Podcast appearances and mentions of Wayne Brown

A rates cap is one of those policies that immediately sounds appealing. Look no further than yesterday's CPI number. It's one of your top three inflation feeders. So, throw a cap on them. Tie their hands behind their backs. Reign 'em in! Get rid of the hundred-thousand-dollar bike rack here, the million-dollar disco toilets there, the coffee machines for staff over there. But in practice, how do actually make it work without starving these councils of revenue they actual need to fix the pipes? I spoke to Ben Bell from Gore yesterday. He said almost 90% of council spending there goes on basics - pipes and roads. The rest is "nice to haves". Libraries and swimming pools etc. There's no club sandwiches as council meetings. They're drinking instant coffee. And yet, Gore's rate increases have been double digit or close to it for several years. They'll be close to double digits again this year. Despite that, the good people of Gore have re-elected Bell for a second term. So, we say we want lower rates, of course we do, but the question is what will it cost to us? Will capping them actually hurt us? Our local economies, productivity, efficiency. Last week, Wayne Brown told me on Herald Now that Auckland could have a ZERO increase next year if it wasn't for the City Rail Link spending coming online. It's a major transport project. It'll, in theory, benefit Auckland and the country. It was paid for by both Jaffas and taxpayers. If we want lower rates, we could just not run any trains on the tracks. But is that sensible. Don't get me wrong, I'm the first to criticise the big spending bozos who chuck money at dumb stuff. But most council spending isn't that. Most of it is stuff we need. D-day is looming for the government's plan to cap rates, and it needs to be a measured response. We need spending on pipes and roads to continue and waste on disco loos flushed down the dunny.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon covers the Local Government election results, including what appears to be the background to Wayne Brown's big win.

