/on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/rss 九一星空无限 Mon, 14 Jul 2025 22:47:38 Z en /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-wellington-deserves-better-than-what-we-heard-from-ray-chung-on-friday/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-wellington-deserves-better-than-what-we-heard-from-ray-chung-on-friday/ On Friday afternoon, when I heard that Ray Chung, Mayoral candidate for Wellington, was going to appear with Ryan Bridge on 九一星空无限talk ZB’s Drive to discuss the gossipy email he sent regarding Tory Whanau, I thought good on him for fronting.  7 minutes and 20 seconds later, I was as speechless as Ryan Bridge.  What a bumbling, embarrassing trainwreck of an interview.  First there was the comment it had been a hard couple of days for Ray Chung since the email was publicly released. Well, yes, when you’re running in a local body election and caught spreading salacious gossip it can make for a tough day. But considering Mr Chung had been on the phone since 4am on Friday, and spent the day talking to media about the fiasco, you’d expect him to have crafted a tight message by 5pm.  I expected him to apologise for spreading gossip, clarify what happened, accept responsibility. You known, to demonstrate some, well, leadership potential. Some mayoral potential.  I’m a big advocate for voting in local body elections. I want to have a say in who runs my city. I know it’s not the cool thing to do and most people can’t be bothered. But I love and appreciate everything my city has to offer and I want it to be a great and affordable place to live.  But to get people to vote we need candidates who are articulate, smart, and decisive leaders. We need people who understand the political environment, can work with others, and know how to get things done. Back in 2022, Wellington City councilor Iona Pannett despaired at how toxic and negative the campaigning was in the local body elections. More recently Tory Whanau has called politics an “ugly place”. Some of the issues highlighted by Crown observer of Wellington City Council, Lindsay McKenzie, are that it’s an overwhelmed council, there is public criticism by elected members, and dysfunctional relationships.  If there was ever a time Wellington needed a candidate who can convince constituents they can as mayor bring this council together and make it function, then it’s now. And yet, here we are. Ten days after candidate nominations opened for local body elections and the dirty politics has kicked off. Did Ray Chung write that email out of genuine concern for his Mayor? Probably not. Has the email’s release being timed to hurt Ray Chung’s campaign.Probably yes. So, no one looks particulargreat do they? Wellington deserves better.  This isn’t a big enough faux pas for Chung to take himself out of the race. But if he’s going to continue, can I suggest he takes a simpler approach to dealing with issues. When the receipt (as the kids say these days) is there for all to see, apologise and take accountability. You don’t need to over explain, and if you're ever asked whether you've had an orgy - just say no. Sat, 12 Jul 2025 22:21:45 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-why-cant-we-get-sports-stadiums-right/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-why-cant-we-get-sports-stadiums-right/ As the All Blacks took to the field at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin last night to stagger over the line against the French, I thought about the calls I had on Marcus Lush Nights on Friday, talking about the future of our large stadiums - and in particular of Forsyth Barr Stadium and Wellington’s Sky Stadium. It doesn’t seem to matter which city you’re in across the country, stadiums are problematic. Auckland continues its decade-old debate about whether we need a new multipurpose waterfront stadium and now, what to do with Western Springs.   Christchurch rate payers are unhappy about the cost blowouts for their new stadium, Te Kaha - although when it opens I reckon they'll be won over and pretty happy.   Wellington has a stadium that’s not well designed for rectangle sports - rugby or football - suffers for the city’s inclement weather and rarely looks full.   Te Kaha has them all spooked.   As fans took their seat at Forsyth Barr last night they may have wondered how likely, after Christchurch’s shiny new stadium opens next year, they will be to see concerts from artists such as Pink and Ed Sheeran, or All Black tests, in their city again.   And they are right to be worried.   There is only so much sport to go around, and with more global acts skipping New Zealand, competition is only going to get tougher.   We tend to think of large outdoors stadium as a must for a city of a certain size - a required piece of civic infrastructure like a library, theatre or art gallery - but perhaps we’re more ambitious than we need to be. Does the South Island really need two covered stadiums? Perhaps not. But if you live in Christchurch you’re thinking about Christchurch, not contemplating what it means for the stadium down the road.   