for sponsoring this episode.Radix is a Waikato based nutrition company who are going mainstream in a BIG WAY. Their protein powders are world class- I start every day with a shake made with their protein powder. There is a reason these guys have a 4.9 rating from 1600 reviews. They are that hard to fault:https://radixnutrition.co.nz/Generate have a team of KiwiSaver advisers across the country available to meet with you, chat through your options, and help you make sure your KiwiSaver investment is working for you. If you've never got KiwiSaver advice before, head to:https://www.generatewealth.co.nz/dom(A copy of their product disclosure statement is available on their website. The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited and of course past performance does not guarantee future returns). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with a bill of roughly $220 million each year to run the City Rail Link - once it opens. Chief executive Sean Sweeney says the project is 80 percent complete, but there's no guarantee the November 2025 deadline will be met. Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges says there's no excuse for these extended cost blowouts and delays. "It's created a huge amount of problems. Just by the cost blowouts, the fact that this has taken too long and there doesn't seem to be a particularly good end in sight." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Simon Bridges, Michael Every, Laura Koot, and Christopher Luxon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask the former National Party leader for his thoughts on the prospects of the new Coalition Government, how the "Wily Old Crocodile" Winston will behave, whether Sir John Key is in the ear of Chris Luxon and, finally, if Maureen Pugh was useless, what does that say about Damien O'Connor?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Simon Bridges, Kate Acland, and Mark De Lautour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was a lively old 'Week That Was' panel today! I was joined by Chief Executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Simon Bridges and Founder and CEO of Valocity and Data Insight Carmen Vicelich to discuss: The coalition negotiations. Congestion charges. Why the 'City of Sails' can't seem to host any sailing events. And the dire state of our marine environments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She calls herself the yoyo MP. But this time National's Maureen Pugh has sprung back into parliament in spectacular fashion apparently wrestling the long time red seat of West Coast Tasman off Labour's Damien O'Connor. You might know her name because former National party leader Simon Bridges was caught on tape calling her F****ing useless. Maureen Pugh has previously been trapped in the revolving door of politics. In 2014 she was in via the party list on election night, but out after the special votes, in 2017 it was the same story. But she bounced back in twice when senior MPs resigned creating a list spot for her. The 2020 election was a knife edge for her too. But this time Maureen Pugh is 915 votes ahead of outgoing Minister Damien Occonnor, with special votes still to be counted. So Checkpoint picked up the phone. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6339223555112

The Northern Infrastructure Forum says key highway projects will deliver game-changing perks.  Its data shows the proposed Warkworth to Wellsford and Cambridge to Piarere routes would each add up to $500 million annually to our GDP once operational.  That's $6 billion over 20 years.  It would be generated through improved supply chain efficiency, resilience, and business productivity.  Forum Chair, Simon Bridges, told Mike Hosking that the strongest message is that we should get on with these.  He said that ignoring them is leaving money on the table.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh off the back of a successful business delegation to India, Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges is set to take 30 businesses to China. Despite the unstable economic climate, Bridges still thinks there's plenty of commercial opportunity in China. He says New Zealand does significantly more trade there than with India and there's room for more partnerships and relationships. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 'The Week That Was' this week I'm joined by former National party leader and current chief executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Simon Bridges, and co-founder of fashion label WORLD Denise L'Estrange Corbet. Another goodies today... The return of Winston Peters. Surely not again?! How do we get a second crossing across Auckland's harbour? The increasing levels of violence in our CBD's and what we can do about it. And what do we think of National's idea to ban mobile phones in schools? And you spoke so we listened - we crown our first female 'Wanker of the Week'...