This week on the Sunday Panel, Director at Capital, Ben Thomas, and NZ Herald senior writer, Simon Wilson, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The local body elections wrapped up this weekend and recent data is showing the voter turnout was historically low. Why don't people take local body elections seriously? Is it a lack of decent candidates? Is it a thankless task? Do we need to change the way we vote? Both Andrew Little and Wayne Brown have mentioned working with central Government as being part of their plan - does there need to be a stronger relationship between local and central Government to get things done? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, better late than not at all. On Saturday morning, I went upstairs and said to my daughter, "Have you seen the orange envelopes that had all the voting?" "Oh, hell. Today, isn't it?" she said. "Yes." So we scrambled around and found it in that drawer that has everything, where they'd been since they arrived in the mail. And we had until midday to vote, so both got down to it, and I took hers in with mine to drop into the local library. I knew who I wanted to vote for, so that was relatively simple. And picked up her voting papers in the sealed envelope and mine, and went to our local library, and dropped them in. Which is what I did last local body elections. Scrambled around, but I had to make a special vote because I couldn't find my papers and posted them in Hamilton, at a library in Hamilton, just on the stroke of midday. I didn't even know if my vote counted, but hopefully it did. Hopefully I made it in time, and this time it certainly should. I wasn't the only one leaving it to the last minute, and I wasn't the only one scrambling around trying to get a special vote, as I'd done in the previous local body elections. The library was absolutely chocker when I went in there to post the envelopes. There was probably around about 30 odd people sitting on chairs and another 20 waiting to cast a special vote. At least we were trying to have our say. At least, even though we'd left it to the very last minute, we were trying to have our say in local body elections. And hopefully, by the time all of the special votes have been counted, the voter turnout will come up slightly because at the moment, it's the lowest voter turnout in 36 years. Less than a third of us, 32.65%, bothered to have our say. Of those who did, typically, it's the lazy city goers who were the most useless. In metro areas, only 28.8% cast their votes. Those in the provinces, 38.3%. While the rural turnout, yet again, it's the rural folk doing the heavy lifting, 43.6%. Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch saw mayors elected with a landslide, if you can call it that when you've got such a low proportion of voters turning out. Local Government New Zealand wants to get voter turnout to 80%. As they say in the Placemakers ad, tell him he's dreaming. Mayor Brown called it a strong endorsement to finish what he started, which is over-egging the omelette. Andrew Little felt thrilled, excited, and somewhat daunted by the job ahead as Wellington Mayor. And Phil Major was surprised at the size of his majority. To be honest, I'm not particularly enthused about re-electing Wayne Brown. I did, but because there was very little in the way of options. He's not the most engaging of personalities, but, you know, when you're looking for a mayor, he turns up sober, gets things done, hasn't bonked anyone in the Ngati Whatua room. You know, so go Wayne. Better than you can say about other mayors around the country and in the past. And that's kind of how you get elected these days. If you're vaguely adequate, then people voters just think, thank heavens, and give you the tick. How on earth do we get a better turnout and more engaged communities? Councils matter. In 2024, councils across the country were responsible for $217 billion dollars' worth of assets and employed 39 and a half thousand staff. They had a collective spending power of $20 billion dollars. It really matters. That's our money. Political parties know the power of controlling these assets. Blocks of politically motivated people try to get on councils to push their agendas through. And they can do that because of the apathy of the voters. I mean, look what happened in Wellington. But what do we do? I think I'm preaching to the converted here. I imagine most of you would have been very sensible and cast your vote long before Saturday morning like me. But you and I are interested in politics. We know that we have a responsibility to vote. Don't we? I'm imagining that most of you would have turned out. If you didn't, I'd love to know why. If you did, how do we get more people to take an interest? The good councillors, and you know the ones in your area, I know the ones in mine, do their level best to get out there an show you what they're doing, show you how they're spending your money, exhorting you to take an interest in what they're doing, exhorting you to critique their performance. I don't know how it can be too hard. Maybe reading up on the backgrounds of the candidates, maybe reading what they want to spend your money on is hard. But so too is finding out that something you're vehemently opposed to or that your rates are going up and you've got no idea why. That's hard too. Choose your hard. Maybe having polling booths, maybe not having so long, because otherwise they go in that drawer where everything goes. I don't know. I would love to hear your ideas. Because it matters. It really does matter - $217 billion dollars worth of assets and a collective spending power of $20 billion dollars and two-thirds of New Zealand goes, "yeah, whatever." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders have voted against steep rates rises in the local elections. Auckland's Wayne Brown and Christchurch's Phil Mauger have both been re-elected over the weekend, with a commitment to keep rates rises lower. Wellington's Andrew Little and Hamilton's Tim Macindoe have indicated they'll rein in their cities' steep rates rises. In Dunedin - Sophie Barker has won the mayoralty over incumbent Jules Radich. Newstalk ZB's Callum Proctor, Claire Sherwood, Max Towle and Michael Sergel joined Ryan Bridge to recap the results so far. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil Mauger has been re-elected as Mayor of Christchurch. He joined us on the show following his win, and discussed the key issues he wants to focus on. Where will cut debt? Who will be his deputy? And does he think Wayne Brown is correct that Auckland is our only international city? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wayne Brown says his second term will see the continuation of cutting wasteful spending. He surged to victory, scoring 90,000 more votes than nearest opponent Kerrin Leoni. He says he's committed to making a city-wide deal with the central Government - so both entities can work as equal partners. "We don't fit into the role of other small councils, and so we want to be negotiating as equal partners with the Government over things. No more secret bridge crossings and stuff like that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Results from this weekend's local elections are still rolling in, with some races still too close to call. But Auckland's Wayne Brown and Christchurch's Phil Mauger have definitely won second terms with decisive victories. Andrew Little's the new mayor in Wellington, and Tim Macindoe's won in Hamilton. Voters in just 17 council areas have opted to keep Māori wards, with voters in 25 opting to scrap them. Newstalk ZB election reporter Michael Sergel says Sophie Barker is leading Dunedin's mayoral race, but this outcome could change on final results. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, guess what - according to Local Government NZ, voter turnout around the country for the local body elections has been dismal. Surprised? On Friday afternoon, 983,466 votes had been received around the country, which represented 28.49 percent of all eligible votes. That's under 30 percent. Blimey. As of Friday, our biggest city, and one with a multitude of issues apparently, had the lowest voting percentage of 21.8 percent, followed by Hamilton City with 22.98 percent and Porirua City with 25.11 percent. Council Governance and Engagement general manager Lou-Ann Ballantyne encouraged people to vote if they hadn't already. She reminded us that if you don't vote, you're letting someone else choose who represents you. Which is true. Or as Ray Chung so eloquently put it after his defeat in the Wellington mayoralty race: “This is your decision. Live with it.” But we still don't seem to care. By the end of Saturday, the overall percentage of voting around the country was 32.65 percent of eligible voters. Rural communities were much more engaged with 43.6 percent voting, provincial came in next at 38.3 percent, followed by metro results of 28.8 percent. We don't have final data yet, but the stats tell us voting turnout in Auckland is on track to be the lowest in the city's history. So, what's wrong with us? I thought most home owners cared about the increase in rates, our rubbish collections, the cost of consents, the state of speed limits on our local roads, the water prices. People always seem to have an opinion on their council and how well or how badly they're performing. Apparently we've never been more disappointed in our councils. So why don't people tick a couple of boxes, let democracy do the talking, and tell our councils what we want? Maybe it's because people complain about council but also appreciate many of the services they offer communities. They cancel each other out. The status quo is ok. Apathy rules. But there's also a lack of key challenges. Where was another strong candidate to challenge Wayne Brown, or Andrew Little? There's also a lack of candidates. Two mayors will be elected unopposed and around 200 candidates were elected by default. And then there's the lack of easily accessible information on candidates - their values, and more importantly their vision. Not everyone has the time to get to a candidate meeting. Why is it so hard to find out how a current councillor or mayor has voted on issues throughout a term? Too many people are making decisions based on terrible photos in lacklustre voting booklets. And then there's the reality that it's all just a bit boring. Candidates generally campaign on the same things - keeping rates low, reducing excessive spending, maintaining infrastructure and making their city or region an affordable place to live. It's all well-worn and hardly gripping stuff, and it's difficult to differentiate between candidates, unless they're wearing a silly hat. Which is all a terrible shame. Decisions councils make affect our lives daily in many ways. We need to change the voting system, postal voting isn't working, and attract better leadership to these thankless roles. We need to stomp out abuse and harassment, pay more - and then hopefully more smart, reasonable people will step up. Perhaps then we will get off our butts and vote. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 2 October 2025, three New Zealand citizens have been arrested by the Israeli Defence Force because they were on a protest flotilla headed for Gaza. One of them is 18-year old Samuel Leason, his dad speaks to Heather. The Warehouse chief executive Mark Stirton tells Heather why the company is struggling to turn a corner. What's behind the rise in Tramadol prescriptions? Should we be worried about people getting addicted to pain killers? More drama in the Maori Party with the very public falling out between the party leadership and the leader of Toitu Te Tiriti. Plus, the Huddle gets fiery after Wayne Brown tells an Auckland Ratepayers group to "f off". 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.

At what point do you say this local government election's a failure, a flop, not worth the paper it's written on? I think we're fast approaching that point now. Even in Auckland - our biggest city. Super-City. With the most responsibility, the biggest burden to shoulder after amalgamation, the turnout with two weeks left to go is 9.2%. Last year it was 35%. That's not a mandate. It's a vote of no confidence in the entire system. If you think about it, it's not like Kiwis aren't engaged in democracy. We come in national elections at a rate closer to 80%. So, you ask yourself, what's the problem with local government? Two things. 1. Too many of them. You axe all regional councils, half the number of local ones. And turn the system from Council-Mayor to Mayor-Council. We have 78 local authorities for 5 million people. It's nuts. Once they get to the council table, the mayor becomes a cuck to whatever looney tune nut-bar has made it on there with a few hundred votes and a dream of rising bikes to work. People don't vote because the power is too evenly shared. We vote in a guy who's just told the ratepayers group to go "F-off" - even he struggles to shake things up. So, we need a better system. Most councils should be put in the bin. And we need a strong mayor system, where the mayor has veto power over legislation, appoints department heads, and controls the budget. One man, or woman, one plan. Get it done. Until then, there's no point in voting for a hodgepodge bunch of do-nothing naval gazers sitting round thinking about what's on the menu for the next ratepayer funded lunch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 50, our guest is the Mayor of Auckland, Wayne Brown. Wayne Brown is probably New Zealand’s most colourful and best qualified city Mayors. His has been a fascinating life, with experiences ranging from building a mine in Australia to chairing not one but three of our District Health Boards. He grew up in Auckland and went to Auckland Grammar which he says he didn’t particularly enjoy. But an engineering degree from Auckland University set him on a course that would take him around the world and back to New Zealand where his fifty years in business and politics has seen him make a substantial impact. Along the way, he established his own engineering firm and he was good enough at surfing to participate in competitions and good enough at rugby to play on Eden Park. Engineering turned into property development and following a move to the north of Auckland, he developed subdivisions and built factories, apartments and commercial buildings. He developed a reputation for ‘sorting things out’ which led him to chair not one, but three district health boards, a semi political forerunner to him winning the mayoralty of the Far North region, a role he held for two terms. And then came the big one. He ran for the Auckland Mayoralty in 2022 with a promise to “Fix Auckland”. He won by a margin few had predicted and despite some setbacks, including the Cyclone Gabrielle flooding in early 2023, has made consistent and steady progress against his goals for the city. During the Leaders Getting Coffee podcast Wayne Brown talks to Bruce Cotterill about a very full life, the decisions he’s made and his hopes for Auckland’s future. He speaks with enthusiasm about two major pieces of infrastructure that will be completed in 2026 – the Central Rail Loop and the Convention Centre at Sky City – both long overdue but both set to make a major impact on the future of the city. And he talks about a health and fitness regime that sees him going into an election where he is seeking office for a term that will take him into his eighties.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland, Northland and the Chatham Islands will be exempt from earthquake prone building rules because of the areas' low seismic risk, under changes announced by the Government yesterday. Auckland mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Hello and welcome to our final episode for Qtr. 3 of 2025. It's recap time where I'm in the host's seat alone, ready to navigate solo across the world reconnecting one last time with our gracious guests. By now you should be familiar with the approach – we chunk our episodes into 4 groups – i.e. clusters of 3 guests. This quarter however we have a baker's dozen for you – meaning 13 guests and therefore our last group will host 4 guests And thanks as always to the brilliance of our marketing team we're able to incorporate each of the promotional intros to save you listening to my wonderfully crafted radio friendly voice the entire time. Visit the C4C website to gain full access to the transcript, show notes, and guest links. Coaching 4 Companies

