Larry Williams Drive

Inflation to the left of us and inflation to the right. For months it seemed like the only story in town was Covid but then along comes Ukraine and, of course, inflation. For the past 12 months, inflation has been on the rise and has become a highly politicised issue around the world. We need someone to blame and we need someone to fix it. The problem with politicisation of inflation economics is that people shout past each other failing to hear what are good ideas. For quite some time we've been hearing Grant Robertson quizzed on inflation with questions along the lines of: "Is the rapid rise of inflation due to your fire hosing of borrowed and printed money into the economy" And time and time again you'll hear him answer that inflation is a global problem that combined with supply chain problems is affecting the New Zealand economy. The government won't admit their part and the opponents minimise the global situation.  Now, the question's not wrong and nor is the answer because inflation is due to all those

Boris Johnson is planning on sending asylum seekers to Rwanda! Johnson's facing more fines and the justice minister has quit. Travel disruption everywhere for Easter Weekend. UK correspondent Enda Brady joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FIFA is launching its own streaming service. It's called FIFA plus, and the plan is it will stream over 40,000 football games per year. Currently, it's free to sign up.  So, what does this mean for New Zealand sport broadcasters? Tech commentator, Paul Spain joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fish & Game says the latest stocktake of the New Zealand environment points to significantly more work being required to improve water quality and reverse wetland loss.  Meat processors are losing millions in value-added co-products as they attempt to get ahead of a backlog in cattle processing in Southland. Host of the Country, Jamie Mackay joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest real estate data shows the housing market is in "full retreat" according to ASB. Tighter credit lending and higher mortgage rates have been hobbling the demand. So how much of a dive could we see? NZ Herald business editor at large, Liam Dann joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cruise ship industry is looking across the ditch with envy as the first cruise ships sail into Sydney Harbour this weekend.  But here, the maritime border is still well and truly shut. Covid minister Chris Hipkins says the industry still has to be a bit more patient. Kevin O'Sullivan, chief executive of the NZ Cruise Association, joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should we pay men more parental leave than women to encourage them to take the time off? Louisa Wall has torched the Parliament building on the way out in her valedictory speech she called the process to deselect her corrupt and called Labour Ministers, time wasters. We're in orange, so, is it time to tell public servants to return to their offices to inject our cities with life again? The Wellington CBD especially looks like it's losing some big players. The Nurses Union and Health Minister Andrew Little are at odds over their long-awaited pay equity settlement deal. Nurses want the deal to include back pay but it doesn't. Should we give the nurses all they're asking for given how tough they have it right now and we can't afford to lose any more? Nick Mills, host of Wellington Mornings, and Neale Jones, Capital Relations and former Chief of Staff to Jacinda Ardern, joined Andrew Dickens on the Huddle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fewer than one per cent of New Zealand men take paid parental leave. So, should we start offering men more money than women to take paid parental leave as a way of making it more attractive for men? Claire Breen, law professor at the University of Waikato, joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One hundred cyclists are set to get together on Saturday in Greytown. But there shall be no lycra anywhere! Instead, The National Tweed Ride will see people celebrate the art of casual cycling, by dressing up and rewarding themselves with a gin martini at the end. Think cycling meets Downton Abbey. Adam Blackwell is the co-founder of Blackwell & Sons and the organiser of this ride. He joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Silverlake deal has been held up again. New Zealand Rugby has made the decision to postpone the motion for approval of the proposal with Silverlake until after its annual general meeting. The decision has been made after a request for more information from the provincial unions. New Zealand Herald sport reporter Gregor Paul joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister is "puzzled" by a decision for nurses not to vote on a pay equity deal. The Nurses Organisation says a proposed settlement is contrary to provisions in the Equal Pay Act, that prevent pay equity increases being offset against existing entitlements. Andrew Little told Andrew Dickens an agreement was reached between two unions and the 20 DHBs, in December. “Everybody knew all the issues, they reached a deal, they shook on it, that’s the deal and my view is, people should stick to the deals they make.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afghanistan refugees, more than 1500 have arrived. Another select committee blocks a Minister from being questioned. Louisa Wall's going and so is Queenstown's tireless mayor Jim Boult. Political editor Barry Soper joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labor is trying to recover/reset after a disastrous first week of the campaign.  Govt accuses Labor of being soft on asylum seeker boats. Sydney Airport struggling on the busiest day in 2 years! Australian correspondent Murray Olds joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Southee has won a gong. Big homecoming for the Phoenix – first game home in a couple of years is on Sunday. The Blues vs Crusaders is tomorrow. D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been a drop in cancer diagnoses and surgeries this year as Omicron hit. It's hit Māori and Pasifika people especially hard.  There were 16 per cent fewer cancer diagnoses for Māori in January and February compared to last year. Cancer surgeries for Māori were also down 22 per cent.  For the rest of the population, surgeries for the likes of prostate and lung cancer were down by nine per cent.Diana Sarfiti, Head of the Government's Cancer Control Agency, joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I took public transport into town and wandered through the CBD. I was pretty excited. We are now at orange. You can have as many people as you like inside a building.  So, the CBD workers should be streaming back. Everything should be banging. Shops humming and bars thumping. But it wasn't. It was worse than ever. It was deader than a red traffic light Tuesday. Now, this could just be because we're on the edge of Easter. Indeed, the advice from my CEO is that most of our workers will start to return to the office after the holidays. But the question remains after 2 years, how many will want to come back. And with proof that productivity is not affected by their attendance in the office, why should they? The question was asked of Chris Hipkins this morning. If you want to get the nation back and thriving then shouldn't you be ordering civil servants back to the office to kick start a CBD recovery. The question could also have been asked of all our mayors. Let's get the council workers back in the office

Boris Johnson and his chancellor are not going anywhere despite being fined for breaking lockdown rules. The latest record increase in the cost-of-living crisis. How did the Queen manage to avoid lockdown hair at the beginning of the pandemic? UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An emotional day for both sides of the ditch. Our borders fully reopened today to Australians for the first time since the popping of the trans-Tasman bubble last year. Given the importance of Australian travellers to our tourism sector, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is determined to roll out the welcome mat. As a matter of fact, she's actually at Wellington Airport right now to welcome as many of them personally as she can. Newstalk ZB reporter Nick James is also there. He joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Trethewey from Milford Asset Management joined Andrew Dickens on the local sharemarket after the decision by the RBNZ to lift the official cash rate. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ANZ and BNZ are the first ones out of the block. Both lifting home loan interest rates after the Reserve Bank's OCR call today.  The RBNZ decided to go with a double rate hike to fight inflation. Which is expected to hit 7 percent by the middle of the year.  Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.