Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons

There's concern increasing the trust tax rate will sting everyday New Zealanders. The rate will jump from 33 to 39 percent to align with the top personal tax rate from April - to clamp down on people dodging taxes through trusts. But Deloitte tax partner Robyn Walker says there's around 400-thousand trusts in New Zealand. She says there may be many New Zealanders with a marginal tax rate well below 39 percent, with assets held in trusts, now facing a higher rate. Revenue Minister David Parker says the top five percent of trusts with some taxable income in 2021 accounted for 78 percent of all trustee income. Robyn Walker joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels on the show. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has just unveiled the 'no-frills' 2023 Budget- Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls and Infometrics Economist Brad Olsen joined the show to discuss the highlights. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nathan Wallis is New Zealand's leading Neuroscience Educator, focusing on child development and how the brain works. Nathan explores how the brain works and how neuroscience can better inform our day to day interactions with children and young people. He joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels every second Tuesday – taking your calls and questions on everything to do with child behaviour, development, how to get through to teenagers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The transport watchdog wants regulation of all recreational boats and skippers in the wake of its probe into a fatal boat capsizing. In October 2021, the boat capsized on Auckland's Manukau Harbour bar, killing three of the four people on board. The report recommends the Ministry of Transport consider compulsory licensing and education of skippers. Chief Commissioner Jane Meares says that could look similar to the car licensing process. CEO of Water Safety NZ Daniel Gerrard joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Campbell has been in the headlines a lot this year after his very public removal as chair of Te Whatu Ora. He has been described as a 'colossus of corporate New Zealand', but it was as a committed trade unionist that he first came to public prominence, frequently incurring the wrath of then Prime Minister Rob Muldoon. In the late 1980s, Rob Campbell resigned from his union roles and took on business directorships & consultancies; with virtually every company he has chaired seeing substantial growth in performance, shareholder returns and employee engagement levels. He holds a Masters in Economics, was named as Chairperson of the Year in the Deloitte Top 200 awards, and in 2019 was awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business. Rob Campbell joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels for this week's Six And A Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment, Workplace & Information Expert with Taylor Shaw Barristers & Solicitors. He regularly joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels to answer all listeners' employment related questions. Today, he joined the show to answer questions about changing employment agreements, restraints of trade and on-call rates - among other things. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Professional Boxer Mea Motu's name has grabbed the headlines in recent weeks as she prepared to claim the IBO super bantamweight world title on the Fight For Life card. She's won amateur bouts, professional bouts and more New Zealand titles then any other female boxer. It was a great pleasure to welcome World Champion Mea Motu onto the show for this week's Six And A Song. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nathan Wallis is New Zealand's leading Neuroscience Educator, focusing on child development and how the brain works. Nathan explores how the brain works and how neuroscience can better inform our day to day interactions with children and young people. He joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels every second Tuesday – taking your calls and questions on everything to do with child behaviour, development, how to get through to teenagers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we are heading into the winter flu season it was timely to invite Dr Anthony Jordan, the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre’s clinical director to join us on the show again. Dr Jordan is one of our leading immunologists and he joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels to answer listeners questions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People have just a few more days to get help from census collectors - before final notices are sent out. It applies to all areas except the Far North, Te Tairawhiti and Hawke's Bay where the collection period was extended to June 1 because of Cyclone Gabrielle. Census collectors will be in the community until Wednesday. They'll also be at the Warriors game at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland this weekend where if you do your census at the game you'll get a ticket to the match and $25 food and beverage voucher to spend at the game. If you’ve done the census and bring a friend to do it you'll both get tickets to the game. People who take part will also go in the draw to win a trip for four to Australia to watch the Eels vs. Warriors game on July 8, 2023. From May 9, people who still haven't completed their forms will receive a final notice and risk being fined two-thousand-dollars if they don't complete the census. Stats NZ says 8.5 of 10 people have completed their forms. Census Deputy Census Chief Executive Simon Mason joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels on the show to discuss the tactic. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broadcasting and Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson has had a colourful career in and outside of politics. Aged 21, Willie Jackson became the youngest ever freezing works union president. He was a union organiser, and a club bouncer in South Auckland, before becoming a record label executive and a band manager of Moana and the Moa Hunters, he was also a successful broadcaster, covering everything from politics to sports, along with a stint as a talkback host. As a politician, he was first elected to Parliament in 1999 with the Alliance. He returned to Parliament in 2017 with Labour, holding portfolios in employment, Maori development and now broadcasting. He was Simon Barnett and James Daniels' guest for this weeks Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The wealthiest New Zealanders pay tax at half the rate of ordinary people, an IRD report has found. An IRD study into the tax rate paid by a sample of 311 New Zealanders found they paid a median effective tax rate of 9.4 per cent. Treasury reckons a comparable tax rate for a “middle wealth” Kiwi was 20.2 per cent - that rate includes GST they pay and any benefits someone might receive like Working for Families. If you leave those out, their tax rate is even higher. The median wealth of the families was $106 million - but a handful of extremely wealthy people meant the mean wealth of those families was $276m. Revenue Minister David Parker said the report showed “tradies, nurses, school teachers, hospitality workers, hairdressers, cleaners, engineers and small business owners all pay much higher effective tax rates than their wealthier fellow Kiwis. “We tax those who earn all their income from salaries at a much higher rate than the very wealthy,” he said. The culprit in all of this is capital gains, which are largely untaxed in New Zealand. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls told Simon Barnett and James Daniels there hasn't been an announcement on whether the Government will do about it. "We have an election right around the corner, so we wait with baited breath to see if they have anything up their sleeve." Walls says with an outright majority in he 2020 election, Labour could have easily passed a capital gains tax at any stage. "I think it's a bit disingenuous of the Government to have this report right at the end of the tenure, where they have an outright majority and say they're going to be putting it to the electorate and we're going to campaign on this one."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claims have come more needs to be done against those convicted of coward punches. New Zealand First Leader, Winston Peters is renewing calls for a one-punch law. It comes after Regan Robson-Khan was sentenced to nine months of home detention after he assaulted Wynton King outside a Christchurch bar last October. King will never be able to drive, work or play rugby again. Peters told Newstalk ZB's Canterbury Mornings judges are hamstrung by New Zealand laws He says there are some occasions where they aren't reading the room. Wynton's sister Amber told Newstalk ZB's Canterbury Mornings they were shocked when the sentence was handed down. She says as a family and as a nation, we've all been let down by the justice system. Newstalk ZB caller Sally, who's son has been assaulted, says the punishments are too low. She says the person who punched her son originally was sentenced to five years in prison but it ended up being reduced to two. National's Penny Simmonds told Newstalk ZB's Canterbury Mornings this is proof the Government is too soft on crime. She says people are suffering from the lack of punishments. Labour's Tracey McLellan says it could be time to re-start conversations about a new piece of legalisation. Former Northland MP Matt King joined Tyler Adams on Newstalk ZB to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A stay-at-home Kiwi mum has gone viral on TikTok for sharing the true cost of going back to work after having children. Anna Catley, 31, from Napier, shares a 2-year-old son and 10-month-old twin daughters with her husband, 30, who works full-time. Catley worked as a sales and marketing manager for Cherri Global, which grows and exports cherries, before going on maternity leave. After her twins were born, she considered going back to work – but was shocked when she calculated what it would cost to put her three children in daycare. She’d need to earn $35 an hour over a 37.5-hour week, and pay for 40 hours of childcare, costing $26.70 an hour, leaving her with just $170 a week in hand. But she says that while the cost is shocking, it’s a struggle that countless mums will relate to. “It’s a real barrier to returning to work,” she tells the Herald. “It makes you think twice about ‘is it really worth it?’ Not only due to the cost, but also then having to juggle childcare drop-offs, pick-ups, manage meals and housework, all with the limited time you’d then have if you were working full-time as well.” At the time of writing, her TikTok video has had more than 70,000 views, 3500 likes and 266 comments, as countless other Kiwi mums chimed in to share their experiences. “Finally someone says it,” one commented. “I 100 per cent feel ya on this! Not to mention the amount of time your kids spend sick at home with bugs they caught in care,” another wrote. “I feel this! Plus add in all the sickness too. No thanks, I’ll stay at home and look after my babies and make memories with them while I can,” another mum shared. Catley notes that, in New Zealand, paid parental leave ends after six months, and childcare is not subsidised until a child turns 3. “So there’s a big gap there of two and a half years where families are having to fork out a lot of their earnings on childcare. “Spending $26.70 an hour on childcare is more than the living wage.” It’s no secret that the rising cost of living and inflation increases have made life even more difficult for parents, whether they’re working or not. “I think there will be a lot of mums out there who didn’t plan on going back to work, or who wanted to have a longer time off work, but have been forced back into work because costs are so high and it’s harder to make ends meet these days,” Catley points out. She says it’s unlikely she’ll go back to work until her kids are old enough to go to school – unless she can find a “mum-friendly” job. “After doing the maths and seeing the ridiculousness of how much I’d work and how little money I’d have left over at the end of the week after paying for childcare, I’ve realised that I need to think outside the box to come up with a way of getting income outside of the usual 8am-5pm working in an office situation,” she says. Since Covid, many businesses have realised that employees can still work effectively from home. Ideally, Catley would be able to use her marketing skills to take on a few clients from home. “As mothers, we are naturally great at time management, project management, juggling many things at once, and working to deadlines because we have to be,” she notes. “I still have so much to offer an employer, but like everyone I need something that works for my whole family.” - Bethany Reitsma, NZ Herald For more parenting news and advice, listen to One Day You’ll Thank Me, the Herald’s parenting podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday’s 50 point lift in the Official Cash Rate means far more pain for New Zealand families, National’s Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says. “Mortgage-holders up and down the country were holding their breath and hoping for some relief. Instead, they’ve been given another punch in the guts. Nicola Willis joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels on the showw. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank has today lifted the Official Cash Rate by 50 basis points to 5.25 per cent. The 11th successive hike, it takes the rate to its highest level since December 2008. The bank says inflation is still too high and persistent, and employment is beyond its maximum sustainable level. The recent severe weather events in the North Island have led to higher prices for some goods and services, the RBNZ said. The New Zealand dollar rallied sharply on the higher-than-expected hike. In the minutes following the release, the kiwi was trading at US63.6c, up about half a US cent from US63.08 before the release. Infometrics Principal Economist, Brad Olsen, joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels to break down the announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ll have heard this name a bit of late: Kai Kara-France is one of New Zealand’s most successful sports stars on the MMA world stage. He started practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 10, and started training in mixed martial arts as a whole in high school. In November 2010, Kara-France began his professional MMA career with a first-round TKO win over Ray Kaitiana. Now there’s a brilliant doco-series on TVNZ+ called Caged: Kai Kara-France. He’s scheduled to face Amir Albazi on June 3 at UFC Fight Night 226. It’s a great pleasure to welcome Kai Kara France to this week’s Six And A Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Construction on a second Waitematā harbour crossing will begin in 2029, the Government announced this morning as it unveiled five options: tunnels, bridges or a combination of both. The Government also confirmed that for the first time, there will be a regular walking and cycling connection across the harbour. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told media at the announcement this morning that “the second harbour crossing has just become real” And he says the massive infrastructure mission would “become the backbone of a modern, integrated transport system that can compare with the best city transport networks anywhere in the world”. Transport Minister Michael Wood announced how the new crossing will plug into the Government’s light rail line, which is also in train. “Aucklanders and businesses have made it clear that the biggest barriers to the success of Auckland is persistent congestion and after years of inaction by the previous government we are on track to fix it,” Wood said. John Reeves from the Public Transport Users' Association and Professor John Tookey, professor of Construction Management at AUT, joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels to discuss the five proposed options. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment, Workplace & Information Expert with Taylor Shaw Barristers & Solicitors. He regularly joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels to answer all listeners' employment related questions. Today, he joined the show to answer questions about redundancy, misconduct and disclosing criminal convictions, among other things. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geoff Ross is a proud and passionate kiwi. He was born and raised on a Dairy and Deer Farm south of Auckland. He attended Lincoln University where he graduated with a B Com (Agricultural). He’s a serial entrepreneur, best known for founding the globally successful vodka brand 42 Below with his wife Justine. But Geoff Ross was always going to be a farmer – he just got there via a long and winding road. His is an inspirational story, so it was a great pleasure to have Geoff Ross as this week’s guest on Six & A Song. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nathan Wallis is New Zealand's leading Neuroscience Educator, focusing on child development and how the brain works. Nathan explores how the brain works and how neuroscience can better inform our day to day interactions with children and young people. He joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels fortnightly taking your calls and questions on everything to do with child behaviour, development, how to get through to teenagers LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Directly off the back of Stuart Nash's demotion, Jason Walls joined Simon and James to take a look at everything that has gone down.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a very successful international career in banking, Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell had a challenging entry to politics after bullying claims arose just a week after his maiden speech in Parliament. The dust has well and truly settled now as he prepares to hold the seat in this year’s election. So who is he and why did he want to get into politics? A great pleasure to welcome Sam Uffindell on for Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stuart Nash has given up his police portfolio after the backlash over his revelation he'd once phoned the Police Commissioner over a court decision. Nash made the admission on Newstalk ZB this morning, saying he'd asked the Commissioner if a particular court judgment would be appealed. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says contacting the Police Commissioner was inappropriate, as was Nash's defence of his actions today. He says it's important to safeguard the independence of the police, and the courts, and not criticise individual decisions. Political Editor, Jason Walls told Simon Barnett and James Daniels Hipkins made it clear that if Nash hadn't resigned, he would've been sacked. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment, Workplace & Information Expert with Taylor Shaw Barristers & Solicitors. He regularly joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels to answer all listeners' employment related questions. Today, he joined the show to answer questions about a physical assault at work, bullying, and asking an employee about their health, among other things. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A quiet evening on the deck shooting the breeze and listening to music ended with a midnight dash for medical help and fears for the safety of children in a remote Central Otago village. Steve Easton and his mate Mike Mitchell, both of Oamaru, were on the deck of Easton’s St Bathans holiday cottage on Tuesday night when they heard a noise in the garden. Looking down, they saw a sow with six piglets. Easton went to chase them off and close the gate. What he did not see was the boar with them. He chased the little family across the road and was about 30m from his cottage when he heard a noise in the gravel nearby. The boar was flying at him and hit him head on. Steve Easton told his story to Simon Barnett & James Daniels. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matty McLean is a familiar friendly face on New Zealand television screens and has virtually grown up on camera. Earlier this month he was revealed as the winner of Treasure Island Fans vs Faves. Matty McLean joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels for Six And A Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Operator of Innovative Education Consultants and former rugby player, Alwyn Poole, has penned an opinion-piece in the NZ Herald making the case for an age limit of 17 to be put in place for First XV rugby. Poole joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels to explain the rationale behind his piece. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 'miracle' weight loss drug called Ozempic has set TikTok on fire with celebrities including Jeremy Clarkson & Kim Kardashian taking it. It is given as an injection straight into the stomach, thigh or upper arm. It suppresses hunger by mimicking an appetite-regulating hormone, leaving users feeling fuller for longer. But obesitry experts warn it is not a magic bullet and may trigger unpleasant side effects, from nausea and diarrhoea to pancreatitis and gallbladder problems. Simon Barnett and James Daniels spoke with Bariatric Surgeon Richard Babor about the drug and it's place in the weight loss puzzle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nathan Wallis is New Zealand's leading Neuroscience Educator, focusing on child development and how the brain works. Nathan explores how the brain works and how neuroscience can better inform our day to day interactions with children and young people. He joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels every second Tuesday – taking your calls and questions on everything to do with child behaviour, development, how to get through to teenagers LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outrage after the police watchdog declared Police weren't in the wrong when they didn't respond to a 111 call over Mongrel Mob members at Christchurch Hospital. Anne-Maree Thomas was in hospital for her 15-year-old's cancer treatment when she called Police four times over gang members threatening staff and guarding hospital entrances. The Independent Police Conduct Authority has written to Thomas saying Police didn't respond because no offences were committed -- and there weren't any officers available to attend. Anne-Maree Thomas joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels on the show. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Cap Neil Wagner has carved out a test career by taking wickets at critical times and unsettling the opposition with his fiery attitude and relentless nature. His skill as a wicket taker was front and centre on Tuesday when he took four on the final day of the test against England, giving New Zealand a one-run victory in one of the great Test match finishes of all time. Neil Wagner joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels for this week's Six And A Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TikTok employees in five different countries, including China, can access the data of New Zealand users, as privacy concerns grow over the video-sharing app. The social media giant, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has maintained data from New Zealand is stored in Singapore and United States, with access only approved by its “global security organisation led out of the U.S.” Newstalk ZB can now reveal that engineering teams around the world are able to get this access sign-off, including workers in the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Ireland. A spokesperson for TikTok told ZB “strict policies and procedures” are in place to “limit internal access to user data.” Netsafe's Chief Content Officer Leanne Ross joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels on the show. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incumbent All Blacks coach Ian Foster's announced he will NOT re-apply for his job. New Zealand Rugby's confirmed the 2024 appointment process will be finalised in the next four to six weeks...meaning a newcomer will definitely be appointed BEFORE Foster guides the team at the World Cup, let alone rides into the sunset. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels to discuss the development and Simon didn't leave anyone wondering about what he thought. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment, Workplace & Information Expert with Taylor Shaw Barristers & Solicitors. He regularly joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels to answer all listeners' employment related questions. Today, he joined the show to answer questions about returning to work after being on ACC and how commissions impact holiday pay amongst other tings. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions about the use of gambling for community fundraising...when there are other ways it could be done. A special Lotto draw will be held on March 18 -- with half the ticket sales going towards the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle. Problem Gambling spokesperson Andree Froude says it's disappointing we have to give donations through a gambling operator. She spoke with Simon Barnett and James Daniels. An international fundraising appeal has also been launched. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rowena Duncum is a passionate advocate for the agricultural and rural sectors. A former dairy farmer and 2013 Taranaki Farm Manager of the Year, she hung up the milking apron and swapped her red bands for radio in 2016 to become Executive Producer of The Country – Newstalk ZB’s long-standing rural radio show, hosted by Jamie Mackay. So, what makes Rowena tick? We found out when she joined us for this week’s Six and A Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nathan Wallis is New Zealand's leading Neuroscience Educator, focusing on child development and how the brain works. Nathan explores how the brain works and how neuroscience can better inform our day to day interactions with children and young people. He joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels every second Tuesday – taking your calls and questions on everything to do with child