Incumbent Auckland mayor Wayne Brown says his priority, if re-elected, is to "fix" Auckland Transport. . Q+A asks him about his record, how effective he's been influencing central government, and why he has been avoiding some mayoral candidate debates. . Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Kerrin Leoni: Why I'd be a better Auckland mayor than Wayne Brown by Q+A with Jack Tame

With former Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations Colin Keating, and Auckland mayoral candidates Wayne Brown and Kerrin Leoni.

Mark Murphy, Terry Butcher, Russell Osman host this 8th episode of Life's A Pitch TV Season 3.  We would like to thank our Main Sponsor DPS Tech, our Associated Sponsors, All About Hearing, Hudson Group, Venue 16, The Dove, Seckford Golf Club, John Keeble Cars (Bramford), Ashford Wright Ltd, Lacons, and our Production Sponsors who are Come Hither Design, Jon Parker of Venue 16 and Richard Garrett of Sound 4 Pro Audio on Technicals..Life's A Pitch TV

Auckland Council's Policy and Planning committee met yesterday to vote on a new plan that would zone the city for two million homes, primarily around train stations and rapid bus routes.  This plan is a response to legislation put forward by housing minister Chris Bishop which requires councils across the country to zone for higher density housing. This plan has not been without controversy, with councillors claiming that Aucklanders are being “put to the firing squad”  Deputy PM David Seymour has publicly disagreed with his own housing minister, arguing that suburbs like Epsom and Parnell don't have the right infrastructure to accommodate for this growth.  Advocates for the plan, including mayor Wayne Brown argue that the council cannot continue to drag its feet on the need for housing that is closer to the city, and is more affordable. They argue that it's better to build in places with pipes, public transport routes and job opportunities.  The plan passed with a majority last evening, so Producer Sanat talked to Councilor Julie Fairey about the plan change and what it means for the future of the city.

The Spinoff's Hayden Donnell chats with Emile Donovan on Wayne Brown's election strategy and his unexpected stance on issues you wouldn't usually associate with him - including support for cycle lanes and wetlands.