Forsyth Barr was conceived before the Christchurch Earthquake, opening in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. So Forsyth Barr always expected to compete with Christchurch, and obviously there was confidence it could. You could say Dunedin has had an unexpected advantage over the last 14 years. But now with competing stadiums, it’s on the council and stadium management to step up and find a way to ensure the stadium remains an asset for the city and not a white elephant.   The saying ‘built it and people will come’ doesn’t apply to stadiums. You need to convince people to choose your stadium and your city to perform in, and then convince the locals to attend. Everyone has a role in making stadiums work.   Look at Eden Park. The recent change to allow up to 12 concerts a year to be held there has seen a surge in fondness for the place - even if it’s mind-blowing how long it’s taken to happen. The benefit are obvious on show weekends.   Last night looked like a great night in Dunedin. The crowd in full voice, clearly enjoying the entertainment - both the stadium and the All Blacks got the job done. Gee, I hope it lasts. It’s going to be really difficult, but hopefully Dunedin will find a way to make sure Forsyth Barr remains a source of pride.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Jul 2025 22:42:00 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-making-lotto-harder-to-win-might-come-with-more-problems/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-making-lotto-harder-to-win-might-come-with-more-problems/ So, what’s your number?   What’s the amount you think would be perfect to win in Lotto Powerball? The amount that allows you to pay off the mortgage, set the kids up, help family, and maybe fulfil a dream or two - but without it upending your life in a negative way?   We’ve all got a fantasy number, right? I reckon $10 million would be perfect, but to be honest, I’d take anything the numbers give me. A couple of grand - cheers!   Lotto NZ has a proposition to evolve the draw to ensure it continues to appeal to people. It’s early stages and will need Government approval, but the idea is to see fewer regular wins and more of the exciting mega jackpots of $50 million. How do they do this? By adding another Powerball number.  Currently to win Powerball, you need to get the 6 first division numbers, and the Powerball number. There are 10 balls in the Powerball draw and your chances of winning are 1 in 38 million. Add one extra Powerball and the odds would decrease to 1 in 42.2 million, meaning the jackpots rise to the crazy amounts which cause a frenzy of ticket sales.   $50 million jackpots sound exciting. It’s why so many people ignore the odds and queue up to buy a ticket in the hope of winning an unfathomable amount of money. So Lotto NZ are likely onto something here. But it will also make it harder to win.  I’ve always felt uncomfortable when the number gets above the $20 million mark. Yes, it’s wonderful to think of the good you could do, but I also start to think about things - like whether I would tell anyone? How could you keep it private? Would it impact my friendships? Relationships with family? How would it impact our children and how they chose to live their lives? Would it change priorities and values?   Yes, you could say it’s a waste of energy overthinking something which I can say with confidence is not going to happen. Even so, hearing about Powerball winners, and there have been 11 overnight millionaires this year, including two lucky punters who split $30 million from Saturday last week, does see me buying the occasional ticket.   So knowing it’s even harder to win and there will be fewer winners makes the lotto draw less appealing to me. For two simple reasons. I don’t think anyone needs to win $50 million. And I’d much prefer more New Zealanders had the life changing experience of waking up on Sunday a heck of lot better off, rather than just a few waking up filthy rich.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 28 Jun 2025 21:33:03 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-why-does-jaws-still-have-such-a-long-lasting-impact/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-why-does-jaws-still-have-such-a-long-lasting-impact/ This week, Steven Spielberg’s terrifying film Jaws turned 50. Yes, 50.   Jaws was released in 1975, and on Friday afternoon I mentioned this on 九一星空无限talk ZB and shared how much it affected me when I saw it for the first time.   We were having our first big family holiday - Mum and Dad took us to the Gold Coast to see family, and on the first night my cousin thought it would be a great idea to slip the Jaws VHS into the player to entertain his Kiwi cousins. We were there for two weeks to enjoy the beach and sunshine, and I refused to enter the water. I think I may have got in up to my knees at the beach, and then I would ask if we could go back to the apartment complex pool. My parents did not take me to Oz to swim in a pool.   Even though I was scared senseless by the film, I was reminded by the chat on Friday that so was everyone else. People were calling to say Jaws had driven them out of the ocean for their entire lives.   Not many films leave that kind of impression. It didn’t matter that we knew the shark wasn’t real. It didn’t matter that we knew it was a fictional story. It didn’t matter that we knew we were being manipulated for entertainment’s sake. Jaws simply had us all on edge in the water.   Jaws also created a template many films have followed since. Alien was said to be pitched as Jaws in space, and in Nope, filmmaker Jordan Peele’s lead characters are stalked by a mysterious alien presence which doesn’t reveal itself until late in the film, much like the great white in Jaws.   Withholding the shark’s appearance in Jaws until the second hour wasn’t intentional, but it worked brilliantly as a tension building device. What the audience conjured up in their imagination was worse than anything Spielberg could deliver. It turned out that Bruce, the mechanical shark, was a nightmare to work with. He hadn’t been tested in salt water and often wasn’t able to perform.   So, Bruce appeared less than expected and also pushed the shoot out from 55 days to 159. This meant the film couldn’t open when scheduled, which was just before Christmas in 1974, and the decision was made to release it in the summer of 1975.   Jaws didn’t just revolutionise the ‘creature’ genre. It was the first ever summer blockbuster and changed the way Hollywood releases movies. It also became the first film to cross the US$100 million takes mark at the box office. It was also a disservice to sharks!   But as Friday’s chat proved, this pop culture phenomenon’s biggest achievement is probably that summers have never been quite the same.    Thank goodness we get to commemorate the Jaws anniversary in winter.   LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 21 Jun 2025 22:10:52 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-its-the-end-of-an-era-for-two-classic-kiwi-brands/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-its-the-end-of-an-era-for-two-classic-kiwi-brands/ This week marks the end of an era for two classic Kiwi brands - department store Smith & Caughey’s announced it will shut their doors for the last time at 4pm today, and hosiery manufacturer Columbine that they’re closing their Gisborne factory in August.   These are both sad events. Smith & Caughey’s has been part of Queen St for 145 years, and Columbine has kept me in opaque tights for as long as I can remember, and others for longer before! But the news was hardly shocking.  Manufacturing in New Zealand has become increasingly challenging and costly over decades. Retail has been transformed by online shopping and parallel importing. A disruptive pandemic didn’t help, and continuing economic uncertainty means closures are an unfortunate reality.   It’s incredible tough for staff, and while no one involved is likely interested in silver-linings right now, we should take a moment to celebrate that Smith & Caughey’s employed people for 145 years, and Columbine for 75 years. Both are significant achievements.   But it’s going to be an emotional afternoon on Queen St today. A tough day for staff, shoppers, suppliers, and those who loved making the annual trip up the elevator to see Santa Claus and the incredible Christmas displays. I have a collection of photos in which at least one of my kids is crying while posing next to the bearded stranger. I know, my bad. But the bauble for the tree was always appreciated.   Many of us have memories of this Auckland retail icon. Whether you live in Auckland or have visited over the years, Smith & Caughey’s initially offered service and products you couldn’t get anywhere else. It was a historic company with a female founder ahead of her time, set in a beautiful building. Think of the secrets and stories hidden in those walls.   Smith & Caughey’s explanation for closing was a “perfect storm of adversity”. In addition to economic uncertainty, they referenced increased parking costs, ongoing roadworks and the slow progress of the City Rail Link (CRL) as having an impact on shoppers. While today should be a day of appreciation and fond memories, retailers can’t afford to be quite so nostalgic. There are lessons to be learnt about moving with the times, adapting to competition, less exclusivity and retaining customers.   Also announced this week, Columbine, a family business and the last hosiery manufacturer in New Zealand, will shut its doors and 45 jobs will go.   Once again, reality bites. A written statement from the company said the decision was “driven by a combination of declining sales and increased operational costs, which made it unsustainable to continue manufacturing in Gisborne”.  Interestingly, recently released data compiled by Infometrics looked at the types of jobs which have disappeared over the last 25 years. If you look at jobs in manufacturing - such as a sewing machinist, footwear production machine operator, hide and skin processing machine operator, knitting machine operator, textile dyeing and finishing machine operator and others, employment has fallen from 14,472 to 5608 since 2000.   