Podcast appearances and mentions of simon watts

The Local Government Minister says people should have zero-tolerance for poor dog behaviour. 62-year-old, Mihiata Te Rore, was killed by three dogs on Tuesday, as she visited a home in Kaihu, north of Dargaville. Local MP Shane Jones says jail terms should be considered for owners of what he labels 'homicidal dogs'. Minister Simon Watts says there are issues with local and central Government enforcing the 30-year-old Dog Control Act. He says he is getting advice next week on changing the act - and wants it done promptly. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1944, two Austrian mountaineers fled into the forbidden land of Tibet to escape from a prisoner-of-war camp in India.Heinrich Harrer and his friend Peter Aufschnaiter spent seven years there.Harrer became a tutor to the young Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader.He later wrote a famous account of his visit called Seven Years in Tibet.Simon Watts presented and produced this episode in 2016, using interviews with Harrer from the BBC Archive.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina's Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall' speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler's List; and Jacques Derrida, France's ‘rock star' philosopher. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world's oldest languages.(Photo: Portrait of the young Dalai Lama. Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

The Energy Minister is clearing up some misconceptions after yesterday's newly announced LNG import facility sparked backlash. The Government yesterday announced plans for the storage site in order to maintain energy supply, and a levy will be used to fund infrastructure costs. Simon Watts says the Huntly Power Station isn't cutting it anymore and New Zealand needs more gas. "We need gas and we need those molecules, and that's the problem we're facing. And importation will allow us to get that gas." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's confidence a new gas importing facility will deliver benefits that outweigh the costs. The Government's confirmed it will build a liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki, with a contract expected by mid-year. It says the project will save the country about $265 million annually – roughly $50 per household. Energy Minister Simon Watts told Mike Hosking that Huntly Power Station only covers 50% of the energy problem, and while they have gas generation capacity out there, they don't have the fuel to run it during dry years. He says it's why they need that certainty of volume and certainty of supply. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 10th of February, Energy Minister Simon Watts provides some more details regarding a new LNG import facility. Are we worried enough about the peach “dumping” from China? And does it extend beyond peaches? Forensic science specialist Tom Coyle discusses his 37 years in the job and working some of New Zealand's top cases. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government isn't giving a firm figure on what'll be paid to build a liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki. It's aiming to sign a contract by mid-year. It says it'll save the country about $265 million a year - about $50 dollars per household - and protect about 2000 jobs. An electricity levy of $2-$4 per megawatt-hour will fund the infrastructure. Energy Minister Simon Watts says limited gas supply contributed to the recent increase in energy crisis and the Government needs to establish a new supply. "That'll take the risk and put certainty back in to ensure we do have gas in a dry year, and with that, that provides benefits through to the broader country." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has fallen into the trap that I could very easily find myself falling into if I didn't think a little bit more carefully about this plan by the Government to set-up a new shipping terminal in Taranaki to import liquified natural gas. This is the gas that's needed to generate power, alongside the other ways we generate power in this country - hydro, coal and wind. It's going to cost somewhere north of $1 billion, and the Government reckons it will be up-and-running in one-to-two years' time. I think it's dreaming on the timeline front. I also think Chris Hipkins is dreaming when he says $1 billion would buy a lot of solar panels. Because even though Energy Minister Simon Watts banging-on about us paying less for our electricity - or more to the point, not paying a truckload more for electricity - this isn't actually about you and me. Unless you run a big manufacturing or processing plant - in particular one of these big plants or factories that have been struggling with power prices. This is about industrial electricity supplies. This talk about importing gas first surfaced a couple of years ago when factories were actually closing because of high power prices. The big power companies looked into it, and they wrote a report for the Government which essentially said that it wasn't as straightforward as it sounded. They looked into the practicalities of importing gas and they said we could do it, but there are a few things to think about. The main ones being the price tag and how long it would take to get it happening. They said last year that it could be done cheaper than $1 billion - for around $200 million - but the gas would be 25 percent more expensive, because the cheaper option would use existing facilities. However, there wouldn't be the same amount of storage and so we couldn't buy as much in one hit and so we'd pay more for it. They also said it wouldn't be an overnight fix. It would be about four years before we started to see the benefits. Another main point in this report was that we could spend the money and wait for it all to come online, but there could be years when we don't even need the extra gas. But that's a bit like pouring money into a fire alarm and sprinkler system and not using it. You know it's there and it gives you security. That's how I see this gas importation business. It's a back-up. And so, what if it isn't needed all the time? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The headline on one of the stories this morning said, "vital or bonkers?". Is the new liquefied natural gas terminal announced by the Government yesterday a vital piece of infrastructure that will save New Zealand households hundreds, shore up gaps in our energy supply, give confidence to our manufacturers, or as the Greens are saying, absolutely bonkers for the planet and for our country's energy resilience? Energy Minister Simon Watts announced yesterday that the new terminal to be built in New Plymouth should be ready by next year, and will mean that Kiwis no longer need to suffer through an endless series of winter bill shocks. The idea is that liquid natural gas can be imported in large volumes, we'll store it, and then it will be re-gasified to be used when shortages occur during dry years. It's expensive. It's an expensive way of doing it. An expensive “just in case”, but Simon Watts says, well we can't afford not to, otherwise it means the end of businesses. Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says the decision to build a terminal is cooked. Well, you wouldn't be able to cook it unless there was some form of energy supply, so it's not a terribly good analogy because something can only be cooked when there's energy, and what they're doing is providing energy. She said Christopher Luxon has once again chosen to throw New Zealanders' money at fossil fuels, which is bad for power bills, energy security, and the planet. But as Simon Watts told the Mike Hosking Breakfast this morning, this will quite literally power New Zealand's economy and we can't afford not to do it. “The reality is renewables are nice, but the sun doesn't shine during the night and that's when we need firming capacity and thermal capacity. In a dry year when we don't have enough water in those lakes, we have to make that from either gas, diesel, or coal. Coal only covers 50% of us, we've still got a massive gap. That's why there's a price premium in people's bills. Having the certainty of supply of gas to come into that market when we need it means that that risk is mitigated and therefore that price premium that's in people's bills comes off. That's the rationale of what we're doing here. “This is a strategic investment also for national security because guess what, if you can't have energy then other aspects of your economy is at risk and we've got to protect those industries that can't run on coal and surprisingly can't run on electricity. There's a lot of industry, heavy industry that needs gas and if we haven't got it domestically in the short term, we need to be able to import it.” Yeah. Like absolutely phase out fossil fuels, totally, let's do it and we've been talking about it since probably the 70's – possibly earlier than that. I mean that's when I first started reading newspapers when I was at primary school and that's when I can remember talking about the need not to rely on fossil fuels. All for it. But you have to have a reliable alternative – a sustainable, inexpensive alternative. You can't just stop producing energy without providing another sustainable source of power. Hoping and wishing for something better and nicer and cleaner and greener is not a strategy. You can't just legislate sustainable energy out of thin air. Look at the disastrous result of various governments around the world legislating to force car manufacturers into producing more EVs to save the planet. Major automakers and EV startups have collectively incurred more than $114 billion , and those are real dollars, $114 billion in losses on EVs in the US and Europe, in basically three and a half years between 2022 and early 2026, driven by aggressive government electrification targets that outpaced consumer demand. People weren't convinced. Show me the electrical network that can sustain me being able to power these vehicles. Show me that they're safe. Show me that they're suitable for all terrains and all weather. As of February 2026, the cumulative financial hit from vaporised EV bets, write downs, and production cuts for the big three Detroit automakers GM, Ford, and Stellantis is estimated at roughly $52.1 billion. You might have heard Mike talking about Stellantis shares going down the toilet this morning. You can't just make people do things. This is a top down decision from the governments – we will not use fossil fuels. The people at the bottom who are making stuff, generating exports, providing jobs, driving to get from point A to point B, either driving their exports to different ports or driving to work to produce the exports, have to be convinced and confident that there's another source of energy that is reliable, sustainable, and relatively inexpensive that doesn't put their exports beyond the reach of buyers. And until such time, they're not going to they're not going to fall into line because it would be financial suicide. It's a nice idea, it absolutely is, and we make the most of what we have, the resources around us, where they're renewable, yes let's use them. But the Greens won't let us put in any hydro dams. Can you imagine? I think my grandchildren's grandchildren probably wouldn't live to see that. There's not enough sun, as Simon Watts said, it's dark at night. The wind is not consistent. It's pie in the sky. Until such time as we have sustainable, inexpensive alternative fuel sources, we need to shore up the energy supply we have now. Sure, save the planet, but if there's nobody bloody on it, what's the point? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April 1980, thousands of Cubans tried to escape the country by claiming asylum at the Peruvian embassy in Havana. In response, Cuban President Fidel Castro opened the port of Mariel to anyone who wanted to leave, including criminals. From April until October more than 100,000 Cubans left for the US. Mirta Ojito was one of them. She spoke to Simon Watts in 2011.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina's Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall' speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler's List; and Jacques Derrida, France's ‘rock star' philosopher. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world's oldest languages.(Photo: Cuban refugees in 1980. Credit: Bettmann/Contributor via Getty Images)

On Sunday the Government announced a new platform, Open Electricity, to compare power plans. A Beehive press release claims that approximately two million households and 165,000 small business customers will benefit. Energy minister Simon Watts chats to Andrew Dickens about the new platform and a focus on increased transparency for consumers across industries. "We think the average household's probably going to save about $360 a year," he said. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's 110 years since the end of the Battle of Gallipoli. It was one of the deadliest in World War One. Among the 40,000 dead was a large contingent of Australian and New Zealand troops who became known as the Anzacs. Soldier Rupert Westmacott was injured and shared his memories with the BBC. Professor of Australian history, Carl Bridge, spoke to Simon Watts in 2012.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina's Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall' speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler's List; and Jacques Derrida, France's ‘rock star' philosopher. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world's oldest languages.(Photo: Soldiers landing at Gallipoli. Credit: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The water service delivery plans have been submitted by local councils and evaluated, and the total is set to hit over $47 billion. Councils handed over these proposals as part of the Government's Local Water Done Well scheme and the Local Government Minister is hopeful these plans will go on to benefit ratepayers. Minister Simon Watts says these proposals have all been signed off and things are in a good place to get going. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In December 1975, four members of one of the IRA's deadliest units were chased by police through the streets of London before hiding out in a small flat owned by a middle-aged couple called John and Sheila Matthews. The resulting six-day siege was covered live on television and radio, and gripped Britain. It ended when Metropolitan Police negotiators persuaded the gunmen to leave the flat peacefully. In 2019, Simon Watts spoke to Steven Moysey who saw the siege unfold.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina's Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall' speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler's List; and Jacques Derrida, France's ‘rock star' philosopher. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world's oldest languages.(Photo: Police in action on Balcombe Street during the siege. Credit: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

On Politics Thursday this week Nick Mills was joined by Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Labour MP Kieran McAnulty. They discussed Minister Watts' announcement that councils' rates rise will be limited to 2% - 4%. Watts and McAnulty then hit the other big political news of the week including RMA reforms for Regional Councils, water reform and amalgamation. As well as public service payouts and Andrew Coster's resignation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Climate Change Minister says we're still at the table for the Paris Agreement, despite the targets being challenging. The Coalition rejected all three recommendations made to it by the Climate Change Commission yesterday. It means it won't be including international aviation and shipping emissions in its 2050 reduction target. Simon Watts told Ryan Bridge they remain committed to the Paris Climate Agreement and are still part of the global conversation. He says they're challenging targets in reality, but they have the intent of hitting them. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By 2029, annual increases on local council rates will have to stay between 2-4%, a target which some Mayors warn will hamstring councils. Local Government Minister Simon Watts spoke to Corin Dann.