===== MDJ Script/ Top Stories for September 19th Publish Date:  September 19th    Commercial: From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Friday, September 19th and Happy Birthday to Duke Snider I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal Acworth marker celebrates 250 years of American independence East Cobb man sentenced to life for neglect that led to wife’s death 'I don’t want to wait': Kennesaw mayor pushes for immediate additional security Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on sweet tooth All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  BREAK: Ingles Markets 2 STORY 1: Acworth marker celebrates 250 years of American independence  At Patriots Point in Cauble Park, history came alive Wednesday as the Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a granite marker honoring the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. The marker reads simply: “Celebrating 250 years of American freedom: 1776-2026.” Dressed in Revolutionary War attire, the Color Guard marched proudly, and Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood reflected on the park’s purpose. Wayne Brown, treasurer of the Capt. John Collins chapter, led the project. For chapter president Jason Shepherd, it’s personal. Students from Brookwood Christian School joined local leaders to witness the moment. “It’s their history to carry forward,” Shepherd said. STORY 2: East Cobb man sentenced to life for neglect that led to wife’s death  An east Cobb man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of neglecting his bedridden wife, leading to her death, Cobb District Attorney Sonya Allen announced. Gary Williams, 67, was found guilty of felony murder and neglect in under an hour. Judge Kellie Hill sentenced him to life. Addreinne Gordon, 66, was paralyzed and completely dependent on Williams, her sole caretaker. But when she was admitted to Kennestone Hospital in November 2021, her condition was horrifying—severe bedsores, matted hair, untrimmed nails, and a deep wound on her hip. “She was left lying in filth,” Allen said. “This case wasn’t about how she died—it was about how she was forced to live.” STORY 3: 'I don’t want to wait': Kennesaw mayor pushes for immediate additional security   The Kennesaw City Council is adding metal detectors at meetings—effective immediately. The decision came after a tense back-and-forth at this week’s meeting, sparked by Mayor Derek Easterling’s last-minute push for tighter security. The motion passed 4-1, with Councilman Antonio Jones opposing. Jones argued it could discourage attendance and infringe on Second Amendment rights. The debate followed emotional comments about the recent killing of activist Charlie Kirk. Councilman Anthony Gutierrez urged kindness, while Councilman Pat Ferris asked for prayers for Kirk’s family. Easterling, citing “the times we’re living in,” insisted the change couldn’t wait. “It’s not about feeling unsafe—it’s about being prepared,” he said. The meeting ended with the council divided, but the decision made. Metal detectors are in. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.  We’ll be right back. Break: Ingles Markets 2 STORY 4: PHTA’s 16th Annual Silent Auction & Casino Night is Oct. 11 Mark your calendars: The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Georgia Chapter is hosting its 16th Annual Silent Auction & Casino Night on Oct. 11, from 5 to 10 p.m., at the Governors Gun Club in Kennesaw. This year’s event? It’s all about granting a Georgia child’s wish—a backyard swimming pool for a kid facing a critical illness. Every bid, every casino chip, every dollar raised will help make that dream a reality. Expect a lively night: craps, blackjack, roulette, plus live and silent auctions with one-of-a-kind items and experiences. Add in great food, drinks, and a chance to connect with industry pros and local supporters, and it’s a can’t-miss evening. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish, turning backyards into places of joy and healing for kids who need it most. STORY 5: OUT AND ABOUT: 5 things to do this weekend in Cobb County — Sept. 19 - 21 Looking for weekend plans? Here’s what’s happening: Kennesaw Concert Series Depot Park is the place to be this Saturday, 7–10 p.m., with Yacht Rock Schooner bringing the tunes. It’s free, so grab your friends, some comfy chairs, and enjoy. Food and drinks? Available for purchase. Wine Walk at The Battery Wine lovers, rejoice! The Battery Atlanta is hosting a wine walk Saturday, 3–6 p.m. Sip new wines, enjoy live music, and browse local art. Tickets start at $62 (21+ only) and include tastings and a souvenir glass. Improv Night in Marietta The Alley Stage on Anderson Street is keeping the laughs going late this Friday. Improv kicks off at 10:30 p.m., with tickets starting at $18. Drinks, snacks, and unpredictable comedy await. Folklore Haunted House Ready for a scare? Acworth’s Folklore Haunted House opens Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with attractions like Winters Estate and Maze of Madness. Tickets start at $28 for opening night. Epic Farmer’s Market Downtown Mableton’s Epic Farmer’s Market is back this weekend! Saturday (10 a.m.–6 p.m.) and Sunday (9 a.m.–4 p.m.), shop 50+ vendors, enjoy live music, and stock up on fresh produce and artisan goods. And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on sweet tooth We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: Ingles Markets 2 Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's transport agency will be stripped of most of its authority with the government today announcing a major shakeup to how the city's transport network is managed. Under the new legislation, expected to pass into law next year, Auckland Council and local boards will take on almost all responsibility for the city's roads. AT will focus on public transport while Auckland's mayor, Wayne Brown, and the 20 councillors will make decisions about major roads and the city centre. The city's 21 local boards, meanwhile, will oversee speed limits, parking, event closures and cycleways on smaller roads. Jessica Hopkins reports.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 5 September 2025, Auckland mayor Wayne Brown is celebrating winning a major battle, getting Auckland Transport defunded. Sarah Dalton from the senior doctors union explains why they have declined the Health Minister's request to take their pay dispute to arbitration. Former Springbok Kevin Putt is carrying on with the mind games and says South Africa will beat New Zealand at the Eden Park fortress tomorrow - but Heather is calling BS. Plus, what is the most confiscated item at the airport? Batteries! Warwick Burr from the Civil Aviation Authority explains exactly what you're allowed to take on board, and why we're still taking off our boots at the security check. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Better, faster, cheaper's the aim of the newly announced refresh to Auckland's transport governance. The government's introducing legislation to strip Auckland Transport of many of its powers - handing responsibility for major roads to Auckland Council, and local roads to community boards. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown told Heather du Plessis-Allan the council should be able to make decisions, as going through Auckland Transport is frustrating. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Trade Minister Todd McClay met with senior US officials in Washington last week, pushing for a reduction to the 15 percent tariff on New Zealand exports; From Auckland mayor Wayne Brown to chamber of commerce boss Simon Bridges to the chief executive of Air New Zealand Greg Foran - the concern over Auckland's economic slump continues to grow; We have our weekly sports panel; Kerry-Anne Walsh gives us the latest from Australia; A strawberry low fat yoghurt ice cream has been crowned the supreme champion at this year's ice cream and gelato awards.

