The superannuation fund is a complete and utter waste of time, says a superannuation researcher. 

Michael Littlewood is commenting on Labour's plan to restart government contributions to the fund if elected, adding more than $7.5 billion to the fund by 2022.

He feels the Government should pay pensions as we go, like other OECD countries.

Mr Littlewood told Larry Williams the pay-as-you-go method which we used until the fund started, is the best way of paying for public pensions.

"OECD countries today pay more than we are expecting to pay in 40 years time. So if the OECD countries don't have a financial crisis today, why are we concerned about the financial crisis that might happen in 40 years time."

Mr Littlewood said the Super Fund raises New Zealand's investment risk.

"It doesn't achieve its objective and instead of having 35, or whatever it is now, billion dollars on the financial asset side of our balance sheet, we should sell the assets and repay debt."

LISTEN ABOVE AS SUPERANNUATION RESEARCHER MICHAEL LITTLEWOOD SPEAKS TO LARRY WILLIAMS ON MIKE HOSKING BREAKFAST

In a major overhaul of Inland Revenue, the Government intends to change how social payments like Working for Families are distributed.

It wants IRD to introduce a Pay-As-You-Go system based on up-to-date financial information.

The current yearly estimates has led to around 65 percent of recipients either underpaid or overpaid.

Geof Nightingale of PricewaterhouseCoopers told Larry Williams it's designed to try to deliver the entitlements on time, and avoid people getting into debt.

"It'll get direct feeds from your employer, from any bank account. There will be what they call 'non-observable income' where you'll have to provide estimates, but then the system will automatically calculate and adjust your entitlement and deliver it to you by direct credit."

Nightingale said students will also be caught in the net the overhaul.

"Student loans, same thing - so more collection, particularly students with variable incomes, and students with self-employed incomes will be required to pay more often throughout the year, again trying to avoid getting this issue of getting into debt."

LISTEN TO GEOF NIGHTINGALE SPEAK WITH LARRY WILLIAMS ABOVE

Waikato locals have had enough of boy racers taking over rural roads, threatening and intimidating them.

Hundreds of the so-called "car enthusiasts" flock to Horotiu and Te Kowhai every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Waikato District Councillor Noel Smith told Larry Williams they're doing burn outs, blowing tyres and confronting locals .

"The big issue here is the other road users wanting to go lawfully about their business can't, feeling intimated and they've had enough, so a public meeting this weekend. We are meeting with police later this week."

LISTEN ABOVE AS WAIKATO DISTRICT COUNCILLOR NOEL SMITH SPEAKS TO LARRY WILLIAMS ON THE MIKE HOSKING BEAKFAST

Labour is warning multinational companies to play ball and pay their fair share of tax or pay penalties.

It reckons New Zealand is missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars a year, as multinationals hide their profits in complex global schemes.

SEE ALSO: Labour gets tough with multinationals

Leader Andrew Little is threatening to introduce a Diverted Profits Tax if Labour comes into power.

He told Larry Williams he has written to 60 multinational companies.

"Basically it says if we're not satisfied that you're declaring the full amount of tax owning, then we will deem a level of profit to have been earned and therefore you will pay tax on that, and it's then up to the multinational company to prove otherwise."

SEE ALSO: Labour's crackdown on multinationals will be costly - expert

LISTEN ABOVE AS LABOUR LEADER ANDREW LITTLE SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS

Ninety percent of New Zealand's mayors are calling for a plastic bag levy.

A letter signed by dozens of local leaders has been sent to Associate Environment Minister Scott Simpson calling for action on plastic bags.

Thames-Coromandel mayor Sandra Goudie told Larry Williams the bags are clogging up landfills and getting into the ocean.

"We don't want to penalise shoppers, but we want them to think about what's happening to our environment, because one of the problems we're not really tackling is our rubbish mountain."

Goudie said there's no reason for councils to set levies individually, with such wide-ranging support.