An assurance a council rates cap will only target unnecessary costs, not community services or infrastructure. By 2029, councils wanting to increase rates by more than 4% will need approval from a government-appointed regulator. Water rates are excluded from the cap. Local Government Minister Simon Watts told Mike Hosking this will be an education process for councils. He says there's a lot of fat in the system and councils need to ensure cash has to be going into essential areas. Watts says he will work with the industry, not against them. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 2nd of December, the Government is bringing in rates caps in 2029. Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Nelson Mayor Nick Smith give their takes on the proposal. Will there be a coup in Netball NZ? A Special General Meeting has been called this weekend to discuss a vote of no confidence of the leadership. UK comedian and author David Walliams has a new children's book out and he can't wait to catch up with Mike and make of his tight jeans! Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday the Government announced an annual 2-4% rates cap range will be fully implemented by 2029. The cap applies to all rates, including general rates, targeted rates and uniform annual charges, but excludes water charges and other non-rates revenue like fees and charges. Local Government Minister Simon Watts told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "it's going to be tough Heather, but guess what, it's been tough on everyone - households, businesses. "You think about those on fixed income, in particular, double-digit rate increases, some up to 20%. It's just simply not feasible, and that's what we've been hearing loud and clear from ratepayers" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This rates cap is popular politics, no doubt, and local government needs a good kick in the pants. But does a 2-4% band simply mean we're going to pay more in other fees? Rates aren't the only way these guys make money off us, we also pay for specific things like resource and building consents, LIM requests, dog registrations, and campgrounds. Will hairdressers have to pay more to register under the Health Act? Yes, this is a thing, and in Kaipara, for example, it'll cost your business $423 bucks, thank you very much. Will we pay more for a burial plot at the local cemetery? That's another fee. Will we pay more to register out dogs? The options are endless. Waikato District Council has a document setting out the fees it whacks ratepayers with. It's 45 pages long. The government may take a revenue lever away from councils with one hand, but councils will no doubt get creative and hit us up from another angle. Actually, this is exactly what the Government itself has been doing. We're seeing the rise of the fee. 2026 will be the year of the fee. Yes, the Coalition may have cut taxes, but they're also overseeing one the biggest hikes in fees and charges of any government in recent history. Road user charges, user-pays, road tolls, congestion charging is coming, fines are going up, immigration fees, airport fees - you name it, chances are it's heading north. It's a strategy. The top line number comes down, but all the little bits they hope we won't notice go up. Councils will be no different. Add in the Water Done Well fee, which will be massive in some places, and the reality is that no ratepayer will feel like they're getting a batter a deal post-cap band. The question is whether this a reason not to do it. And the answer is probably not. But it should come with tempered expectation that we won't feel fleeced when the council emails those pesky quarterly rates bills or charges you for sending a hard copy by snail-mail!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Local Government Minister is pleased to see councils joining forces under the new water infrastructure model. The Department of Internal Affairs expects councils to spend nearly 48-billion dollars on Local Water Done Well over the next decade. The reforms could create more than 40 water entities, with some councils joining multi-council-controlled organisations. Simon Watts told Mike Hosking that 38 councils have already combined to form 12 entities. But he says it's never been about the number of entities - the critical part is whether it's financially sustainable. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says offshore carbon credits could be bought in the future - but not yet. Climate Minister Simon Watts says all options are being considered, but they've ruled out shopping overseas this term. But for New Zealand to meet Paris Agreement targets signed up to in 2016, it may be necessary - and work is under way so it's an option down the line. Watts says he is focusing on domestic actions. "The reality is, I actually think - and I'm pretty optimistic - we're looking pretty good in terms of our emissions reduction." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A deal was reached at COP30 this weekend, boosting finance for poor nations coping with global warming - but there was no mention of fossil fuels. 83 countries signed a roadmap that would push for the end of fossil fuels, but New Zealand was one of the only countries not to sign. The opposition has spoken out, saying the move has made us look foolish on the world stage. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's Climate Change Minister, Simon Watts, heads to Brazil this weekend for the high-level portion of the annual global climate summit, COP30. Simon Watts spoke to Corin Dann.

