The Upper Hutt Mayor says it was obvious the region's water agency was ripping off ratepayers for a long time. 

Report findings show a lack of oversight meant Wellington Water was paying nearly three times more to contractors for pipe work, compared with in other areas. 

Board Chair Nick Leggett says it means millions of ratepayer dollars wasted. 

Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy says Leggett must resign. 

He told Mike Hosking his council smelt a rat for years, but their concerns fell on deaf ears. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The Upper Hutt Mayor says it was obvious the region's water agency was ripping off ratepayers for a long time.&nbsp;
Report findings show a lack of oversight meant Wellington Water was paying nearly three times more to contractors for pipe work, compared with in other areas.&nbsp;
Board Chair Nick Leggett says it means millions of ratepayer dollars wasted.&nbsp;
Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy says Leggett must resign.&nbsp;
He told Mike Hosking his council smelt a rat for years, but their concerns fell on deaf ears.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.

Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.

The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more.

The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Wayne Guppy: Upper Hutt Mayor on taxpayers being overcharged for contractors

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/65734d12-7282-4d76-9b2e-b295014d9af6/transcript

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike Hosking in studio this morning for their weekly chat.

With the budget coming up this week they spoke about the pre-budget announcements so far, and what's yet to come. 

Luxon said that more spending announcements will be revealed on Thursday, but the budget is strict. 

"That's what we have to have, good fiscal financial discipline year in year out in order to get the ship, you know, the books back in order again."

LISTEN ABOVE 

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike Hosking in studio this morning for their weekly chat.
With the budget coming up this week they spoke about the pre-budget announcements so far, and what's yet to come.&nbsp;
Luxon said that more spending announcements will be revealed on Thursday, but the budget is strict.&nbsp;
"That's what we have to have, good fiscal financial discipline year in year out in order to get the ship, you know, the books back in order again."
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Christopher Luxon: Prime Minister chats ahead of budget

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4d3f3cd2-583d-41fc-9ddb-b4540157c5d2/transcript

A couple of interesting property developments for you.

1. Half finished town houses in Christchurch.
 
2. Lack of demand for off the plan deals from developers.

That last one came from a select committee hearing last week. The head of Kiwibank was suggesting there is a stark lack of appetite for off the plan stuff because of the risk you take on what the value will be when its done i.e are you underwater?

And also the risk you take that the thing will never be finished.

Which dovetails into the first observation which comes out of Christchurch, a city in which you would quite rightly ask; how is it possible things aren't booming in that part of the world?

As always, the answer is in the detail.

The Christchurch problem is around small townhouse-type builds close to the city, often with no garage. In other words, building for a world view that isn't that of the average New Zealander.

Once again we are supposed to be like Amsterdam or New York. Except we aren't and will never be.

Cars are important.

You have seen it in Auckland as well with apartments with no parks. 'It's so cool, we're all on e-bikes".

Except we aren't, so the cars are stacked on the streets outside, blocking trucks and generally proving theory isn't reality.

Plans? Who would take the risk?

Tell me what the market is going to be in two years - no one can! That's a real problem and does remind us a consent is not a house.

But the key is our need and desire for housing hasn’t really changed. Cheap builds will never thrive and builds with no garages will never have a demand.

Rightly or wrongly the dream that has never really faded is a house. A detached house, maybe with a bit of lawn and most certainly a place for a car.

The stats show it. First home buyers are in the market right now and standalone homes are what they want. They will borrow and bleed to do it.

What the trendies want and what the real world is prepared to pay for it are, to some degree, at odds.

And that is why the areas of the market that have trouble, have trouble, because theory and ideology doesn’t have a deposit.

The buyer does.    

LISTEN ABOVE

A couple of interesting property developments for you.
1. Half finished town houses in Christchurch. &nbsp; 2. Lack of demand for off the plan deals from developers.
That last one came from a select committee hearing last week. The head of Kiwibank was suggesting there is a stark lack of appetite for off the plan stuff because of the risk you take on what the value will be when its done i.e are you underwater?
And also the risk you take that the thing will never be finished.
Which dovetails into the first observation which comes out of Christchurch, a city in which you would quite rightly ask; how is it possible things aren't booming in that part of the world?
As always, the answer is in the detail.
The Christchurch problem is around small townhouse-type builds close to the city, often with no garage. In other words, building for a world view that isn't that of the average New Zealander.
Once again we are supposed to be like Amsterdam or New York. Except we aren't and will never be.
Cars are important.
You have seen it in Auckland as well with apartments with no parks. 'It's so cool, we're all on e-bikes".
Except we aren't, so the cars are stacked on the streets outside, blocking trucks and generally proving theory isn't reality.
Plans? Who would take the risk?
Tell me what the market is going to be in two years - no one can! That's a real problem and does remind us a consent is not a house.
But the key is our need and desire for housing hasn’t really changed. Cheap builds will never thrive and builds with no garages will never have a demand.
Rightly or wrongly the dream that has never really faded is a house. A detached house, maybe with a bit of lawn and most certainly a place for a car.
The stats show it. First home buyers are in the market right now and standalone homes are what they want. They will borrow and bleed to do it.
What the trendies want and what the real world is prepared to pay for it are, to some degree, at odds.
And that is why the areas of the market that have trouble, have trouble, because theory and ideology doesn’t have a deposit.
The buyer does. &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Mike's Minute: We're reliant on cars and we need to stop pretending we aren't

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1697a557-ecfd-4d68-a216-b4540150c3ed/transcript

All Waikato junior league rugby games have been cancelled after fights and abuse from adults on the sidelines. 

The Waikato Junior League Rugby Board said it would continue working with clubs to address the issues and ensure appropriate standards are upheld.

Sport Waikato CEO Matthew Cooper joined Mike Hosking to chat about the issues, calling the behaviour 'disgraceful'. 

LISTEN ABOVE

All Waikato junior league rugby games have been cancelled after fights and abuse from adults on the sidelines.&nbsp;
The Waikato Junior League Rugby Board said it would continue working with clubs to address the issues and ensure appropriate standards are upheld.
Sport Waikato CEO Matthew Cooper joined Mike Hosking to chat about the issues, calling the behaviour 'disgraceful'.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Matthew Cooper: Sport Waikato CEO slams parents after sideline abuse leads to games cancelled

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/994553ea-9462-4bfa-bc6f-b45401482773/transcript

Wayne Guppy: Upper Hutt Mayor on taxpayers being overcharged for contractors

In 1 playlist(s)

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips