Anticipation is building over Government announcements at the second day of the Local Government New Zealand conference in Wellington today. 

It comes after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ruffled feathers yesterday with an address telling councils to cut back on wasteful spending.

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown is expected to speak to the delegates today.

But Local Government Business Forum Chair Matt Cowley told Ryan Bridge the Government won't be offering a handout.

He says it wants the big infrastructure issues addressed but ratepayers will have to chip in.

LISTEN ABOVE

Anticipation is building over Government announcements at the second day of the Local Government New Zealand conference in Wellington today.  
It comes after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ruffled feathers yesterday with an address telling councils to cut back on wasteful spending. 
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown is expected to speak to the delegates today. 
But Local Government Business Forum Chair Matt Cowley told Ryan Bridge the Government won't be offering a handout. 
He says it wants the big infrastructure issues addressed but ratepayers will have to chip in. 
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

Matt Cowley: Local Government Business Forum Chair ahead of the second day of the Local Government New Zealand conference

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2e19a13b-c863-4d60-b5a3-b1d3016fb3f7/transcript

Here we go again, everybody. They’re planning to build yet more houses on land that we know is partial to flooding. 

This time, it's the Coalition Government, with three housing projects on its fast-track list in Auckland and Canterbury. 

In 2022 it was Labour, they had 700 homes on their fast-track list that were prone to flooding. 

You might think, well, if you want to go and build your house on flood-prone land after Cyclone Gabrielle, et cetera, that's your issue. You pay up. 

But here's the problem with that: we have no hard and fast rule about what rate payers and or taxpayers might have to stump up for compensation. You know, do we buy these houses out? How does it work?  

If they build and it floods, our collective insurance premiums go up. Just this week, we had a letter from big insurers to the Prime Minister and others saying we can't keep up with these payouts, with the increased weather events, et cetera – premiums are going to have to rock it up, stop allowing development on low lying land. 

There's been a select committee report on this, saying we need rules from the government, we need certainty, and we do. 

Who pays what to whom and when, we just don't know.  

And in the meantime, you would think the land that might be at risk of flooding would be put on a slow, rather than a fast track. 

Here we go again, everybody. They’re planning to build yet more houses on land that we know is partial to flooding.&nbsp;
This time, it's the Coalition Government, with three housing projects on its fast-track list in Auckland and Canterbury.&nbsp;
In 2022 it was Labour, they had 700 homes on their fast-track list that were prone to flooding.&nbsp;
You might think, well, if you want to go and build your house on flood-prone land after Cyclone Gabrielle, et cetera, that's your issue. You pay up.&nbsp;
But here's the problem with that: we have no hard and fast rule about what rate payers and or taxpayers might have to stump up for compensation. You know, do we buy these houses out? How does it work? &nbsp;
If they build and it floods, our collective insurance premiums go up. Just this week, we had a letter from big insurers to the Prime Minister and others saying we can't keep up with these payouts, with the increased weather events, et cetera – premiums are going to have to rock it up, stop allowing development on low lying land.&nbsp;
There's been a select committee report on this, saying we need rules from the government, we need certainty, and we do.&nbsp;
Who pays what to whom and when, we just don't know. &nbsp;
And in the meantime, you would think the land that might be at risk of flooding would be put on a slow, rather than a fast track.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: Building new houses on flood-prone land - here we go again

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b41fccc9-f773-4ee6-8e55-b213015c0745/transcript

There's fresh information for prostate cancer patients and their doctors to consider when making treatment decisions. 

A UK study has found those treated with a highly targeted type of radiotherapy appear to have fewer problems with two major side effects, compared with those who have surgery. 

Auckland Radiation Oncologist Associate Professor Giuseppe Sasso says the treatment is also more convenient compared to conventional radiation. 

He says it's able to take care of their disease with five appointments, rather than a four week, Monday to Friday course of radiation. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

There's fresh information for prostate cancer patients and their doctors to consider when making treatment decisions.&nbsp;
A UK study has found those treated with a highly targeted type of radiotherapy appear to have fewer problems with two major side effects, compared with those who have surgery.&nbsp;
Auckland Radiation Oncologist Associate Professor Giuseppe Sasso says the treatment is also more convenient compared to conventional radiation.&nbsp;
He says it's able to take care of their disease with five appointments, rather than a four week, Monday to Friday course of radiation.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Giuseppe Sasso: Auckland Radiation Oncologist Associate Professor on the new information on radiotherapy for prostate cancer appointments

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/aa5642af-1387-40f6-8e34-b21301467394/transcript

The issue of the Manawanui sinking is hanging over the Prime Minister as he attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.

Christopher Luxon met UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last night, and will meet with King Charles and other leaders today.

He says it's too early to talk about whether Samoa will get any financial compensation for the Manawanui. 

But Political Editor Jason Walls —who's on the ground in Samoa with the PM— told Ryan Bridge Luxon has been full of praise for the Kiwi taskforce responding to the situation. 

He says there was some initial estimates that thousands of litres of diesel could be leaking out into the ocean, but the PM is confident there's been little to no damage to marine life. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The issue of the Manawanui sinking is hanging over the Prime Minister as he attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
Christopher Luxon met UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last night, and will meet with King Charles and other leaders today.
He says it's too early to talk about whether Samoa will get any financial compensation for the Manawanui.&nbsp;
But Political Editor Jason Walls —who's on the ground in Samoa with the PM— told Ryan Bridge Luxon has been full of praise for the Kiwi taskforce responding to the situation.&nbsp;
He says there was some initial estimates that thousands of litres of diesel could be leaking out into the ocean, but the PM is confident there's been little to no damage to marine life.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Jason Walls: ZB Political Editor on Christopher Luxon meeting with Commonwealth leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/eb3d2158-f7e2-4f65-b7a2-b2130140ff28/transcript

Matt Cowley: Local Government Business Forum Chair ahead of the second day of the Local Government New Zealand conference

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