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employers are concerned that this crop of young workers lack literacy, numeracy and communications skills. Young employees reportedly have to be taught how to write appropriate work emails and other practical skills neglected in the classroom environment. Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges says several young workers are missing key 'soft skills', including reliability, communication, initiative and motivation. "They lack the basic kind of toolkit they need. How to do a CV, interview skills, driver's license and that attitudinal stuff that I talked about. It's a big issue." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland needs a deal. Councillors will be back around the table at 10 this morning - as its budget considerations stretch into a second day. Mayor Wayne Brown raised a proposal mid-way through yesterday's meeting. He suggested selling only a portion  of the council's Auckland Airport shares, alongside higher rates rises and more cuts to Council Controlled Organisations and local boards. Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges told Mike Hosking not selling the full airport shares is second rate. But he says Auckland needs a balanced budget, even if it is sub-optimal, otherwise it's dysfunction junction. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's $5.5 billion City Rail Link (CRL) will not open until sometime in 2026 or later, the Herald can reveal. This is at least 18 months longer than what was forecasted only a few months ago when the cost of the project blew out by $1.1b to $5.5b and the completion date moved from late 2024 to November 2025. In an exclusive interview during a tour of the mega-project, City Rail Link chief executive Dr Sean Sweeney said the latest completion date is not when Aucklanders will get to ride the underground railway. He said November 2025 is when City Rail Link Ltd hands over the brand spanking new 3.4-kilometre track from Britomart to Mt Eden to Auckland Transport and KiwiRail, which then have to do extensive testing before it opens to passengers. Sweeney was reluctant to say how long that could be, but when pressed said: “As a ballpark guess, I'd say six months, but people need to understand that numbers could change a lot, based on what happens.” The big issue vexing the minds of Sweeney and the Alliance contractor is moving from the construction of the tunnels and stations to the complex and risky phase of installing bespoke software and signalling work, and plugging a state-of-the-art railway into the existing, fault-ridden network. Three years ago, Sweeney told the Herald there are going to be challenges at the “back end”, and the problem is made worse because a metro rail system has never been built in New Zealand. At the time, he was commenting on the Crossrail line under London that encountered massive and costly overruns after back-end problems just as everyone was doing victory laps - the chairman got a knighthood and later got sacked. Sweeney said Crossrail was a much more complex project and does not envisage similar problems with the CRL, but did acknowledge plugging new plants and equipment into the existing rail network could lead to “unintended consequences”. Full testing of the new systems is expected to begin in mid-2024 and will take about a year, said Sweeney, who is planning to finish the job before the November 2025 date. One of the biggest issues that needs testing, he said, is a fire on a train in the tunnel. After the handover, AT and KiwiRail have to go through another set of tests, which Sweeney said is not straightforward and involves a lot of operational and training exercises. “There are exhaustive tests that they will have to go through, and safety checks, before they are allowed to run passengers,” Sweeney said. For example, every one of the 240 drivers in Auckland will have to go through the tunnels for training. An AT spokeswoman could not say when trains will start running on the CRL, saying it is working with CRL Ltd and the Alliance contractor, Auckland One Rail, the rail safety regular Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency and other stakeholders on a plan to begin as early as possible. The plan involved critical testing of the new systems before trains can operate, including emergency and evacuation protocols, driver training, signalling and other important systems needed to operate the CRL safely. “We will be able to confirm the dates for CRL operations once this programme is complete,” she said. Artist's impression of what the Karanga-a-Hape station will look like once it opens. Photo / Supplied Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Simon Bridges, who was Minister of Transport when work started on the CRL in 2016, said a 2026 opening date is far too long. “While most big infrastructure projects do take longer than is said when they start, a critical mistake here was not continuing during Covid lockdowns, when in hindsight we could have, if anything, picked up the pace in a safe and appropriate way.  “That said, when it does open, my pick is that the vast majority of people will forget all the criticism, and Auckland will be in for a pretty golden period given the upgraded transport link, a new convention centre, and hopefully, an upward swing in cyclical economic activity,” said the former MP for Tauranga, who's now a resident of and cheerleader for the Super City. Bridges said the long wait to get to the finish line is little comfort to businesses disrupted - and in some cases, devastated - by the construction works. “But in a wider Auckland sense, it will be exciting when it eventually opens,” he said. Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges and Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck are disappointed about the time it is taking to build the CRL. Photo / Brett Phibbs Heart of the City chief executive Vic Beck, who has battled tirelessly for businesses impacted by the CRL works, said uncertainty looms large for the project. “It is extremely disappointing for the city that the benefits won't be reaped sooner, and particularly for those impacted by construction. This creates more anxiety because there is no fixed date for it to be operational. For some, that could now be up to 10 years of major disruption and impacts on them and their business,” she said. Beck has called for a review of the $12 million fund set aside for affected businesses to be sped up, saying no one should lose their livelihood for a public project. - Bernard Orsman, NZHSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions of whether Auckland Council over-reached in response to yesterday's weather after coming under-fire for the January floods. The city remains in a state of local emergency after torrential downpours burst banks and caused surface flooding. It saw severe gridlock across the central city, as motorists left work to go home at the weather's peak. Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive, Simon Bridges told Mike Hosking while it was serious rainfall, it wasn't as bad as January's, so perspective is needed. He says the concern is whether we're learning the right lessons from the anniversary floods and not becoming overly trigger happy on declaring a state of emergency. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is being praised for a "business friendly" pre-budget speech. Chris Hipkins says the Government will deliver a no-frills Budget, balancing restraint with funding the basics on May 18. He's ruled out introducing a capital gains or wealth tax, and bringing in a cyclone levy to fund the recovery. Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges says it provides certainty. "If he had sort of left that door around tax open, there's a very real danger he would have killed the mood amongst businesses and amongst households at a time when we've got to try and desperately lift the mood." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has this morning put forward five options for an additional Waitemata Harbour crossing, with Transport Minister Michael Wood labelling it a congestion-buster for the city. The options include both bridge and tunnel options and each includes a new walking and cycling link. Feedback on the proposals is being sought and the preferred option will be confirmed in June. Kathryn is joined by RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher, Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Simon Bridges and Road Transport Forum head Nick Leggett.

ACC Animal Facts Specialist Matt Heath joins Manaia Stewart for today's Daily Agenda podcast. In this episode, the fellas solve rain delays with a revolutionary new hybrid sport, discuss interviewing Simon Bridges on Nangs and blow the whistle on corruption at FIFA. Powered by Musashi, supporting your goals to fuel, recover, shred, or bulk.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is about to unveil five new options for a second Waitemata Harbour crossing. The Government has announced it's bringing forward construction of the crossing, likely a tunnel, to the 2020s. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins will also talk about how the ways they would link up with Auckland Light Rail. Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges told Mike Hosking they want to see more than a scenario launch. He says now is the time for action, not another talk fest. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Future proofing Aotearoa's massively neglected state highway network should be a priority, after Cyclone Gabrielle exposed a significant weak spot - ripping up roads and cutting off social and ecomonic lifelines. That's according to former Transport Minister Simon Bridges, who is now head of the Auckland Business Chamber. He concedes it will take large scale investment and probably a political pact. Simon Bridges talks to Lisa Owen.

