Hundreds of school building project plans may need changing.

The Government is launching a Ministerial Inquiry into cost overruns, with up to 350 projects possibly in peril.

Already, the Education Ministry has frozen major projects at 20 schools.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Government's message about 'wasteful spending' sets the tone for the upcoming budget.

LISTEN ABOVE

Hundreds of school building project plans may need changing.
The Government is launching a Ministerial Inquiry into cost overruns, with up to 350 projects possibly in peril.
Already, the Education Ministry has frozen major projects at 20 schools.
ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Government's message about 'wasteful spending' sets the tone for the upcoming budget.
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: ZB senior political correspondent on the Government announcing a Ministerial Inquiry into school building projects

Let me tell you, it was absolutely no surprise to me to see my Facebook friends going crazy over Trump winning the election last night - and there's been plenty of hysterical predictions now that he's won.

My absolute favourite one was from my husband, who said that Trump would take us to the brink of war. Hello - the world is already at war, we don't need to be taken to the brink, we're already there.

 We've got two significant wars under way in two of the most worrying parts of the world - Europe and the Middle East - and neither of them are because of Trump, they started under Biden.

It's got me thinking - we need a bit of perspective here. People are really losing their minds over this.

We cannot predict what is going to happen in the future, but we have the past to guide us. So why don't we compare the last time Trump was President with the most recent period under Biden and see who wins at being the real crazy one here.

Because as far as I can see, Biden is the one who's been far worse for New Zealand. Sure, Trump introduced the steel tariffs on us and started a trade war with China - but last time I checked, Biden hasn't removed those tariffs and he hasn't ended the trade war with China. 

So as far as I can see, they're basically the same as each other on that.

Under Biden, two new wars have started, both of which have put prices that we pay in New Zealand up. Under Trump, no new wars were started.

My husband was quick to point out North Korea and 'Rocket Man' and how they came close to staring a war - but they didn't. It might have nearly, but it didn't. Nothing happened, despite all the warnings.

Trump is too much of a crazy-maker - and other world leaders don't know how far they can push it with him and they suspect they can't, so they don't try at all.

That is why Putin invaded Georgia under Bush, Crimea over Obama and Ukraine under Biden - but there were no invasions under Trump.

Under Biden - never mind the threat of North Korea maybe doing something, two wars actually did happen. And they are worse than anything North Korea might have done.

Under Trump, the withdrawal from Afghanistan was orderly, and under Biden, it was an unmitigated disaster - which he was at the centre of - and it completely undermined America's credibility.

So before we get too hysterical about all the bad things Trump could do, how about we remind ourselves about all the bad things Biden did do? Get a bit of a grip, and ask ourselves - what would Trump actually have to do in the next four years to be worse than Biden?

Why weren't we as hysterical about Biden? Or is the hysteria just something we reserve for Donald Trump?

LISTEN ABOVE

Let me tell you, it was absolutely no surprise to me to see my Facebook friends going crazy over Trump winning the election last night - and there's been plenty of hysterical predictions now that he's won.
My absolute favourite one was from my husband, who said that Trump would take us to the brink of war. Hello - the world is already at war, we don't need to be taken to the brink, we're already there.
&nbsp;We've got two significant wars under way in two of the most worrying parts of the world - Europe and the Middle East - and neither of them are because of Trump, they started under Biden.
It's got me thinking - we need a bit of perspective here. People are really losing their minds over this.
We cannot predict what is going to happen in the future, but we have the past to guide us. So why don't we compare the last time Trump was President with the most recent period under Biden and see who wins at being the real crazy one here.
Because as far as I can see, Biden is the one who's been far worse for New Zealand. Sure, Trump introduced the steel tariffs on us and started a trade war with China - but last time I checked, Biden hasn't removed those tariffs and he hasn't ended the trade war with China.&nbsp;
So as far as I can see, they're basically the same as each other on that.
Under Biden, two new wars have started, both of which have put prices that we pay in New Zealand up. Under Trump, no new wars were started.
My husband was quick to point out North Korea and 'Rocket Man' and how they came close to staring a war - but they didn't. It might have nearly, but it didn't. Nothing happened, despite all the warnings.
Trump is too much of a crazy-maker - and other world leaders don't know how far they can push it with him and they suspect they can't, so they don't try at all.
That is why Putin invaded Georgia under Bush, Crimea over Obama and Ukraine under Biden - but there were no invasions under Trump.
Under Biden - never mind the threat of North Korea maybe doing something, two wars actually did happen. And they are worse than anything North Korea might have done.
Under Trump, the withdrawal from Afghanistan was orderly, and under Biden, it was an unmitigated disaster - which he was at the centre of - and it completely undermined America's credibility.
So before we get too hysterical about all the bad things Trump could do, how about we remind ourselves about all the bad things Biden did do? Get a bit of a grip, and ask ourselves - what would Trump actually have to do in the next four years to be worse than Biden?
Why weren't we as hysterical about Biden? Or is the hysteria just something we reserve for Donald Trump?
LISTEN ABOVE