From Auckland mayor Wayne Brown to chamber of commerce boss Simon Bridges to the chief executive of Air New Zealand Greg Foran - the concern over Auckland's economic slump continues to grow. Music promoter Brent Eccles spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson was moderating the debate and joins Emile Donovan to discuss.

There's a very good reason National's talking about a revamping the major events fund - or as the PM said on Monday, stuffing the pipeline with more events. It's the same reason you're seeing them announce just half an hour ago they're creating a new business investor visa - foreigners will get a fast-track to residency for chucking $2m into a Kiwi business. It's the same reason they'll announce in a few weeks that some wealthy investors will be able to buy expensive houses here. From November, they're trialling visa-free holidays for the Chinese coming here via Australia. Expect to see more where this came from. The reason is to boost growth, but specifically, they hope, in our largest city. It's all about Auckland. It's the giant missing piece of the puzzle. Their runway for sorting the economy by election time hinges on them throwing the kitchen sink at the Jaffas. It's 40% of our GDP but a sort of economic malaise has set in. Not everywhere and not in every industry, but the two speed recovery is real, the vibe's off, and the numbers back it up. I asked the PM about this on Monday, he says they're basically looking at everything and anything for Auckland. I reckon they'll campaign on a bed tax and announce they intend to that late this year or early next. To win the next election, you don't need to win all of Auckland, but if you lose Auckland, you're stuffed. Ask Chippy - Labour scored 29% of the party vote in Auckland. This is increasingly a city of migrants, and these policies are aimed at them, their families, and their businesses. 42% of Aucklanders were born overseas. Along with Otago, it's where most of the expensive houses are that wealthy investors will be able to buy. To boost this economy in a short to medium term window the government's clearly targeting migration, foreign investment (which often comes through existing connections to this city), foreign students, Chinese tourists, and big events. The question is how quickly they can give this city the tickle up in needs and whether they've left enough runway to turn things around. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says Auckland won't be getting a bed tax this parliamentary term, despite a renewed call from the city's mayor. Last week Wayne Brown again called for a bed night levy, saying it wouldn't cost the Government anything. He claimed they were cheeky for not putting one in and believed they would eventually cave. Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking that now is not the time to be putting in another tax. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The final fee to settle the cancellation of the i-Rex ferries has been announced: $144m which brings the cost of the cancelled ferries to $671m with nothing to show for it.Documents release reveal that Department of Internal affairs prompted Brooke Van Velden with specific talking points for the chair of the Royal Commission into the Covid-19 Response.Wayne Brown and Auckland council tell govt to "stick it" sharing their frustration with govt overreach into what Local Councils can and can't do.That and your weekly meme round up to send you off into the weekend.=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