This isn’t just because companies have closed, but because technology has taken over. It’s a reminder that change and challenge are constant in most sectors.   So surviving as a manufacturer in New Zealand for 75 years is nothing to scoff at. It’s actually very impressive and quite something really.    Both companies should be proud of their legacies.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 14 Jun 2025 22:15:39 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-theres-no-doubt-that-robyn-malcolm-is-in-her-prime/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-theres-no-doubt-that-robyn-malcolm-is-in-her-prime/ Two things have entertained me this week. We’ve had the falling out of two of the world’s most powerful and wealthy narcissists - all of which played out on their own social media platforms. This breakup must be the most predicted thing to come out of Trump’s presidency so far.   After the drama of Thursday’s outbursts, there seems to be a de-escalation between President Trump and his former benefactor and DOGE leader Elon Musk. Maybe they each realised they’re unlikely to win outright, with the other having a platform to keep the jabs coming. Or maybe a little more strategic thought is going into next moves, although I’m not sure how much lower the blows could have gone.   But if you’re looking for alternative entertainment this weekend, I can recommend Netflix’s The Survivors.   The Aussie series is based on a Jane Harper novel set in Tasmania, and tells the story of how a present-day death in a coastal town brings back difficult memories of a 15-year-old tragedy when 3 young people died at sea. It’s a crime drama filled with small town secrets, buried trauma and grief. At the heart of this film, giving another acting masterclass, is our very own Kiwi legend Robyn Malcolm. Every time I see Malcolm in a new role I say it’s her best performance yet - she’s at the very top of her game. It occurred to me this weekend that she’s always been at the top of her game - whether on Shortland St, Outrageous Fortune, Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake or Aussie comedies like Rake or Upper Middle Bogan.  But there’s no doubt Malcolm just keeps getting better. While many other actors discuss the difficulty of getting work once a woman hits a certain age, Malcolm reminds us the middle years can be the glory years. That a life of experience and hard work can lead to the roles of a lifetime. Recent performances in After the Party, Pike River, and The Survivors are giving writers a reason to write wonderfully layered, messed up characters for women like Malcolm to play.   If you look at Robyn’s resume you’d think she’s been employed consistently since walking out of drama school in 1987. But I know it hasn’t always been easy. Being an actor is not an easy life no matter how damn good you are. But watching Malcolm, along with Dianne Taylor, pick up a pen and create a project for herself - the Bafta-nominated After the Party - proves you can be middle aged, relevant, celebrated and seen, if you want to be.     It's hard to take your eyes off her in The Survivor. But just wait until you see her in Rob Sarkies’ new film Pike River, which is being released in New Zealand in October. Yip, you guessed it. Her best work yet. Seriously, she is spectacular as Sonya Rockhouse. There is no doubt 2025 is going to be a great year for Malcolm, and I’m sure it’s just the beginning of an amazing third act.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 07 Jun 2025 22:14:28 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-how-can-we-stop-the-sideline-abuse-in-sport/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-how-can-we-stop-the-sideline-abuse-in-sport/ This week, the New Zealand rugby union say it will cancel senior rugby matches for a weekend if there are any more incidents of serious abuse directed towards referees. And I say - good on them. The Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Football Union said recent events had seen refs targeted with verbal threats, threats of physical harm - including of being stabbed - and 'actual physical abuse'. We don’t put up with verbal or physical abuse or intimidation in our homes or in our work places - why would we put up with it in a public space, in front of families watching a game of sport? This isn’t a new problem. But is it getting worse, or are we just now fed up enough to do something about it Weekend Sport’s Jason Pine told me yesterday it’s probably a bit of both.  Back in March, a NZ survey released by Aktive, the Regional Sports Trust for the wider Auckland region, found that more than 60 percent of survey participants had witnessed inappropriate behaviour at least once or twice a season. And get this - most of this was verbal abuse directed at children.  It also found that referees and volunteers were subjected to verbal abuse. In my view this is an unhealthy extension of the rowdy Kiwi sidelines filled with subjective parents, one eyed supporters, self-proclaimed experts, passionate school pits and plenty of encouragement, banter and, increasingly, abuse.   I’ve got an easy fix. Not everyone will like the idea. You may think it’s no fun. You may ask what’s the point of standing in miserable winter weather watching your kid if you can’t be part of it. But here's the idea - quieten down on the sideline, think of kids' sport as an opportunity to show them positivity rather than aggression, and maybe this will spread across sport in general  I have some experience with this. So, I have always been vocal from the sideline. I’ve thought of it as a sign of interest in my kids and as encouragement. When I stood on the field for my first foray into coaching and refing 8-year-old's football, I was absolutely shocked at what I heard.   Children can’t hear specific instructions because generally parents all yell at the same time, when the attack is threatening and the defence is scrambling. All they hear is noise. Loud aggressive, instructional noises - then either noises of disappointment or celebration. They also can’t hear each other, or the ref.   It’s overwhelming, and ever since that experience I’ve been a fan of only positive noises - claps and cheers when players do well. Because children and teens all know when they didn’t play well. They don’t need to be told.   So, it was great to see more than 1000 players aged between 5 and 10 from 10 Hawke’s Bay clubs took part in the Unison Junior Festival yesterday. The football event was all about positive vibes, as it aimed to highlight the importance of constructive and supportive sideline behaviour from parents and supporters.   It’s just one of many campaigns out there to create a more supportive environment for people involved in sport. Top New Zealand rugby ref and victim of horrible abuse, Ben O'Keefe, is now an ambassador for 'Love Their Game', launched by Aktive to remind people that the game belongs to those playing, refereeing, coaching and managing, and not those on the sideline.  Hopefully these types of programmes will mean more quality experiences for those involved in sport, from the players to the volunteers.   And can I suggest that if you don’t like the way a team is managed, coached or refereed, then feel free to step up and become a volunteer yourself, rather than yelling from the sidelines.  LISTEN ABOVE  Sat, 31 May 2025 22:30:47 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-im-not-confident-the-governments-firm-handed-approach-for-teenagers-will-make-a-difference/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-im-not-confident-the-governments-firm-handed-approach-for-teenagers-will-make-a-difference/ For a Government which champions an urgent need to increase growth, to cut wasteful spending, and for less reliance on Government, they sometimes take a relaxed approach to doing something about it.   Take the proposed change for 18 and 19-year-olds to no longer be eligible for an unemployment benefit. It sounds like the Government’s taking a decisive stand - until you find out it’s not going to come into practice until July 2027 and that how it’s going to work hasn’t been thought through at this stage.   I can see the voter appeal of the Government saying they don’t think 18-year olds should have the option the day after their birthday of hitting the couch at home, where they play PlayStation and collect the dole.   No one wants to see healthy and capable young people taking that approach. So surely Cabinet could come up with the rules for exceptions and get this in place by mid next year? If they’re serious about cost cutting and changing young people’s attitudes, then why are they waiting 2 years?   This may be one of those ideas which sounds constructive and purposeful to voters, but the Government is aware current economic conditions aren’t right to make it work.   They will want to be confident young people can get a job, particularly in areas with high rates of youth unemployment. They will want to be confident students studying to be apprentices can get an apprenticeship. With youth unemployment currently at 12.9 percent, is this scheme even workable? The rate for 20-24 year-olds not in employment, education, or training is higher still, 15.7 percent at the end of the March quarter.   So what does this mean - our teenagers just waiting to the hit twenty before hitting the JobSeeker benefit anyway?   Putting the emphasis back on parents to support their kids may also be a bit of a non-starter. Sure, taking benefit payments away from teenagers may give parents more sway with their teen, but generally I find teens aren’t always great at doing what they’re told.   And when it comes to financial support, as much as many parents are encouraging their children’s independence at 18, they’re likely already supporting their kids somehow - free rent, cash for weekly expenses while studying, covering expenses like doctor’s visits or paying car insurance.   