Little did I know when I raised the Christopher Luxon issue the other day how quickly the critics would strike. I suggested that Luxon has a few months yet to sort things out in terms of his own personal numbers in the polls before the chatter would start. Because once the chatter starts, it becomes a conversation and once it becomes a conversation it may well become the narrative and once it becomes the narrative, the nervous start to panic. Could Bryce Edwards have been listening? Because, lo-and-behold, he hits the media yesterday with what will be an opening stanza of sorts The headline was that Luxon's leadership is under threat. Is it? From who? Bryce's argument is that National will be desperate to avoid the mess of 2020 where we had Simon Bridges followed by Todd Muller and others and in this statement, he is correct. But we aren't at that point or anywhere close to it. He argues National will currently be working out whether a move needs to be made against Luxon. Really? Are they? He doesn't say what he bases this on. He cites the success of the Andrew Little and Jacinda Ardern switch seven weeks out from polling in 2017, in other words you could put Nicola Willis in and still be in the race. What he forgets is it wasn't successful. Labour came a distant second and they only got to power because of Winston hating Bill English so he gave Jacinda the nod by default. He says all recent polls have shown support for National declining - on that he is wrong. The Talbot Mills poll four days back, Labour's own pollsters had National on 36% and Labour 33%. So he's not just wrong but given National lead it's hardly reason for a leadership change. He says if by Easter things aren't better they will need to move on. That's subjective and he is entitled to his view. His view is also that Hipkins has made an "amazingly successful" start. I'm not sure, because he's made a good start but a lot of it involves weather so it's not really his doing. And in getting rid of policy he thought was brilliant a month back, my thinking is many voters with brains will see through that. But in saying that, this is the narrative Labour will have been praying for. My observation of Bryce over the years is he is like a lot of academics - closer to Labour than the other parties so you might dismiss what he has to say. But what I also know from observation over the years is it doesn't take much to spark the conversation. And it appears to have started. My thinking is Luxon still has plenty of room to move and time to manoeuvre in. But where Bryce is right; is the clock is ticking. Given the mess that is Labour and the record being as bad as it is, Luxon should be doing better. The ball is in his court.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland businesses are wondering when they're going to get a break. Aucklanders are being advised to evacuate if necessary and to expect widespread power cuts today, with the city still expecting to be battered by wind and rain. It comes as the Government announces a $11.5 million funding package aimed at helping those affected by the summer floods. Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges says businesses want to get back on their feet, sooner and stronger. He says the Government can't stop the storm, but it can provide information, certainty and support. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The sweeping reset of government policies yesterday included the pausing of the planned income insurance scheme and a significant rise in the minimum wage. A $5 million support package for flood-hit businesses was also announced including up to $3 million to support those at high risk of closure. The flood assistance package for businesses was developed after consultations with the Auckland Business Chamber and the Employers and Manufacturers Association. Kathryn speaks with the head of the Auckland Business Chamber, Simon Bridges.

Tonight a special on the unprecedented Auckland flooding disaster. Where was the leadership, what is the impact, how does Auckland recover and how do we face our climate warming future? We will also look at last nights political polls to see which Government will pick up that climate warming future challenge. To debate these issues The Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO, Simon Bridges, Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson and Stuff Columnist Damien Grant. We are also trying to get Auckland Central MP Chloe Swarbrick to appear.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Bridges is calling on the new Minister of Auckland, to listen to the concerns of businesses in our largest city. Mount Roskill MP Michael Wood is taking on the new portfolio. The senior minister was previously an Auckland Council local board member, and is the husband of an Auckland councillor. Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive and former National Leader Simon Bridges told Mike Hosking Wood needs to consult with business leaders. He says the role involves being serious about issues like crime and getting people around, and if he's pragmatic about those issues, he'll succeed. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Auckland Chamber of Commerce says the biggest worry for businesses is inflation, as they prepare to meet with the new Prime Minister today. Simon Bridges says that's especially true for small to medium firms. He told Morning Report there's no set script for today's meeting with Chris Hipkins, and he expects there to be a free flowing discussion. Mr Bridges says the rate and size of increases to the minimum wage have also been hard for businesses to swallow.

