Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

It's a political Friday Faceoff this week with esteemed journalist and editor of Politick Richard Harman and NZ Herald Political editor Thomas Coughlan joining Nick Mills in the studio. Starting with the Moa Point plant review in the hands Minister Simon Watts desk, which has no timeline for public release. Harman and Coughlan discuss why the government could be withholding it and how are they fee...

ZB Sports experts Adam Cooper and Jason Pine join Nick Mills for an All-Blacks special edition of Friday Sport Kick-off. This is the first test of Dave Rennie's new All Blacks, and our first chance to see how this side will work under his reign. The team make their debut at Christchurch's new Te Kaha stadium against France on Saturday. The crew take a look at the Dave Rennie's first positioning of...

It's time for our Politics Panel and this week Nick Mills is joined by Labour MP Ayesha Verrall and National MP for Otaki Tim Costley. Starting with Minister Casey Costello's statement that she is considering a review on excise tax of tobacco. We hear what Verrall and Costley think of this stance and how do we address the growth of the illicit tobacco trade. The death of a man who spent 9 hours in...

Wellington City Mayor Andrew Little joins Nick Mills in the studio for the July edition of his monthly catch up. Mayor Little takes Nick's and callers questions for the hour on the latest in the capital. They hit the top stories of the week including the council's public defiance of move on orders, solutions to our homeless problem and how we can get the city looking and feeling good again. Then o...

Nick Mills talks with co-founder of STILL Minding the Gap, Jo Cribb this morning about the start of the new "Lift the Lid" campaign, which is pushing for mandatory gender pay gap reporting in New Zealand. In New Zealand the gender pay gap is 5.2% for women, 12% for Māori wahine and 16% for Pacific women. Cribb believes more transparency from businesses will shut the gap and allow fair pay. They di...

Three Wellington restaurants were awarded the highly sought, world famous Michelin stars last night.  Winners Steve Logan from Logan Brown, and Mark Limacher from Ortega Fish Shack join Nick on the show to celebrate the wins.  Logan (Logan Brown) says the business been hit by the tough economic times in Wellington, but the star reaffirms the work they've done over the last 30 years. Lima...

EDITORIAL: Now for me one of the biggest problems facing politics today isn't the just the economy, it's not just crime, it's not just health, it's not even just the cost of living, which are all hugely important.   But it’s one word: trust.  Who do we trust in politics?  Do we actually believe what politicians tell us anymore?  Because if we don't, then don’t we have a real pr...

EDITORIAL:  I have been one of the strongest supporters of giving police the power to move rough sleepers on.   I've said repeatedly that we need to clean up our streets.   We need safer city centres.   We need people sleeping in parks, doorways and shop entrances helped.  Helped into accommodation, not just left there.  But yesterday, watching Q+A, I found myself ask...

The All Whites are heading home after their dreams of reaching the knockout round at the FIFA World Cup were smashed by Belgium 5-1.  Former All White David Chote joins Nick Mills on the show this morning to discuss the tournament and future of football for Kiwis. Did the All Whites play as well as they should be expected to on a world stage?  Nick and David discuss if we punched at our...

Wellington City Missioner Reverend Murray Edridge says the country's homeless situation is "significantly worse than it's ever been", and the reduction of numbers for those in emergency housing is not a reflection of reality. This comes as an investigation by Q+A has revealed the Ministry of Social Development has a target metric for employees to decrease the number of people receiving emergency h...

For Friday Faceoff this week Nick Mills is joined in the studio by heavy hitters and former ministers Christopher Finlayson and Peter Dunne. The panel get started by debating the changes Tama Potaka has backed down on in his conservation bill. Did he make the right choice politically and ethically? Or should Kiwis be up for the conversation around conservation? The WCC have opened up a rates syste...

For Friday Sports Kick-off, Jason Pine beams into the show from Vancouver from the FIFA World Cup.  It's the eve of the All Whites vs Belgium game, which they must win to progress into the knockout stage.  Although Belgium are the clear favourites, Pine says they haven't played as well as expected this tournament.  So, Pine chats with Nick about our chances and the vibes in Canada w...

Nick Mills is joined in the studio this morning by National Minister Paul Goldsmith and Labour MP Willie Jackson for our Politics Thursday panel. They cover the hot political issues of the week - starting with new controversy around move on orders. Mayor Andrew Little says the council will continue in defiance of the government's move on orders, but has offered no specific solution. Our panel disc...