But for many families, supporting their children until that are 20 is unachievable. Yes  there are some parents who can step up, and they should, but no one wants to see parents who are already struggling struggle even more. So will this policy have a meaningful impact on the 9000 young adults who fall into this category?   We know people under the age of 25 on Jobseeker support would spend an average of 18 or more years on a benefit over their lifetime. This is a good cycle to break. But doing it this way is also at odds with how we otherwise treat young people. At 18, parents no longer have the rights or responsibilities that come with being a guardian. 18-year-olds can vote, and they are no longer treated as a young person under criminal law. Picking and choosing when we treat young people as adults doesn’t add much clarity or motivation.   So, the Government’s firm handed approach sounds good, but I’m not confident it’s going to make much of a difference.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 24 May 2025 23:40:09 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-they-dont-make-them-like-tom-cruise-anymore/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-they-dont-make-them-like-tom-cruise-anymore/ They don’t make them like Tom Cruise anymore.   As the nature of stardom has changed over the last few decades the idea of the classic movie star has slowly diminished. But the latest and final Mission Impossible film, The Final Reckoning, makes it clear Tom is top of the list of good old-fashioned movie stars still out there.  There are several reasons movie stars and stardom aren’t what they once were. The rise of the paparazzi, the internet and social media means we know much more about the people up on screen. Actors struggle to control their image and brand the way they once did - they are no longer untouchable or mysterious.  And these days ‘celebrity’ has morphed into something different. Anyone can be elevated to ‘famous’ if they’re prepared to put themselves out there on Insta, Twitch or the 'Tok. The film industry is also less snobby - even A-list film stars do TV now.    So over time, we’ve seen the clout of the movie star decline. Don’t get me wrong, a big studio will always want a name - and big names - but that big name no long guarantees a movie will open well at the box office, or make a killing.   Look at last year’s The Fall Guy. It featuring two talented, popular actors at the top of their game, Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling, straight off the Barbenheimer train, but didn’t really bother the box office. It struggled to break even.   And then there’s the rise of the franchise. Consumers are more loyal to a franchise than an actor these days - and the output from Marvel, DC, Jurassic World, and Final Destination films just keeps on coming.   But watching Tom Cruise on Friday night at a preview of his nostalgic and thrilling final Mission Impossible film, reminded me that the man is in a league of his own. It’s taken most of his career for me to like the guy. He was growing on me, but then he lost me when he jumped on Oprah’s couch trying to convince us how much he loved Katie Holmes.    But I have always respected him. Not because he does his own stunts, takes traditional filmmaking to its limits, and creates ambitious and wildly entertaining films. Not for his acting ability - although he definitely can act - think Magnolia, Minority Report, Born on the Fourth of July, and A Few Good Men. Nor is it because he can open a film to rave reviews and great box office - the Mission Impossible franchise has made more than $4 billion.    The reason I respect him is simply because he’s in it for the love of it.    At the beginning of the Mission Impossible preview on Friday night, Tom did a quick piece to camera to thanks us all for being there. This wasn’t a charm offensive. He was quite particular in what he said - he wanted us to enjoy this authentic cinema experience on the big screen the way it is was made to be seen.   Since the pandemic, Cruise has been on a mission to get people back into the cinema. Long before Anora director Sean Baker urged viewers to keep seeing films in theatres at the Oscars earlier this year, Tom Cruise has literally been putting his life on the line convincing us that there is nowhere more magical to watch a film than in the theatre.  Considering what he has put himself through to create his latest film, it would be rude not to.    LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 17 May 2025 22:33:57 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-theres-a-new-horror-movie-out-in-the-form-of-trump-tariffs/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-theres-a-new-horror-movie-out-in-the-form-of-trump-tariffs/ This week, a new disaster movie was announced. There isn’t a script yet, because no one knows how it’s going to end - and when it was announced, no one knew how to react. If there was ever a global WTF moment in film, it was Trump’s announcement of a 100 percent tariff on films coming into the US which have been produced in foreign lands.   