The hotel industry is broadly in favour of the bed levy Auckland mayor Wayne Brown wants, but is keen to see it extend beyond the supercity. Sudima Hotels and Hind Management chief operating officer Les Morgan spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Auckland's mayor is renewing his call for a bed tax for the supercity, as it deals with some serious economic troubles. Auckland mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Two South Auckland councillors are accusing the city's mayor of hypocrisy. Wayne Brown hit out at councillors for not attending meetings. Lotu Fuli and Alf Filipaina pointed to official data showing they'd outperformed Brown in attendance. In response, Brown claimed they were 'being Pacific victims'. Filipaina says Brown is the one playing the race card. "I think he just wants people to bow down to him - and I'm not that person." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello and welcome to our final episode for Qtr 2 of 2025. It's recap time where I'm in the cockpit alone, ready to fly solo across the world reconnecting with our gracious guests. By now you should be familiar with the approach - we chunk our 12 episodes from the quarter into 4 groups – i.e. clusters of 3 guests. And thanks to the brilliance of our marketing team we're able to incorporate each of the promotional intros to save you listening to my wonderfully crafted radio friendly voice the entire time. Visit the C4C website to gain full access to the transcript, show notes, and guest links. Coaching 4 Companies

Wayne Brown's unconventional journey from child actor to London advertising executive, working with major brands like Apple and Land Rover, led him to an unexpected destination: becoming CEO of cycling's premier marketing agency.Despite not being an avid cyclist when he joined Shift Active Media, Wayne has helped build what many consider the industry's most influential marketing firm. In this candid conversation, he shares insights on brand positioning, navigating industry volatility, and the future of cycling marketing.00:00 Introduction to Wayne Brown and Shift Active Media01:49 Wayne Brown's Early Life and Career Beginnings02:58 Transition from Acting to Advertising04:34 Climbing the Advertising Ladder13:10 High-Profile Advertising Campaigns16:21 Shift to Digital Advertising20:07 Joining Shift Active Media23:39 The Evolution of Shift and GCN27:28 Becoming CEO of Shift28:46 Challenges of Entering the Cycling Industry30:46 Shift's Position in the Cycling Market33:19 Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic35:56 Expanding Beyond Cycling40:29 Shift's Comprehensive Service Offering45:27 Importance of Brand Positioning51:19 Macro Trends in Media56:09 Shift's Marketing and PR Strategy59:17 Conclusion and Contact InformationRead the latest 'The Business of Cycling' BlogSign up for 'The Business of Cycling' Newsletter

So, the great rates upset has begun to unfold. Auckland this week got its long-awaited council valuations. Why people get excited about them, I have no idea. It's a rough guesstimate by a council. It takes into account the broadest of criteria, but people seem to live and die by them. The upset of course has come from the fact that the value of a lot of properties has dropped, while the rates bill is going up. So we get the cost-plus-accounting scandal that is council economic policy exposed. This is happening all over the country and it's a specific and broad-based problem. It's broad-based because it's inflationary and it's specific because depending on where you are depends on how bad the scandal is. Auckland properties are down 9% while rates are up over 7%. In Wellington values are down 24% and rates are up 16%. Nelson values are down 9% and rates are up 6%, so this whole idea that rates are linked to value is of course complete crap and always has been. In short, councils are inept and will spend forever, will waste your money forever, will plead poverty forever and will always find something that is critical and needs doing now. For example, Christchurch got shafted last week by Chris Bishop, when the council rejected the Government's intensification plan. The council didn't like it, spent three years and millions of dollars to go back and forward and to achieve what? Nothing. That's council for you. As Auckland mayor Wayne Brown said, "it is what it is". He's right because he knows a couple of home truths; no one is turning up for local body elections, so very few people will be held to account, and he also knows a lot of people will moan but ultimately do nothing about it. If ever there was a reason to get exercised over the way we are being played, this is it. Your asset has dropped but the bill is up. The bill, in theory, is based on the asset value. Nowhere else in life is this scam played and gotten away with, apart from local body politics. We have too many councils, too much representation, too many boards, too much incompetence, and every year the bill for it rises. Democracy only works if you take part. What better reason can there be this year than to get your voting paper, look at the value of your property, look at your rate rise, put a name to the con and vote them out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After toying with the idea of challenging him for the top job, Auckland's deputy mayor has instead endorsed Wayne Brown in his bid for re-election. In a joint press conference Desley Simpson said she was supporting the mayor's campaign for a second term, despite disagreeing with him on certain issues. If Mr Brown wins the mayoralty and Ms Simpson is re-elected as a councillor, he has agreed to make her his deputy again. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Auckland's current deputy mayor Desley Simpson put an end to months of speculation, saying she won't run for the top job and is supporting Wayne Brown for another term. Simpson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Wayne Brown and Desley Simpson have confirmed they'll run together in this year's Auckland mayoral race. It's scotched rumours Simpson would run herself. She's been deputy since Brown was elected mayor three years ago. She says she wants to do the right thing for Auckland - and she thinks this is the way to go. "Sometimes you've got to put Auckland first and not yourself - and the mayor has really delivered, this term, some very big changes for Auckland, and still has more to come." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Post Office data breach Hundreds of victims to get compensation Greggs shifts food behind counters to stop shoplifting UK EU deal moves on from Brexit rows, Starmer says Will UK EU deal mean huge boost for economic growth Gary Lineker A sorry end to a BBC career Trump Putin call exposes shifting ground on Ukraine peace talks Russia and Ukraine to immediately start ceasefire talks, says Trump UK weather forecast more accurate with Met Office supercomputer Inquest opens into death of West Midlands fire chief Wayne Brown PC Tasered amputee, 92, in wheelchair, court hears