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports and has taken off all over the world, so I thought it was about time I see what all the fuss is about.  I headed out to "Love Pickleball", Upper Hutts brand new Pickleball dedicated facility - and the largest in Australasia.  I toured around the location, home to ten courts, a shop and cafe and equipped with all the gear you need and coache...

EDITORIAL:  This is one of those stories that leaves you feeling angry, frustrated and, most of all, heartbroken for a little girl and her family.  A five-year-old girl has been left with serious facial injuries after being mauled by a dog that had been released from the Porirua pound just one day earlier.  According to evidence presented in court, the dog, called Thanos, had alread...

Labour leader Chris Hipkins joins Nick Mills on Wellington Mornings for his monthly chat. The latest One News Verian poll has the two major parties at the lowest combined result in 30 years, Hipkins says Kiwis are "disgruntled with the status quo". Hipkins and Mills discuss the rise of TOP, and if Labour would be willing to work with the growing party come election day.  Also on the agenda is...

Jason Pine joins Nick on the show live from Vancouver to share his the rundown of yesterday's All-Whites vs Egypt game. They discuss if there's any chance the All Whites can succeed against World Number 6 Belgium.  Pine analyses player performances, and what we need to do to continue in the tournament - win. Plus, Pine shares his thoughts on the referee's questionable calls during the game.&n...

For today's Business Panel, Nick Mills is joined by 24/7 fitness co-founder Troy Rorason and O-Studio founder Kate Twigg, to get insight into the success of the wellbeing industry during these economic times.  It's been just over a year since Kate last joined us on the panel, so we find out how it's been going building her business in the CBD and for Troy they have expanded their business and...

What a weekend for Wellington! The Hurricanes obliterated the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final 60-5 in a packed Hnry Stadium.  To celebrate and share the story behind the success Hurricanes Flanker Brad Shields joins Nick Mills on the show this morning.  Brad talks about his decision to sign on for another year, and how it feels to be the only Hurricane with two championship title...

EDITORIAL: Well, it's done and its dusted.  The biggest decision Wellington has made in years has finally been made, and the Golden Mile, as we knew it, is effectively dead.  And before anyone starts celebrating too loudly, let me say this: I think it's the right decision, right now.  I think common sense has prevailed.  I think if the council had pushed ahead with years of con...

With the Hurricanes vs Chiefs final tomorrow, Nick is joined on the show by starting fullback for the Hurricanes, Callum Harkin.  Only two years ago Harkin was working full time as a builder, he talks with Nick about his rapid rise to starting in a grand final, preferred positions and how his dad is his biggest supporter.  With the team prep Harkins says they are focused on getting start...

It's a special weekend for Wellington, with the Hurricanes earning a grand final at home on Saturday night against the Chiefs. To chat all things Hurricanes and other hot topics from the week, Nick is joined by Managing Director of Gazley Motors Myles Gazley and legendary broadcaster Grant Nisbett for Friday Faceoff.  With the vote yesterday that put a stop to the Golden Mile, our panel discu...

The Hurricanes play the Chiefs tomorrow night for a home grand final at Hnry Stadium. To celebrate it's a Hurricanes special on Friday Sports Kick-off! Nick Mills kicks off Friday Sports with All Sports Breakfast Host Adam Cooper and Newstalk ZB Rugby Editor and commentator for the game Elliot Smith. Who will lift the Super Rugby Pacific Trophy on Saturday night? They give their score predictions...

The Wellington City Council has officially ended the dream of the Golden Mile after voting to scrap the project  Wellington City Mayor Andrew Little joins Nick Mills to discuss the next steps to improve the area - while keeping it affordable. He says it's important to get the balance right, but something must be done to Courtenay Place. "We have to do what's right for the city right now." LIS...

The Queen Margaret College Choir is about to jet off on the trip of a lifetime. Students from the 'Voces Luces' high school choir, Millie Williams and Molly Sherriff along with Choir Director Mark Stamper join Nick Mills in the studio to discuss the fundraiser for their upcoming Europe trip. 34 girls are travelling to Europe, partaking in workshops, performing in Golden Hall in the Musikverei...