The Government recently announced a raft of proposed changes to the Climate Change Response Act and the Emissions Trading Scheme. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says the Government's focused on reducing domestic emissions and the legislation needs to reflect these standards. "We're focusing on domestic emissions reduction as the priority." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't expect a handout. That's basically the message to homeowners hoping the Government will swoop in and buyout houses after the next big cyclone. Watts is the climate Minister. He took a paper to cabinet. I had a read in the weekend. They haven't immediately turned the tap off to buyouts, but they're making it pretty clear it won't e long before they do. How long? Doesn't say, specifically. Just sometime in the medium to long term. If you're buying a house or land, you're going to want to check flood zones very carefully. After the Auckland floods - you know which parts of suburb are more prone to flooding. That's, generally, where you don't want to buy. Mor you can and manage the risk and mitigate. Council and government spent $2 billion on buyouts. That may not happen next time. Guess how many homes are sitting in flood prone areas right now? Hundreds of thousands. They're worth $180 billion. It means insurance will be more expensive or non-existent for some areas and properties. The government basically wants to take itself out of the risk equation. Cause it's cheaper for them. Buying out flood prone land distorts the market. If you know a buyout will happen, you'll be less worried about flooding and pay more than you should for it The scientists tell damage from cyclones and flooding will get more intense and frequent. Consider this a warning from the government that it doesn't want the same thing happening g to the state of its books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has slashed New Zealand's methane targets, saying they're more realistic for farmers. Q+A asks him what impact it may have on the country's international commitments and trade deals. . As Energy Minister, Watts is facing calls to do something about the energy industry. It follows the closure of multiple businesses which cited high energy prices as a factor. . Watts is also questioned about the sustainability of the local government sector as it tackles rates rises, infrastructure deficits, and low voter turnout. . Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand on Air.

The government has announced a climate adaptation plan to help handle floods, cyclones, and other natural disasters. Councils will now have to draw up 30-year plans, and a national flood map is due in 2027. Climate change minister Simon Watts told Mike Hosking that the current system lacks a coordinated approach to respond to natural hazards. “We don't have good data to make decisions, we don't have clear roles and responsibilities...we don't have a clear framework to deal with that reality.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Predictably underwhelming," "lacking in bold action," and "defined by what's missing rather than what's included." Those are some of the dim reviews of the government's new energy security plan. An independent report's confirmed a lack of reliable back up power when renewable energy supply is low.... is pushing prices up and causing market uncertainty. But the government has rejected the reports boldest recommendations. Minister for Energy, Simon Watts, talks to Lisa Owen.