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv PC Tasered amputee, 92, in wheelchair, court hears Inquest opens into death of West Midlands fire chief Wayne Brown Post Office data breach Hundreds of victims to get compensation Greggs shifts food behind counters to stop shoplifting Trump Putin call exposes shifting ground on Ukraine peace talks Russia and Ukraine to immediately start ceasefire talks, says Trump Will UK EU deal mean huge boost for economic growth Gary Lineker A sorry end to a BBC career UK EU deal moves on from Brexit rows, Starmer says UK weather forecast more accurate with Met Office supercomputer

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv PC Tasered amputee, 92, in wheelchair, court hears Post Office data breach Hundreds of victims to get compensation Russia and Ukraine to immediately start ceasefire talks, says Trump Inquest opens into death of West Midlands fire chief Wayne Brown Greggs shifts food behind counters to stop shoplifting UK weather forecast more accurate with Met Office supercomputer Will UK EU deal mean huge boost for economic growth UK EU deal moves on from Brexit rows, Starmer says Trump Putin call exposes shifting ground on Ukraine peace talks Gary Lineker A sorry end to a BBC career

New figures from the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance show Auckland Council has invested $3 million on communications and advertising alone for the green waste bins. This follows the email campaign aimed at mayor Wayne Brown opposing the $36 million spent on the green bins so far. Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance spokesperson Sam Warren says this doesn't make sense from an economic perspective. "Auckland Council spends about $36 million a year on the programme - that's a lot. And only a third of Aucklanders actually use it - and even that number seems a little high." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv UK weather forecast more accurate with Met Office supercomputer PC Tasered amputee, 92, in wheelchair, court hears UK EU deal moves on from Brexit rows, Starmer says Post Office data breach Hundreds of victims to get compensation Will UK EU deal mean huge boost for economic growth Gary Lineker A sorry end to a BBC career Trump Putin call exposes shifting ground on Ukraine peace talks Inquest opens into death of West Midlands fire chief Wayne Brown Russia and Ukraine to immediately start ceasefire talks, says Trump Greggs shifts food behind counters to stop shoplifting

The Former Local Government Minister's not taking issue with the Auckland Mayor's new manifesto. Wayne Brown has laid out his thoughts and a Beehive to-do list ahead of the 2025 Budget. He scored the Government a B+, saying they're too distracted by mega-projects and press releases. Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking Wayne Brown is just doing his job. He says he's the mayor of our largest city and he's advocating for what he believes is needed, even if they don't agree. The Government's refusing to budge on an Auckland bed tax. Brown's manifesto also includes calling for the government to reconsider an Auckland bed levy, adding a small fee on short term accommodation. Brown told Hosking they don't want to lump Aucklanders with the tax. He says in fact the council should be looking for efficiencies in its own budget instead of new taxes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's mayor is calling for more leadership - and labelling the city's innovation and tech sector 'random'. Wayne Brown has laid out a to-do list for central Government before it releases its Budget this month. He wants a tourist bed tax, looser transit visas, and more preparations for major population growth. Brown says a bed tax would fund bigger projects he has planned for the city - and he's hoping the Government will reconsider one. "We've just had two-thirds of the Aucklanders thinking it's a hell of a good idea to get some funds in to watch big events - and the hoteliers up here think it's a good idea." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy gives Kathryn the latest updates in Tamaki Makaurau including the mayoralty race and Wayne Brown's social media feed

The race for the biggest city's top job is on, with Auckland mayor Wayne Brown, urging voters to back him for a second term. Jessica Hopkins reports.

A series of domain names registered to Desley for Mayor have sparked speculation Auckland's deputy mayor, Desley Simpson, could challenge Wayne Brown for the mayoralty. Political commentator Ben Thomas spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Ephesians 6:11-12 NLT  11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.