The Electricity Authority has put a temporary block on bulk low-price power deals.

It means power companies won't be to do cheap deals to supply more than 150 megawatts of power, without approval.

The EA says it's a win for consumers.

Consumer Advocacy Council chair Deborah Hart joined Kate Hawkesby.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Electricity Authority has put a temporary block on bulk low-price power deals.
It means power companies won't be to do cheap deals to supply more than 150 megawatts of power, without approval.
The EA says it's a win for consumers.
Consumer Advocacy Council chair Deborah Hart joined Kate Hawkesby.
LISTEN ABOVE

Don't risk not knowing what's going around New Zealand and the world - catch up with interviews from Early Edition on Newstalk ZB.

Don't risk not knowing what's going around New Zealand and the world - catch up with interviews from Early Edition on Newstalk ZB.

Don't risk not knowing what's going around New Zealand and the world - catch up with interviews from Early Edition, hosted by Kate Hawkesby on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition on Newstalk ZB

Deborah Hart: Consumer Advocacy Council chair on temporary block on bulk low-price power deals

Police Minister Mark Mitchell says there’s been a drop in respect for police over the past six to seven years and they have become “punching bags” - and he wants to fix it.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking about a large boy racer event in Levin on the weekend - in which two police officers were hurt - Mitchell said police had been overwhelmed by the number of people at the meet.

More than 200 cars were at the gathering, with around 30 police staff deployed to the centre of Levin pre-emptively.

Manawatū area commander Inspector Ross Grantham said police were put at serious risk due to “aggressive behaviour”, with two officers hurt when they were pelted with rocks and bottles when they tried to intervene.

Six cars were impounded and two people arrested, and Mitchell told Hosking more people would be arrested.

Skid marks from cars doing burnouts during a car meet in Levin. Photo / Supplied

The Police Minister said he planned to talk to Transport Minister Simeon Brown about the legislation regarding impounding cars - which he believed meant people’s cars were seized but then given back after a period of time.

”I want to seize the vehicles and keep them. I think that would be a real deterrent if these boy racers realise that [if] they come out, they’re actually going to lose their vehicles.”

He was uncertain whether there were greater penalties for attacking a police officer than a member of the public, but said it “feels like” when people became officers they became “punching bags” without the rights other people had.

“I want to get our police back to a point where these idiots that come out and break the law - whether gang members or boy racers that terrorise communities - understand that they can’t behave like that towards our police.”

Police Minister Mark Mitchell says police have lost respect in society and are treated as "punching bags". Photo / Marty Melville

Mitchell said there were “handwringers [and] academics” claiming that police couldn’t enforce laws because gangs were too strong.

”I completely reject that. We just have to get back to a point where the gangs understand that our police are controlling the streets, that they do respect them - because they know that if they take on the two police officers…the cavalry is coming over the hill and we’re just not going to put up with that any more as a society.”

Police Minister Mark Mitchell says there’s been a drop in respect for police over the past six to seven years and they have become “punching bags” - and he wants to fix it. 
Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking about a large boy racer event in Levin on the weekend - in which two police officers were hurt - Mitchell said police had been overwhelmed by the number of people at the meet. 
More than 200 cars were at the gathering, with around 30 police staff deployed to the centre of Levin pre-emptively. 
Manawatū area commander Inspector Ross Grantham said police were put at serious risk due to “aggressive behaviour”, with two officers hurt when they were pelted with rocks and bottles when they tried to intervene. 
Six cars were impounded and two people arrested, and Mitchell told Hosking more people would be arrested. 
Skid marks from cars doing burnouts during a car meet in Levin. Photo / Supplied 
The Police Minister said he planned to talk to Transport Minister Simeon Brown about the legislation regarding impounding cars - which he believed meant people’s cars were seized but then given back after a period of time. 
”I want to seize the vehicles and keep them. I think that would be a real deterrent if these boy racers realise that [if] they come out, they’re actually going to lose their vehicles.” 
He was uncertain whether there were greater penalties for attacking a police officer than a member of the public, but said it “feels like” when people became officers they became “punching bags” without the rights other people had. 
“I want to get our police back to a point where these idiots that come out and break the law - whether gang members or boy racers that terrorise communities - understand that they can’t behave like that towards our police.” 
Police Minister Mark Mitchell says police have lost respect in society and are treated as "punching bags". Photo / Marty Melville 
Mitchell said there were “handwringers [and] academics” claiming that police couldn’t enforce laws because gangs were too strong. 
”I completely reject that. We just have to get back to a point where the gangs understand that our police are controlling the streets, that they do respect them - because they know that if they take on the two police officers…the cavalry is coming over the hill and we’re just not going to put up with that any more as a society.”

Mark Mitchell: Police Minister on the large boy racer event in Levin over the weekend

The Prime Minister will be doing what he can to steer clear of Fiji's domestic political issues while there. 

Christopher Luxon's visiting Fiji and Niue this week, his first visit to the region as PM. 

The Fiji trip will have a significant trade and economic focus and includes a meeting with the country's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. 

Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Mike Hosking that there's a slight tension between New Zealand establishing itself as a close partner and discussions around AUKUS. 

He says many Pacific Island countries aren't keen on that, and don't see themselves as a pawn in a US-China dominance showdown.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Prime Minister will be doing what he can to steer clear of Fiji's domestic political issues while there.  
Christopher Luxon's visiting Fiji and Niue this week, his first visit to the region as PM.  
The Fiji trip will have a significant trade and economic focus and includes a meeting with the country's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.  
Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Mike Hosking that there's a slight tension between New Zealand establishing itself as a close partner and discussions around AUKUS.  
He says many Pacific Island countries aren't keen on that, and don't see themselves as a pawn in a US-China dominance showdown. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Robert Patman: Otago University International Relations Professor on Christopher Luxon's visits to Fiji and Nuie

The Finance Minister is defending the time it's going to take to get the Government's books back in the black.

Nicola Willis says a surplus is expected in 2027-28.

Labour's Finance Spokesperson, Barbara Edmonds, told Mike Hosking that Willis isn't delivering the direction she promised.

She said that they’re borrowing way more than Labour would’ve at the end of the forecast period, and running larger deficits than Grant Robertson did, except for at the peak of Covid.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Finance Minister is defending the time it's going to take to get the Government's books back in the black. 
Nicola Willis says a surplus is expected in 2027-28. 
Labour's Finance Spokesperson, Barbara Edmonds, told Mike Hosking that Willis isn't delivering the direction she promised. 
She said that they’re borrowing way more than Labour would’ve at the end of the forecast period, and running larger deficits than Grant Robertson did, except for at the peak of Covid. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Deborah Hart: Consumer Advocacy Council chair on temporary block on bulk low-price power deals

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