behaviour, development, how to get through to teenagers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest today on Six and a Song has played 170 games of rugby league for the then-DB Bitter, then Vodafone, now One New Zealand Warriors, played in two World Cups and 10 tests for the Kiwi league team while somehow fitting in time to marry James's daughter Natasha and have two gorgeous children, Mila and Niko... Awen Guttenbeil joined James Daniels and Tyler Adams for Six And A Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment, Workplace & Information Expert with Taylor Shaw Barristers & Solicitors. He regularly joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels to answer all listeners' employment related questions. Today, he joined the show to answer questions about being contractor, apprenticeships, and employee liability among other things. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 1983, 21-year-old Dunedin born, Christchurch raised, Michael Mayell started the iconic Kiwi company ‘Cookie Time’ which has just turned 40. He baked cookies in a rented bakery and he and his mother delivered them to dairies across Christchurch, where they were sold individually from large glass jars. Mayell sold 5000 cookies in the first week, and in the first year of operation sold nearly quarter of a million dollars' worth of cookies. There’s way more to Michael Mayell than cookies though and he joined James Daniels and Tyler Adams for this week’s edition of Six And A Song... LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A policy bonfire - as Chris Hipkins slashes and burns contentious arms of the Government's work programme. The new Prime Minister's just revealed details of his bread and butter reset - scrapping the TVNZ- RNZ merger, hiking the minimum wage to 22 dollars 70, and stalling proposed hate speech laws. He's also announced a social insurance scheme won't be passed this term - and confirmed Three Waters could soon be in for a shake-up. Chris Hipkins says it's about refocusing priorities - and putting the cost of living front and centre. Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels to share his thought. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An unrepentant social media manager has defended sharing private photographs of Gore mayor Ben Bell amid accusations of dirty politics. Natasha Chadwick, who was paid $9200 by incumbent mayor Tracy Hicks to run his social media as part of his $14,000 campaign, shared the photos of Bell with media outlets after the election, saying “what he (Bell) does socially is absolutely the people’s business”. Hicks yesterday said Chadwick approached him during his campaign about using the photos but he declined saying it was not his style. However, he stood by Chadwick, who says she waited until after the election before sharing the pictures with media, calling her an “absolute professional” who was a pleasure to work with. Yesterday, RNZ reported on allegations of dirty politics emerging from the mayoral race and rumours about Bell’s sexuality. Bell said he had heard rumours about his sexuality toward the end of his campaign, but did not know where they had come from and could not say for sure whether it was a case of “dirty tactics” from Chadwick. “Things get heated during a campaign, so that’s politics at the end of the day,” Bell said. Either way, it was “water off a duck’s back”. “It didn’t matter to me and the photo that she’s alleged to have ... is on my Instagram. “I didn’t take it down. I have no intention of taking it down. “People like to think what they like to think. “I’m a public figure at the end of the day, so my life is pretty public these days,” he said. He made his Instagram account private before his campaign to protect his friends’ privacy, he said. In an email to councillor Bret Highsted, released to the Otago Daily Times, Bell addressed the issue, saying “unless you get directly from me, it’s simply rumours”. Highsted replied saying he was not aware of any “explicit” photos of Bell being circulated. “I have seen a relatively harmless photo of you being kissed on the cheek at what looks like a festival. “My response ... is the next generation would think nothing of it,” Highsted said. Chadwick, who lives in Tapanui, said she did not share the photos or rumours during the campaign, although she had tried to get the media to pick up on them after her contract with Hicks had ended. She was unrepentant about spreading the photos. “To me, if you’re going to run in a public office and you’re going to be in a public space I think you need to present authentically,” she said. “If he wasn’t ashamed of anything he did, why did he go and hide all of that stuff? That was my question.” Bell’s response is that he made his Instagram account private before his campaign to protect his friends’ privacy. Former Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks. Photo / Supplied Chadwick had suggested Hicks use the posts during the campaign. “I thought it could have been an advantage, I’m not going to lie, but Tracy was not interested in playing that role and he would have been mortified if I had done anything about it during the campaign,” Chadwick said. After the election was over and her contract was up and she could speak in her own capacity, she raised the posts with several media outlets, including