New Prime Minister Chris Hipkins heads to Auckland today to woo business leaders after spending his first full day in the top job responding to the cost of living crisis. Hipkins is due to attend a roundtable event hosted by the Auckland Business Chamber. “I'll be there to ask questions of them and to listen to them, in order to accelerate the important relationship that's needed between business and government, in order to benefit all New Zealanders and to continue to grow our economy,” Hipkins said. His Auckland charm offensive will bring him into contact with former National leader Simon Bridges. Bridges, the Auckland Business Chamber CEO, said today's meeting was good news. “That in itself gives business some confidence. It's a sense that this is where his priorities lie,” he told RNZ. “I think he's off to a good start, inasmuch as what he's saying is he's going to come back to the bread and butter issues.” Bridges said the issues confronting Auckland businesses were around plans to curb inflation, getting more workers into the country - and concerns around law and order. “I think it's incredibly refreshing to see from a new PM that he gets it, that he gets it's businesses that make an economy and actually allow governments to do the things that we all want them to do like fund better health, education, and law and order.” Cost of living front of new PM's mind The cost of living crisis dominated Hipkins' first press conference just hours after taking over the role from friend and longtime Labour colleague Jacinda Ardern. Exactly what Hipkins has in store to tackle the rising cost of living remains to be seen, something National leader Christopher Luxon latched on to, saying that simply changing the leader was not going to make a difference. Indeed Hipkins' first appearance since being sworn in by Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro as the country's 41st Prime Minister came hot off the latest consumer price index showing inflation remained at 7.2 per cent - the same as the previous quarter - reflecting further pressure on household budgets across the country. Kiro had earlier received the resignation of Ardern, officially handing over what Hipkins called the “baton of responsibility”. The day started with emotional scenes as Ardern left the Beehive as Prime Minister for the last time, walking out to a crowd of her ministers, MPs and staff, sharing hugs and tears - Ardern, accompanied by fiance Clarke Gayford, even struggled to find her way to the car through the throng of people. Jacinda Ardern and then-incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins at Rātana Pa Marae on Tuesday. Photo / Mark Mitchell And like that after nearly six years of leadership marked through tragedy and crisis, with the mosque shootings, Whakaari and the Covid-19 pandemic, her tenure was over, making way for “my friend Chippy”, how Hipkins is affectionately known. Hipkins too was emotional at Government House as he was sworn in, surrounded by family and colleagues, saying it was the “biggest responsibility of my life”. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins arriving for his first post-Cabinet press conference. Photo / Mark Mitchell He also quipped afterwards “it feels pretty real now” - acknowledging just how rapidly he'd moved into the role after Ardern announced her resignation only a week ago. The moment was clearly hugely significant also for Carmel Sepuloni, earlier shedding tears as Ardern departed before beaming as she became the first Deputy Prime Minister of Pacific heritage, with Samoan, Tongan and Pākehā roots. Jacinda Ardern waves to the crowd one last time as Prime Minister of New Zealand. Photo / NZ Labour Party In his first speech in the role Hipkins said “reprioritisation” of the Government's work was the “absolute priority”, allowing the Government to focus on the “cost of living”. “Today's unchanged inflation figure confirms this is the right immediate focus,” he said, reflecting a shift in priorities over the past year as the health pandemic made way for a “pandemic of inflation”. Ardern had last year also signalled a policy reset in the new year, with major and controversial reforms such as merging TVNZ and RNZ tipped for the scrapheap. Even when asked if he, like Ardern, had any legacy issues such as climate change or child poverty he wanted to focus on, Hipkins reverted to balancing that with “the pressures of today”. Hipkins noted the inflation level was not unexpected and was in fact lower than most comparable countries, which in turn influenced it here. Hundreds of people waited outside the Beehive to farewell Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister. Photo / NZ Labour Party Hipkins, however, said no decisions had been made on exactly what would be prioritised from the Government's programme, nor anything related to the cost of living. Hipkins said he expected to announce any changes to the Government work programme and Cabinet reshuffle in the next few weeks. He also alluded to further opening up immigration settings to ease labour shortages, though the impacts of the most recent changes appeared positive. “I just want to reassure New Zealanders that we've got this front and centre,” he said. “I'll be looking across the range of options to see what more we can do to support Kiwis.” The Government last year