It was too good an opportunity to pass up.

Auckland Council has spent more than $12 million expanding its Botanical Gardens. 

It's bought 1.6 hectares, the size of two soccer pitches, on Hill Road in Manurewa. 

More than 10 million dollars of the purchase price will be funded by debt.

Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor, Daniel Newman, says he lobbied hard for the purchase. 

He knows money's tight, but this was the only time they could buy this particular parcel of land.

LISTEN ABOVE

It was too good an opportunity to pass up. 
Auckland Council has spent more than $12 million expanding its Botanical Gardens.  
It's bought 1.6 hectares, the size of two soccer pitches, on Hill Road in Manurewa.  
More than 10 million dollars of the purchase price will be funded by debt. 
Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor, Daniel Newman, says he lobbied hard for the purchase.  
He knows money's tight, but this was the only time they could buy this particular parcel of land. 
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Daniel Newman: Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor on the expansion to Auckland's Botanical Gardens

The All Blacks are hoping to rally after back-to-back losses to the Springboks. 

But this time they're not on South African territory, instead the two sides are clashing on the neutral ground of Baltimore in the United States. 

But whether or not the All Blacks manage to tie the series, former Springbok Kevin Putt believes Dave Rennie has already got the tick. 

He told Ryan Bridge he's gone toe to toe with the 'Boks, so people can see he's doing his job okay. 

Putt says this is more of a test of New Zealand Rugby and what's happened over the last four years with their development of young players, and NZR may be found wanting. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

The All Blacks are hoping to rally after back-to-back losses to the Springboks.&nbsp;
But this time they're not on South African territory, instead the two sides are clashing on the neutral ground of Baltimore in the United States.&nbsp;
But whether or not the All Blacks manage to tie the series, former Springbok Kevin Putt believes Dave Rennie has already got the tick.&nbsp;
He told Ryan Bridge he's gone toe to toe with the 'Boks, so people can see he's doing his job okay.&nbsp;
Putt says this is more of a test of New Zealand Rugby and what's happened over the last four years with their development of young players, and NZR may be found wanting.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Kevin Putt: Former Springbok previews the final Greatest Rivalry test between the All Blacks and Springboks

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/32e2df8f-a114-4c0d-9074-b4c101814906/transcript

A retired US politician believes the Iran war has no end in sight.

The Wall Street Journal reports top advisers told President Trump privately that his war would likely drag on through the rest of his term. 

It differs from his comments yesterday, in which he was telling supporters it'd end immediately after the November mid-terms. 

Former Defence Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta told Ryan Bridge that's unlikely. 

He says this is Trump claiming everything will be fine, but in reality, the war will go on.

LISTEN ABOVE

A retired US politician believes the Iran war has no end in sight.
The Wall Street Journal reports top advisers told President Trump privately that his war would likely drag on through the rest of his term.&nbsp;
It differs from his comments yesterday, in which he was telling supporters it'd end immediately after the November mid-terms.&nbsp;
Former Defence Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta told Ryan Bridge that's unlikely.&nbsp;
He says this is Trump claiming everything will be fine, but in reality, the war will go on.
LISTEN ABOVE

Leon Panetta: Former Defence Secretary and CIA Director on the US-Iran war

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bbfe16cd-4660-4d03-a649-b4c10135685c/transcript

A warning from a constitutional law expert that every time the Government rushes legislation, it risks a major stuff up. 

The Ministry of Social Development's apologising after 30 thousand winter energy payments and main and supplementary benefits were wrongly cut.  

It was caused by an error in legislation which was passed under urgency through Parliament last year.  

Graeme Edgeler told Ryan Bridge these mistakes happen a lot under urgency, but they don't always have such drastic consequences. 

He says skipping the select committee process means losing that extra chance for people to point out mistakes as officials will often be working on the legislation and fixing errors as they go. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

A warning from a constitutional law expert that every time the Government rushes legislation, it risks a major stuff up.&nbsp;
The Ministry of Social Development's apologising after 30 thousand winter energy payments and main and supplementary benefits were wrongly cut. &nbsp;
It was caused by an error in legislation which was passed under urgency through Parliament last year. &nbsp;
Graeme Edgeler told Ryan Bridge these mistakes happen a lot under urgency, but they don't always have such drastic consequences.&nbsp;
He says skipping the select committee process means losing that extra chance for people to point out mistakes as officials will often be working on the legislation and fixing errors as they go.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Graeme Edgeler: Constitutional law expert on an MSD review which found more than 30-thousand cases, where benefits and payments were wrongly suspended

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/894c9809-f8ee-456a-b8d2-b4c101341f90/transcript

Daniel Newman: Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor on the expansion to Auckland's Botanical Gardens

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