As is often the case with President Trump, he asks a good question but comes up with the wrong answer. It’s totally reasonable to look at how California can rebuild its entertainment industry. According to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, around 18,000 full time jobs have been lost over the last three years, mostly in California. So, yes, sure, look at how to maintain production and jobs in the US - but in a way which will actually benefit the entertainment business.  No one sees the tariff on films made overseas as the answer to their problems. Many US studios make films overseas. The industry was advocating for tax incentives and subsidies and all the other normal things countries, including New Zealand, have done to help their film industries.  But throwing out a declaration on social media without further explanation isn’t the way to convince an industry you have their best interests at heart. Share prices for Netflix, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount and Comcast fell after President Trump’s announcement.   And what does this proposal even mean? Is Trump talking about independent, foreign language films? Or large-scale studio films made overseas? And what if you produce the film from the States - say you write the script, pre-produced and post produce the film in the US, but take advantage of another country’s tax incentives to shoot there? Is that a film made in a foreign land? What about a US produced film that uses Weta FX in NZ to create award winning visual effects - will it have to foot the tariff bill? What does this mean for streaming services? It's thought about 75 percent of Netflix content is made outside the US. Will TV shows be included?   It’s a minefield and it has thrown Hollywood into chaos. Films do not get made in a hurry, they are scheduled and planned years in advance. This is close to a writer’s strike - in that Hollywood is being forced to take a breath and pause non-committed work, and it will take some time to get things started again.   It’s not just Hollywood who has been thrown, film industries around the world are in collective shock. In the UK, where new instalments of Marvel’s Avengers and Spider-Man are set to shoot in London, the news was met with disbelief. Succession star Brian Cox called it “an absolute disaster”, and with a related workforce of around 200,000, many freelancers could find themselves jobless.   New Zealand could suffer the same fate. Our industry has been bolstered recently by international productions, such as Chief of War, Minecraft and Brad Pitt’s Heart of the Beast. We have an incredible industry here driven by a world-class crew who rely on these international projects. At the beginning of the year, Studio West in Auckland completed construction of its fifth sound stage, and Auckland Film Studios is also adding new stages - all so they can accommodate bigger international projects. The industry will be holding its breath that it can find a way to fill this new capacity. New Zealand's film sector generates NZ$3.5 billion annually, with around one third of revenue generated from the United States. So, yeah, what Brian Cox said - this could be a disaster.   But we're grown ups - so keep calm and carry on seems to be the public response so far, but behind the scenes there is no doubt at least mild panic. Finding a way to convince Trump there are other approaches to Make Hollywood Great Again will be at the forefront of industry leaders' minds right now - let’s hope they do. Otherwise, this story might have a miserable ending...  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 10 May 2025 22:31:59 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-financial-literacy-in-schools-is-a-good-thing/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-financial-literacy-in-schools-is-a-good-thing/ These days I have blurry memories of my time at primary school in Auckland in the late 70s, early 80s, but I can very clearly remember my ASB school banking book. ASB began school banking in 1972 as a way for children to learn about saving and banks, and I guess it was also with a view to retaining us as customers when we were in the workforce and had real amounts of money.  On banking days, I can remember bringing my 50 cents to school to make the deposit. My book was stamp marked with the date and the deposit and new balance amounts written in. And goodness, did I love watching the balance increase. I’m pretty sure at one point I had an ASB Kashin elephant money box as well. I’m sure this is ringing a bell with some of you.   This is far from what the Government proposed this week - compulsory financial education for students up to year 10, starting in 2026. But, encouraged by my parents, it was at primary school that my understanding of savings and budgeting began - because it was easy and available. While I was budgeting to add to my rubber and sticker collections the real benefit was that I became a good saver, and it has stuck with me for life.  