"It would be so difficult for supermarket providers. It's only sensible if government sets the levy across the board."

LISTEN TO SANDRA GOUDIE SPEAK WITH LARRY WILLIAMS ABOVE

Sir John Key is playing down his Australian award.

Today the former Prime Minister will receive the country's most prestigious title, and become an honorary Companion in the Order of Australia.

SEE ALSO: Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa... and now our own John Key

Sir John told Larry Williams he's touting it as a symbol of the Trans-Tasman relationship.

"Look I just see it not as a reflection on me personally, but a sense of how strong the relationship is between New Zealand and Australia."

The award has previously been presented to international figures like Nelson Mandela.

Sir John said he doesn't think it puts him on the same level as the South African revolutionary, or Mother Teresa.

"Clearly there's been a reduction in quality since those fine people, but it's lovely for them to put me on the list and looking forward to it."

Only four other New Zealanders have been made an honorary Companion - one of them being former PM Sir Geoffrey Palmer.

LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH SIR JOHN KEY ABOVE

Roger Federer has crushed an ailing Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 to win a record 8th Wimbledon title.

It was clear after five games that Cilic had a leg problem and Federer capitalised to record a crushing victory, having not dropped a set during the tournament.

It's the 35 year old's 19th Grand Slam title, putting him four clear of Rafael Nadal on the all time list.

Tennis commentator Dave Luddy joins Larry Williams to discuss the win.

LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE

There's a call for Australia and New Zealand to join forces to tackle the issue of quad bike safety.

Research from the University of Sydney and Otago compared quad bike deaths from here and across the ditch from 2007 to 2012.

It found most deaths involved men, a huge majority happened on farms and helmets were hardly ever worn. And fatality rates were similar on both sides of the Tasman.

Lead author of the study, Otago University's Dr Rebecca Lilley speaks with Larry Williams.

LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE

The 13th Doctor in Doctor Who will be a female. 

Known to New Zealanders for her role as Beth Latimer on Broadchurch, Jodie Whittaker becomes the first woman Doctor.

She'd been touted as one of the Time Lord contenders and says she's beyond excited to begin an epic journey

She said it's an honour to play the Doctor.

Meet the Thirteenth Doctor #DoctorWho #Doctor13 pic.twitter.com/txHGz9tJEe

— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) July 16, 2017

Doctor Who writer and researcher Paul Scoones, who is also the President of the New Zealand Doctor Who Fan Club, is thrilled with the decision. 

"I think it's long overdue," he told Larry Williams. "I think for a long time Doctor Who has needed to be a bit more diverse in its casting, and I think it's the right time for a female Doctor."

"There's always been opposition to casting of a new Doctor. Sometimes they argue it's too young, too old. There's always a bit of a kick back but there's also a lot of positivity out there, a lot of people are embracing the idea that we're finally getting a female Doctor after all these years."

LISTEN ABOVE TO NZ DOCTOR WHO FAN CLUB PRESIDENT PAUL SCOONES SPEAK TO LARRY WILLIAMS

UK comedian Kate Smurthwaite told Sky News it's a relief, and exciting.

"It's also been in the script that when the Time Lord regenerates, changing gender has also been an option. There are other Time Lords in the series who have changed gender. It makes complete sense."

Ms Smurthwaite said there's a challenge there for others.

"It's true that TV can be a step ahead of Hollywood and I just hope that Hollywood looks around and goes, come on we've got to catch up with this."

The Green Party's welfare policy is being welcomed by beneficiary advocates.

The party's unveiled a plan to increase all core benefits by 20-percent, and double the amount people can earn before their benefit is abated.

Beneficiary advocate Kay Brereton told Larry Williams the increase would mean many people would have the time to take care of themselves.

"I see people on benefits who are starving, who are homeless, because they haven't got enough money. When you haven't got enough money, you actually can't look for a job, you're not an attractively employee. You're not going to come to work and be productive."

LISTEN ABOVE AS KAY BRERETON SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS