NZ Matadors

5 yrs

Why Is Trumps Doomsday Plane In New Zealand?

Aucklanders could be mistakenly thinking the US president is in town this week after the arrival of a very presidential looking aircraft on Monday.

While Donald Trump wasn't onboard the so-called Doomsday Plane, it was in fact carrying US Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, who is in the country for a brief visit.

The aircraft itself has some pretty amazing facts and history behind it.

What is it?

The aircraft is a Boeing E4B, a military modified version of the Boeing 747-200. By airline standards, the aircraft is old - it's first flight was in 1973.

To put that into perspective, Air New Zealand's 747 -200s, which they first flew in 1981, were retired from the airlines fleet in 2000 at the age of 19 years. The E4B is still flying at the ripe old age of 45 years.

Nuclear:

The Boeing E4 was built to be a mobile command post for the president of the United States, even in the event of nuclear war. It's designed to withstand the electromagnetic pulse of a nuclear explosion and remaine completely intact. Because of this, its become known as the 'Doomsday Plane'.

Protect the President:

On top of being essentially a flying bunker for the US president, the aircraft is also part of the massive, behind-the-scenes contingency planning that goes into any presidential visit.

Protect the President in any way possible.

On top of being essentially a flying bunker for the US president, the aircraft is also part of the massive, behind-the-scenes contingency planning that goes into any presidential visit.
When the US President is visiting a city overseas using Air Force One, the Boeing E4B is deployed to an airport near his destination, should immediate evacuation be required and Air Force One is not an option.

When the US President is visiting a city overseas using Air Force One, the Boeing E4B is deployed to an airport near his destination, should immediate evacuation be required and Air Force One is not an option.

It's as rare as Texas steak

There are only four of these aircraft used by the United States as part of a 'Nightwatch' programme that ensures the president's safety.

It's so rare that you can even buy a model of it.

Bumps are becoming more common on the top of aircraft. They usually house WiFi antenna for onboard internet - however, the Doomsday Plane's is a step up from that.

Given what the aircraft was built for, its bump protects a massive HF and satellite antenna for communications with the ground, even in, well, apocalyptic conditions.

5 yrs

Majority support electric vehicle discount and high emitter fee

Fifty-one per cent of New Zealanders support the Government's proposed electric vehicle scheme that would see low-emission cars subsidised and a fee added to some high emitters.

The latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton Poll found 51 per cent were in support, 39 per cent opposed it and 10 per cent did not know.

The groups of people who were more likely than average to support the scheme were Green Party supporters, Wellingtonians, Labour supporters, Asian New Zealanders and people aged 18-34.

Those who were more than likely against were National supporters, people living in Waikato, men aged 35 and over and New Zealand Europeans.

The Government proposed earlier this month to give discounts for electric, hybrid and fuel efficient vehicles and put a fee on high emitters sold in the country for the first time. It would begin in 2021.

Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said the results showed New Zealanders wanted action on climate change.

"They support us making cleaner cars more affordable to help them be part of the solution and cut pollution. They want cars that don't make climate change worse.

"It's not just pure electric vehicles that will benefit from this policy, so there'll be a lot of options for rural people."

National's transport spokesperson Chris Bishop said the poll results showed a significant number of New Zealanders "are opposed to Labour's car tax".

"It shows people like electric vehicles but they don't want a punitive new tax. The reality is electric vehicles are good for New Zealand, I drive a Nissan leaf, National supports electric vehicles.

"For lots of people for lifestyle or affordability reasons, they simply won't be able to move to an electric vehicle any time soon. Tradies, people in the country, mums and dads with a large number of kids - there are just no electric vehicles out there for them and I think you're seeing that reflected in the poll result."

National had been releasing videos criticising the Government, calling it out of touch, particularly on the electric vehicle proposal.

Ms Genter said National's attack advertisements on the electric vehicles were "scaremongering".

The Green Party landed itself in hot water after releasing a video that mocked National leader Simon Bridges' accent has been pulled after drawing heavy criticism online. The ad was pulled just two hours after being uploaded to Twitter.

Mr Bridges said National were holding the Government to account on tax, "and they're holding me to account on my accent".

Mr Bishop said the public would be hearing National's policy closer to the election.

1 NEWS Colmar Brunton Poll - Between July 20 and 24, 1003 eligible voters were polled via landline and mobile phone. The maximum sampling error is approximately ±3.1%-points at the 95% confidence level.

Those polled were asked: 'The Government is proposing to introduce an incentive scheme to encourage New Zealanders into low-emission vehicles, such as electric cars, hybrids, and other lower emission cars. Under the scheme, new low-emission vehicles would be subsidised, making them cheaper to buy, whilst a fee would be added to the cost of new high-emission vehicles, like utes and SUVs, making them more expensive to buy. Do you support or oppose the Government’s low-emission vehicle incentive scheme?'

5 yrs

The Greens will "never" form a coalition with National while Simon Bridges leads the party.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw told Newshub Nation on Saturday morning there's a very simple reason.

"I would never empower someone with as little personal integrity as Simon Bridges to become Prime Minister," he told host Simon Shepherd, saying switching sides is "absolutely" off the table.

"We are making huge progress as part of this Government, and we want this Government to be returned."

It's a question that comes up every election cycle - could the Greens do a deal with the centre-right, if it means getting into Government?

Former leader Russel Norman in 2017 said it would never happen, even under a co-leader like Shaw, who's seen as relatively business-friendly compared to past party leaders.

"If they did so there would be very significant internal division, which would cause significant damage," he told The AM Show. "They would lose the votes of many, many people who voted for them at the last election. It's kind of a suicide note really, for the Green Party."

Shaw at the time kept the door open for National, saying it was the "polite" thing to do.

"I have said that I will hear the Prime Minister out if he wants to make his case," said Shaw, who took over from Dr Norman in 2015.

"I'm keen for the Greens to have a chance at Government, because we've never really had that full opportunity before."

National deputy Paula Bennett said she was keen to get the Greens on board, but "I don't think they are up for it".

Shaw's declaration on Saturday comes after the Greens launched an attack ad targeting Bridges. The clip, which featured a comedian putting on an exaggerated New Zealand accent, angered many of the party's supporters.

"It was an attempt at humour," co-leader Marama Davidson - appearing alongside Shaw - told Newshub Nation. "We wanted to highlight the dangerous inaction of Simon Bridges on climate change. It was not at all supposed to be an aggressive attack. It didn't fly, it didn't land, and we took it down."

Bridges has regularly defended his environmental record, saying under his leadership the party would do better than in the past.

"National emphasises the environment, and under me I think we'll emphasise it a little more, because we understand that it's important to New Zealanders and it's important to me," he said during his first appearance on Newshub Nation as leader last year.

5 yrs

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