As has my now worthless rubber collection - currently in a box under the stairs. I know teachers are inundated with curriculum changes and already have a lot to deal with in the classroom - but there must be room to grow financial literacy beyond what’s in the maths curriculum. Concepts like saving, budgeting, debt and investment.   Of all the things students learn to prepare them for life after school, surely this is among the most useful and important.   Yes, this is something parents should be teaching their children, but financial knowledge is not equal amongst adults. Some parents don’t like talking about money. Some assume their children will pick up good money management habits through osmosis. Some prefer to leave it to an expert to explain along the way. And many children just don’t listen to their parents.   When my son got his first part-time job, I suggested he read Get Started Investing by the guys behind the Equity Mates podcast. It was perfect for a teen boy. But no, the idea of having his own money and the freedom to spend it how he liked was way too exciting. OK - so I was a bit optimistic, but at least I know that in theory he understands the idea of compound interest.   I'm enthusiastic about my children becoming financially independent - as quickly as possible - so the more information they have, from as many sources as possible, the better prepared they are to make good decisions.   As an adult I’m still learning how to manage my money better. So, let’s get them started young. We don’t know what the curriculum requirements will be at this stage, but let’s give our children the basics and the best chance to be good with money for life.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 03 May 2025 22:09:56 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-we-need-to-simplify-easter-trading-hours/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-we-need-to-simplify-easter-trading-hours/ If you live in a city, there is something quite special about waking up on Good Friday - to the sound of silence. There are no cars on the road, no hum of traffic in the distance, no sound of people going about their day-to-day routines. My first thought on Friday was - it’s like Christmas Day. My second thought wasn’t as pleasant - it’s like lockdown. But the feeling was the same - how nice the world is when it pauses for a moment. But as much as I appreciate these few days a year when many get to stop, the crazy rush, chock-a-block carparks and supermarkets on Thursday and Saturday made me wonder whether it’s worth it.  We don’t seem to be able to cope, or prepare, for supermarkets to shut. If we weren’t down on hot cross buns, I certainly wouldn’t have made the trip to my local. It’s lovely having Friday and Sunday off, but not, if the days around it are a nightmare. We have been talking about the inconsistencies and confusion around retail laws over Easter for as long as I can remember. What is open and shut depends on where you are in the country; sometimes where you are in a city. Don’t forget it’s the local authority which decides whether stores can open or not.   It depends on what you’re selling. There are strange restrictions on what can be sold, and you must be selling something that people can’t put off buying until the next day. But you can get a haircut. And just to make it even more confusing - the Shop Trading Hours Act covers both public holidays, and days that aren’t public holidays, such as Easter Sunday. I think it’s time to let people decide for themselves how they want to spend their Easter. Whether they open their businesses, work or shop, or do none of the above and quietly go about their day.  We’ve been arguing forever the merits of a day off and people being able to spend time with family and friends, or businesses being able to make the most of people wanting to spend money and get jobs done.  We have spoken about employees facing pressure from their employers to work over Easter when they would prefer not to. And how there are plenty of employees who would happily take the benefits of working a public holiday.  Let’s not forget online retailers can sell you whatever they like on these days.  What a minefield of confusion. Let’s just bite the bullet, simplify the laws, make sure employees are protected, and let businesses decide if they open or not, and get on like it’s 2025 and not 1990.  I’m also pleased sense is being shown around the purchase of alcohol over Easter. Labour MP Kieran McAnulty’s Bill to change rules around alcohol sales on ANZAC Day morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas was voted through its first reading a week or so ago.  Currently, people must order a meal before having an alcoholic beverage at a restaurant or pub. Once again, it’s all about simplifying the rules for both hospo, tourists, and Kiwis catching up at a restaurant over the holiday period. And there are a lot of businesses who would appreciate it being simpler to make a buck. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 19 Apr 2025 22:33:13 Z