introduced a fuel subsidy, which runs until the end of March, and cost of living support payments. It also introduced a fast-track residency programme, which it further expanded near the end of the year after initially excluding nurses and a range of other highly sought-after health professionals. Jacinda Ardern was tearful as she sat alongside Speaker Adrian Rurawhe during her final outing as Prime Minister at Rātana Pā on Tuesday. Photo / Mark Mitchell Hipkins also spoke further on co-governance, after Māori leaders at Rātana on Tuesday called on the Government not to pull back work done to realise obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, and National to not be afraid of working with Māori. Hipkins said the topic needed to be handled “maturely”. “We should have a mature discussion about it, not one that's informed by bumper sticker slogans.” Asked if the Government had responsibility for not clearly explaining the topic and allowing fear to be sowed, Hipkins said that would be part of their new priorities. “We should make sure that we're informing New Zealanders, what we're doing and why we're doing it.” Prime Minister Chris Hipkins during his first post-Cabinet press conference at Parliament in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell Luxon earlier said he sent congratulations to Hipkins and acknowledged Ardern for her leadership. But that was where the niceties stopped, as he criticised the Government over its handling of the economy and said nothing had changed with the new leader. “It's the same team, same people, same finance minister, same, everything, nothing's changed.” Luxon said the Government needed to rein in spending and lower costs for businesses - such as scrapping the income insurance scheme. He also called for the Government to further open up the immigration settings, which drives the productive economy. Meanwhile, the Government support party the Greens wrote to the new Prime Minister calling for a “fairer Aotearoa”. They said the cost of living crisis was not being felt equally and urged him to increase benefits and make a fairer tax system targeting the wealthy. - Michael Neilson, NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland and it's under-fire transport system are expected to be on the agenda this morning when Jacinda Ardern meets the city's leaders. The Prime Minister will sit down privately with new mayor Wayne Brown before renewing acquaintances with Simon Bridges, her former political rival who is now Auckland's Chamber of Commerce boss. Bike Auckland chair Tony Mitchell hopes transport in the city will be getting the overhaul it needs. He spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Auckland's Chamber of Commerce says the newly elected mayor will be a breath of fresh air for businesses in the super city. Wayne Brown ran on a campaign to fix Auckland, claiming he would improve financial responsibility and accountability of the council. The former mayor of the Far North district has held leadership positions on a long list of private and public organisations. Simon Bridges, who was appointed chief executive of Auckland's Chamber of Commerce earlier this year, spoke to Guyon Espiner.  

Auckland's business community isn't convinced police have the powers to keep their stores safe after yet another daylight robbery. A group of about eight people, with weapons, took to Stewart Dawson's jewellery store at Westfield St Lukes yesterday evening. Police have put up barricades around the store where they have been taking fingerprints and checking CCTV footage. Simon Bridges, Auckland Chamber of Commerce's chief executive, spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Former National Party leader Simon Bridges has given evidence in a trial over alleged concealed donations to the party, agreeing Jami-Lee Ross went "full kamikaze". Seven people including Ross are defending charges related to electoral fraud. The High Court in Auckland is hearing how the relationship between the pair fractured shortly after Bridges took up the party leader post in 2018. Amy Williams filed this report.

Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross told the police he sounded the alarm over a donation to the party because he thought it was dodgy and potentially illegal. The High Court in Auckland has heard a 2018 police interview in which Mr Ross claimed then party leader Simon Bridges knew of the alleged deceptive donation. It's the third week of a trial over anonymous donations to the country's two biggest political parties. Amy Williams filed this report.

The battle to replace Simon Bridges in Tauranga is entering its final hours. The by-election will take place tomorrow, just over two months after the former National leader announced he would step down. And the candidates are keen to snap voters out of a lull. Our political reporter Giles Dexter is there.

The morning after announcing he's quitting politics, former National leader and self-proclaimed “regular dickhead” Simon Bridges joins Gone By Lunchtime in a candid conversation to explain the decision and his future plans – and reflect on the people "who exploded on me".Gone By Lunchtime wouldn't exist without support from The Spinoff Members. Find out how to join at members.thespinoff.co.nz See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.