the Otago Daily Times. Hicks said he had been surprised when Chadwick brought up the pictures but he had not wanted to get into that type of campaigning. “As far as I’m aware, they weren’t used,” Hicks said of the pictures. While some people clearly knew about the rumours, they were never raised in a public way as far as he was aware. He did not know who was spreading them. “Some people see that as fair game, but I’m afraid it’s not in my gamebook,” Hicks said. He said he was “not really” aware of her efforts to bring attention to the posts after the campaign. Glenys Dickson said she was aware of the rumours during Bell’s campaign, but thought a person’s sexual preference had no relevance to being mayor and paid no attention to it. “He’s elected to do a job and I think he’s doing a good job,” Dickson said. Cr Joe Stringer, who ran with Bell on the Team Hokonui ticket, said he knew about the rumour but did not think councillors were behind it. “I don’t think any of the councillors would’ve done anything like that ... I think it started in the general public,” he said.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carmel Sepuloni first entered Parliament after the 2008 general election as a List member, becoming New Zealand’s first MP of Tongan descent. She is the MP for Kelston and has been New Zealand’s Minister for Social Development since 2017. She is also Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage plus Associate Minister of Foreign affairs focussing on the Pacific She was also previously the Minister for ACC and Minister for Disability Issues. Born and raised in Waitara, Taranaki, Sepuloni moved to Auckland in 1996. Carmel Sepuloni is now New Zealand’s first Pasifika Deputy Prime Minister... The Honorable Carmel Sepuloni joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels for this week's Six & A Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nathan Wallis is New Zealand's leading Neuroscience Educator, focusing on child development and how the brain works. He's a lively and engaging speaker who uses humour and plain language to make his complex topic come to life. Nathan explores how the brain works and how neuroscience can better inform our day to day interactions with children and young people. He joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels every second Tuesday – taking your calls and questions on everything to do with child behaviour, development, how to get through to teenagers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fascinating opinion piece in the NZ Herald penned by Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Auckland Tim Hazledine where he reveals his wish that New Zealand adopt a UBI – Universal Basic Income. He's suggesting 'a grand in the hand' a month. Everyone would get it, no targeting, no administrative fuss. It would not be enough to live comfortably on, but it would provides insurance against sudden misfortune, a start for savings and fund enterprise. Tim reckons our current spending on welfare would be plenty to fund a tax-free UBI of $1000 for every single adult New Zealand resident. Tim Hazledine joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels on the show. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters hardly needs introduction but for the record he grew up in Northland and holds a BA and an LLB. He entered Parliament in 1978 in the seat of Hunua and was MP for Tauranga from 1984 till 2005. In 1993, Mr Peters and others formed the New Zealand First Party and gained representation in the last First Past the Post election. Then in 1996 New Zealand First won 17 seats in New Zealand’s first MMP election. He has been Deputy Prime Minister, Treasurer, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Racing! The Rt Honorable Winston Peters joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels for Six And A Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour has had another big year. The Act party leader has continued to see his party rise in the polls while continuing to be a thorn in the side of the labour government. That strain seemed to show this week after he was labelled ‘an arrogant prick’ by the prime minister. So how has he rated his own 2022? David Seymour joined the show for Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Minister has condemned protesters who paint bombed MP electorate offices throughout the country. The Restore Passenger Rail lobby group has sprayed red paint on MP offices in Auckland, Wellington Christchurch and Dunedin -- despite meeting with Michael Wood last week. Wood says today's demonstration is concerning for those who work in their MP offices. Simon Barnett and Tyler Adams spoke with Save Passenger Rail's James Cockle to try and understand their motives. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's phasing out of the fuel subsidy scheme - to finish late March next year. The fuel subsidy will stay 25 cents a litre until the end of February -- then drop to 12.5 cents, until the end of March. The half-price public transport scheme will last until the same time - with both extensions costing taxpayers an extra 116 million dollars. Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics Brad Olsen joined Simon Barnett & Tyler Adams to discuss the move. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.