The Government's opted against a significant energy shake-up - rejecting calls to re-nationalise or split up the big gentailers. Instead, it'll offer the Crown-controlled companies more capital to invest in generation projects. Energy Minister Simon Watts explained the changes further here today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you were looking forward to today to learn how the Government would rescue the country from the energy crisis we face, you are already disappointed by now because you've looked at it and you've seen there's nothing here. There is nothing here that is going to stop us going through what we are going through right now. For months and months every winter for the last two winters we've seen the closing down of mills, extremely high power bills, and a shortage of gas - and all of that's going to continue. The disappointing thing is that we have waited two whole winters for this package of ideas, and yet the best idea seems, to me, to be a kooky idea, which is that the Government may be backing the construction of an LNG import terminal. That was an idea that sounded great last winter, but in the months since, when we've actually had a look at the thing and had some reports done and it has been debunked for being quite expensive for not a lot of gain. To set up one of these terminals, most likely at the port of Taranaki, it would cost somewhere between $200 million and $1 billion dollars, which is not money that we have. The gas that we would then import from offshore to basically make up for the shortage of gas that we have in the country at the moment would be very expensive. Have a look at what you're paying for your gas right now - and add 25 percent to that. The second best idea in this seems to be the Government throwing taxpayer money at the partially owned gentailers in order that they can raise capital to build more generation. Which is not capital that they appear to be asking for. They do not seem to have a shortage of money, as evidenced by the fact that they keep paying out massive dividends. The upshot for all of this - as in how much we're going to save - Simon Watts reckons he might be able to drop power prices by two percent a year. Two percent. Now, I'll tell you the problem with this plan is that it appears - and from what I hear - they haven't spent much time understanding the problem and thus understanding what it would take to fix it properly. So what they've done is, in haste, cobbled together a series of what sounds like maybe decent announcements if you're half listening. But they're really things that will not do that much. Unfortunately for them, we have an energy crisis, and it is massive. It is probably the biggest thing that is facing business in this country right now. A crisis of this size demands a proper fix. This is becoming a theme for this Government - having lots of really big things to deal with, and they're not really dealing with them properly. This is not really a fix. So unfortunately, and I'm so sorry to say this, strap yourself in because it looks like for next winter and the winters to come, the deindustrialization of New Zealand will continue. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's opting to provide capital to Crown-controlled power companies instead of reshaping its role in the energy sector. Genesis, Mercury, and Meridian have been assured funding is available for major infrastructure projects. A procurement process for a Liquefied Natural Gas facility has also been launched, which Energy Minister Simon Watts says will start on Monday. He told Mike Hosking Cabinet will aim to make a decision by Christmas to get supply into the country as soon as possible. Watts says their shortest timeline has supply arriving by Winter of 2027, but if a more traditional route is used, it's more likely to come by 2028 or 2029. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 1st of October, we get an insight into whether Hamas is likely to accept Trump's proposed peace plan. The Government has announced their plan for energy reform – boom or bust? Energy Minister Simon Watts unpacked the announcement. Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen join us from airports in Italy and Auckland for Politics Wednesday, discussing local body elections, changes to the earthquake-prone building system, and the electricity announcement. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are apparently going to hear about major electricity sector reform from the Minister this coming week. The final touches are being sorted. Simon Watts calls them fundamental. He refers to the last time it was this major as being in the 90's. So are they going to split the gentailers? The Government's history would suggest no. They have been talking big on banks and supermarkets, and they've made plenty of announcements, but little has actually happened. Why would this be any different? This Government has also argued, rightly, that business likes consistency. When the last lot talked about Onslow and the lake and the hole in the ground, the industry stopped investing. So would splitting the big players not cause the same trouble? But in the report that is driving the Government's thinking we have seen an astonishing increase in the basic power bill. In 2021 we spent $4.4 billion. The next year was $4.5 billion. In 2023 we spent $4.8 billion on power bills. In 2024 it was $5.2 billion. So it's increased from $4.4 billion to 5.2 billion, and you wonder why you don't have any spare cash. On average the basic household power bill since 2023 has gone up $400 each and every year. We can explain some of it on renewables. We need investment but we still haven't closed the gap. We still panic in winter, and that's before you get to all the AI and data centres that will presumably suck us dry. By the way, on the renewable front, Contact Energy are looking at pulling more water out of Lake Hawea. That's if they can get past the locals, who of course hate it. In that is part of the New Zealand problem – nimbyism. You can't moan about the bills and also moan about the solutions. Everyone wants utopia, but don't want to pay for it, or have any of it happen in their backyard. So, stand by. Maybe it's fundamental, maybe it's a government looking to spin some more PR. I think though what we all agree on is we need more power, and the damage the current scenario is doing to the economy can't go on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Art Attack, an annual event started in 2012 by local artists Bill Harris and Gabe Pons, will return to downtown Fredericksburg on October 4. The event features artists creating work live on the streets, offering the public a direct look at the artistic process and showcasing the depth of local talent. Simon Watts, of Original Grinds, is supporting this year's event and emphasized his coffee shop's commitment to Fredericksburg's creative community. Organizers say Art Attack aims to give working artists greater visibility while encouraging public engagement with the arts. The event is free and open to all. More details are available at artattackproject.com.