Best of 2024: Heather du Plessis-Allan - Let's put Donald Trump's win into perspective

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c89db4b5-7953-402a-b829-b25a002e0935/transcript

Several Greens members have been caught asking to use the private carparks belonging to Wellington retailers for a party event.

These retailers were impacted by Green-led cycleway project, which took away on-street parking in the area.

Independent Business and Residential Group chairwoman Urmila Bhana says this cycleway has negatively impacted several businesses.

"Businesses are down 60, 80, 100 percent, they're either moving, closing, or heading into liquidation. And that's nothing to do with the recession, it's the carpark removal."

LISTEN ABOVE

 

Several Greens members have been caught asking to use the private carparks belonging to Wellington retailers for a party event.
These retailers were impacted by Green-led cycleway project, which took away on-street parking in the area.
Independent Business and Residential Group chairwoman Urmila Bhana says this cycleway has negatively impacted several businesses.
"Businesses are down 60, 80, 100 percent, they're either moving, closing, or heading into liquidation. And that's nothing to do with the recession, it's the carpark removal."
LISTEN ABOVE
&nbsp;

Best of 2024: Greens caught asking to use private carparks after their cycleway impacted parking

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b7a245fa-67ab-4fdd-8d0e-b256002d710e/transcript

Newsflash: Tui 'Yeah Right' billboard accused of being bad taste. 

Whoa, for a moment there I thought I'd been transported back to 2006.

Is it in good taste? No. Of Course not. It's a billboard for a beer company, for goodness' sake. Of course it's in bad taste. I don't think anyone has ever accused Tui of good taste.

Given the extent to which the sensational details in the Polkinghorne case have scandalised the nation, it's hardly a surprise to see the billboards pop up.

I'll be honest with you: It doesn't upset me. But if I were Pauline Hanna's family I might, quite reasonably, feel a bit miffed at a company trying to cash in on something related to my death. 

And here's the thing: Even if it did upset me, sometimes the most effective strategy to oppose something is to contain your outrage. 

I actually feel the same way about aspects of the Treaty Principles Bill. I wonder if the most extreme opposition to ACT's proposal might not ultimately help ACT's cause. And perhaps a more considered opposition might be calmer, quieter, and ultimately starve the issue from the attention upon which it'll thrive. 

Tui is banking on controversy. It has literally set up a feedback line so people can voice their outrage. But if you really have a problem with their billboards... Don't give them the attention. And don't buy Tui. 

Newsflash: Tui 'Yeah Right' billboard accused of being bad taste.&nbsp;
Whoa, for a moment there I thought I'd been transported back to 2006.
Is it in good taste? No. Of Course not. It's a billboard for a beer company, for goodness' sake. Of course it's in bad taste. I don't think anyone has ever accused Tui of good taste.
Given the extent to which the sensational details in the Polkinghorne case have scandalised the nation, it's hardly a surprise to see the billboards pop up.
I'll be honest with you: It doesn't upset me. But if I were Pauline Hanna's family I might, quite reasonably, feel a bit miffed at a company trying to cash in on something related to my death.&nbsp;
And here's the thing: Even if it did upset me, sometimes the most effective strategy to oppose something is to contain your outrage.&nbsp;
I actually feel the same way about aspects of the Treaty Principles Bill. I wonder if the most extreme opposition to ACT's proposal might not ultimately help ACT's cause. And perhaps a more considered opposition might be calmer, quieter, and ultimately starve the issue from the attention upon which it'll thrive.&nbsp;
Tui is banking on controversy. It has literally set up a feedback line so people can voice their outrage. But if you really have a problem with their billboards... Don't give them the attention. And don't buy Tui.&nbsp;

Best of 2024: Jack Tame - Wholesome Tui billboard? Yeah right

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/362ca5b4-bb36-472c-b271-b254014a8300/transcript

Barry Soper: ZB senior political correspondent on the Government announcing a Ministerial Inquiry into school building projects

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