Donald Trump delivered his annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington.

The US President's spoke for nearly two hours - with topics ranging from the cost of living, defence and immigration. 

It's the longest State of the Union speech since at least 1964.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked the highlights of the address. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Donald Trump delivered his annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington.
The US President's spoke for nearly two hours - with topics ranging from the cost of living, defence and immigration.&nbsp;
It's the longest State of the Union speech since at least 1964.
Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked the highlights of the address.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on Donald Trump's State of the Union address

The Government announced today it wants to shake up the road rules a little - allowing kids under the age of 12 to ride their bikes on the footpath, and letting e-scooters use cycleways.

Now, it might surprise you to learn that both of those things are against the rules. Kids aren’t allowed on footpaths on their bikes unless the wheel diameter is roughly the length of a ruler or smaller, and e-scooters are not allowed in cycle lanes.

And it probably does surprise you, because we do these things all the time, don’t we? We’ve got a cycleway near our house and scooters are on that thing constantly - because frankly, it’s the safest place for a scooter to be.

I took my boy and his six and nine-year-old cousins for a bike ride to the skate park at the beach during summer. They rode on the footpath. Two of those bikes were definitely against the rules - far too big.

So you could probably characterise Chris Bishop’s proposed changes as simply updating the law to reflect what people are already doing.

But I have a question for you - Why have an age limit for kids at all?

We’re hardly going to stick to this rule, are we? We’re hardly going to tell a 12-year-old that the day they turn 13, they suddenly have to get off the footpath and cycle down Ponsonby Road.

In fact, we regularly see older adults riding their bikes along Ponsonby Road, past the cafés. We just step out of the way. It’s an adult on an adult-sized bike - they’re courteous, they’re surrounded by pedestrians and they go slowly.

So here’s my proposal - when we change the rules, why don’t we take the age limit out altogether? Don’t have an age limit. 

Simply say - we’d prefer you to cycle on the road but if you can’t do that safely, you’re welcome to use the footpath. If you do, please go slowly and give pedestrians the right of way. Our goal is that no one dies on the road and no one gets hurt on the footpath.

Maybe we could just pass a rule that reflects what we’re already doing - and what also reflects a bit of common sense.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Government announced today it wants to shake up the road rules a little - allowing kids under the age of 12 to ride their bikes on the footpath, and letting e-scooters use cycleways.
Now, it might surprise you to learn that both of those things are against the rules. Kids aren’t allowed on footpaths on their bikes unless the wheel diameter is roughly the length of a ruler or smaller, and e-scooters are not allowed in cycle lanes.
And it probably does surprise you, because we do these things all the time, don’t we? We’ve got a cycleway near our house and scooters are on that thing constantly - because frankly, it’s the safest place for a scooter to be.
I took my boy and his six and nine-year-old cousins for a bike ride to the skate park at the beach during summer. They rode on the footpath. Two of those bikes were definitely against the rules - far too big.
So you could probably characterise Chris Bishop’s proposed changes as simply updating the law to reflect what people are already doing.
But I have a question for you - Why have an age limit for kids at all?
We’re hardly going to stick to this rule, are we? We’re hardly going to tell a 12-year-old that the day they turn 13, they suddenly have to get off the footpath and cycle down Ponsonby Road.
In fact, we regularly see older adults riding their bikes along Ponsonby Road, past the cafés. We just step out of the way. It’s an adult on an adult-sized bike - they’re courteous, they’re surrounded by pedestrians and they go slowly.
So here’s my proposal - when we change the rules, why don’t we take the age limit out altogether? Don’t have an age limit.&nbsp;
Simply say - we’d prefer you to cycle on the road but if you can’t do that safely, you’re welcome to use the footpath. If you do, please go slowly and give pedestrians the right of way. Our goal is that no one dies on the road and no one gets hurt on the footpath.
Maybe we could just pass a rule that reflects what we’re already doing - and what also reflects a bit of common sense.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Could we pass a transport rule that reflects some common sense?

A positive financial result has gentailer Meridian thinking about infrastructure upgrades. 

It recorded a half year profit after tax of $227 million.

Chief executive Mike Roan says they're considering increasing capacity at the Pukaki dam in the Mackenzie basin. 

He says it's still early days though. 

"The question that I've asked the team is - is it economic to do it? Does it actually make financial sense to expand the amount of hydro storage that we've got?"

LISTEN ABOVE

A positive financial result has gentailer Meridian thinking about infrastructure upgrades.&nbsp;
It recorded a half year profit after tax of $227 million.
Chief executive Mike Roan says they're considering increasing capacity at the Pukaki dam in the Mackenzie basin.&nbsp;
He says it's still early days though.&nbsp;
"The question that I've asked the team is - is it economic to do it? Does it actually make financial sense to expand the amount of hydro storage that we've got?"
LISTEN ABOVE

Mike Roan: Meridian Energy CEO on the company delivering a higher than expected net profit

Questions have been raised over whether adding politicians in Australia would improve law-making or just add bureaucracy.

Australia's Labor Government is pushing to add 40 members to Parliament before the 2028 election. 

Nine News chief political editor Charles Croucher says electorates are so large that it's becoming harder for single MPs to represent them. 

But he says Australia also has layers of Government to consider. 

"We're already pretty over-governed over here, it's not just the federal Parliament you've got to think about, it's state Parliament."

LISTEN ABOVE

Questions have been raised over whether adding politicians in Australia would improve law-making or just add bureaucracy.
Australia's Labor Government is pushing to add 40 members to Parliament before the 2028 election.&nbsp;
Nine News chief political editor Charles Croucher says electorates are so large that it's becoming harder for single MPs to represent them.&nbsp;
But he says Australia also has layers of Government to consider.&nbsp;
"We're already pretty over-governed over here, it's not just the federal Parliament you've got to think about, it's state Parliament."
LISTEN ABOVE

Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on Donald Trump's State of the Union address

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