Questions have been raised over New Zealand's future in the Paris Accord, with National holding steady in support for the agreement. Yesterday, ACT's David Seymour said New Zealand should leave unless the terms are changed, but Prime Minister Chris Luxon said backing out would mean we aren't a trusted partner on trade - and would punish our farmers. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says the Government has no plans to pull out, and they're committed to the emissions targets. "The reality is, is that we're a major export nation. I've just come back from Beijing on Friday, speaking with the Chinese Minister, they're committed to the Paris Agreement." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's Government confidence new energy sector regulations will pressure down power prices. Under Electricity Authority rule changes, our big four power companies must charge everyone the same price for supplying energy. It's to stop the big gentailers giving themselves power discounts - and getting a competitive edge. Energy Minister Simon Watts says it levels the playing field. "The fact that these big gentailers can, in effect, cross-subsidise themselves means that the smaller players aren't getting a fair deal. These rules will stop them doing that, and as a result, we'll see more competition." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a new Championship season beckons, Jake Smith sits down with David Howes and Mark Magee to look ahead to the upcoming campaign. The panel preview the Blues' season opener away at Oxford United and there are interviews with head coach John Mousinho and Marlon Pack, as well as opposition fan Simon Watts.

The Government wants to ensure local councils get back to the basics. A bill moving through Parliament would require councils to financially refocus their core services. The Government wants councils to give more value to ratepayers. Local Government Minister Simon Watts told Heather du Plessis-Allan anything could be defined as "wellbeing". He says because of lack of clarity on council responsibilities, any activity is in scope, which is bad news for ratepayers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Local Government Minister says new legislation in the works will give councils clarity. An amendment bill's been introduced to Parliament to make local bodies focus on core services. It also demands regular public progress reports - and disclosure on the cost of consultants and contractors. Simon Watts says it's a return to bread and butter duties. "Previously, terms like social, cultural and economic type activities - they were all just catch-all. And as a result, some councils across the country were doing stuff that was basically wasteful spending." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In June 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy was killed during his campaign for the American presidency.There was nationwide mourning with huge crowds lining the tracks for his funeral train, as it travelled from New York to Washington DC. In 2012, Simon Watts spoke to Kennedy's former press secretary Frank Mankiewicz and to his former bodyguard Rosey Grier. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic' and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy's Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they've had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America's occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.(Photo: Robert Kennedy funeral train. Credit: Getty Images)

I think in the end, Groundswell is gonna be proven right - but I don't think they're gonna get what they want right now and I don't think they should get what they want right now. Because what they want is for New Zealand to pull out of the Paris Agreement. Now, we cannot pull out of the Paris Agreement. At least, we can't pull out right now, right? We cannot be one of the first to pull out, because the first lot of countries that pull out of the Paris Agreement are going to be the ones who are blamed for destroying the agreement, and they will pay for it reputationally. And frankly, here in New Zealand, we rely way too much on our good guy reputation for tourism and trading and so on to risk being seen to not care about climate change. But I think that eventually we will pull out - or more likely, the agreement will fall apart by itself because it's not working. I mean, just look at the numbers. We are supposed to hit our first significant target - the 2030 target - in five years' time. We're not going to hit it. I can tell you that now, we are not going to hit it in 5 years' time. Neither are a whole bunch of other countries - Argentina, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, Canada, just go through the list of countries to find how many of them are actually going to hit it. Now when we don't hit it, which is inevitable, we are supposed to fix it up by planting a huge number of trees, and we're only going to be able to do that by paying probably a developing country to plant those trees for us. And the estimated bill for that, as it stands right now, is $23 billion. Now, do you think we're gonna send $23 billion overseas in 2030? No, of course we're not going to. We know that because the climate minister has basically gone around saying that. And even Chlöe Swarbrick knows that this thing is falling apart, because we had her on the show just a few weeks ago and I asked her if the Paris Agreement was going to hold - and she wouldn't say yes, which tells you she already knows. So if Chlöe can see that the thing is gonna fail and Simon Watts is predicting that it's gonna fail, then perhaps we all need to see that it is going to fail at some point and Groundswell will eventually be proven right. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Revenue Minister says Donald Trump was a factor in scrapping the incoming Digital Services Tax Bill. A legacy of the last Government, it would've imposed a three percent tax on revenue from Kiwis - earned by the likes of Facebook and Google. The US President has called such legislation 'overseas extortion', and said he'd act against it. Simon Watts says they considered recent developments, including in the US. "But at the end of the day - I took a look at this tax, we've been looking at it a bit and it's got some real drawback - and we've made the decision to pull it from the agenda." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The end of the Second World War in Europe came on 8 May 1945, after more than five years of conflict.British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that people could allow themselves "a brief period of rejoicing". Crowds in their thousands gathered outside Whitehall and Buckingham Palace.BBC correspondents, including Richard Dimbleby, capture the scenes of joy across the city - from the East End to Piccadilly Circus.This programme was produced by Simon Watts using material from the BBC Archives recorded on VE Day in 1945.It was first broadcast in 2020.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic' and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy's Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they've had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America's occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.(Photo: VE Day in London. Credit: Getty Images)

The Government says it's reinstating confidence in the Emissions Trading Scheme. It comes as the Climate Commission's calls for carbon credits to stay the same price, to maintain stability. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts told Mike Hosking while some carbon credit auctions haven't taken off, things are improving on other years. He says the previous Government was getting too involved and causing volatility, but he's turning things around. He says the Commission's told the Government its changes are working well, and it can keep its hand off the tiller. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government's green investment fund is shutting down. The NZGIF came under fire last year over its $145 million loan to failed company Solar Zero. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts earlier spoke to Corin Dann.

The Revenue Minister's confident changes to the Foreign Investment Fund will greatly benefit tech and startup companies. The Government's working on changes which would see new migrants taxed on a realisation basis for interests not easily disposable and acquired before coming to New Zealand. It applies to migrants who became tax residents here on or after April last year. Simon Watts told Mike Hosking this has been on the radar since he assumed the portfolio. He says the system hits migrants —particularly returning Kiwis and those who are wealthy unfairly— and they've been getting good feedback on the changes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sixty years ago, on 21st February 1965, the controversial black leader, Malcolm X, was assassinated in Harlem, New York as he was preparing to speak there.In 2011, Simon Watts spoke to Herman Ferguson who was one of the people who was in the audience that day.This programme contains outdated racial language that may offend.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic' and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy's Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they've had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America's occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.(Photo: Malcolm X speaks in Harlem six days before he was shot to death. Credit: Bill Quinn/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Full reaction to Portsmouth's midweek victory over Cardiff City and a preview of Saturday's trip to Oxford United with Jake Smith, Alex Fletcher and Simon Watts. There's also an interview with French Pompey supporter Quentin Bacon regarding his origins supporting the club, as well as the chief sports writer at The News, Neil Allen, who reported on his 1000th Blues game on Tuesday night.

In the 1950s, the transformation of the sleepy little town of Benidorm began when Pedro Zaragoza was appointed mayor. He started by getting pipes built to allow running water, then went on to pass a decree which allowed women to wear bikinis. Now, every year millions of tourists arrive in Benidorm, on Spain's Costa Blanca. This episode was produced by Simon Watts in 2018, using recordings of Pedro Zaragoza. (Photo: Tourists flock to the beaches in Spain. Credit: David Ramos via Getty Images)