Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Nick Mills wraps the year with former Wellington Mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast and legendary broadcaster and journalist Mark Sainsbury. Are we in for a positive turn around with the new GDP growth? They face off live at Prefab, about the outlook going into the new year. Prendergast and Sainsbury then face off on the issues of the week, including the council’s sludge levy mistake. What do they think...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins Nick Mills live at Prefab for a look back on our economy this year. They reflect on the year that has been, and their hopes for the next year, election year. Why is the Willis v Richardson debate not happening? Is the GDP rise a sign of hope? Nick asks Nicola Willis the big questions. And they get in the Christmas spirit with some gift giving. LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp...

Nick Mills is joined in studio by National Otaki MP Tim Costley and Labour MP and spokesperson for Health and Wellington Issues Ayesha Verrall. We get into the Christmas spirit with our guests, what’s their plans for their Christmas break and highlight from the year. As well as getting into the political issues from the week like the latest GDP announcement, surplus announcement, Health NZ efficie...

Promoter and broadcast legend Stewart Macpherson joins Nick Mills in the studio to discuss the Stetson group's new Michelangelo exhibition. The exhibition at Takina opens on Monday 22nd December and offers visitors an experience of the art in the Sistine Chapel, without forking out for flights to Rome. They talk about what people can see from the exhibition as well as the tours from Christopher Lo...

Nick Mills asks CEO of Infrastructure NZ Nick Leggett, is M-CERT a good plan? The merger of the Ministries of transport, environment, housing and urban development and the local government's Internal Affairs, will make the new ministry M-CERT. Nick Leggett tells us how this will effect outcomes, productivity and how the future of NZ will look from it.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Christmas carols are back with Nick Tansley in the studio with Nick Mills. The Nicks discuss Carols by Candlelight, the vibe in Wellington this Christmas, then live in studio Nick Tansley sings a medley of his favourite Christmas songs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We sent our newsreader Max Towle to interview acclaimed director James Cameron before the premiere of his new film Avatar: Fire and Ash. Max sat down with the legend to ask him about the film, the future of the franchise and what makes Wellington special to him.  LISTEN ABOVE OR WATCH BELOW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Mills wraps the week with Wellington City Councillor Andrea Compton and Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul.  Wellington’s big day approaches – what are Paul and Compton excited for this weekend? Avatar, Te Papa, Cricket, Football, plenty going on in the capital this weekend. They then face off with Nick over the issues of the week, including their thoughts on Andrew Little’s mayoralty, W...

For this week's Friday Sport Kick-off, Newstalk ZB’s All Sports Breakfast Adam Cooper and Nick Mills are joined by ZB’s cricket reporter Andrew Alderson to chat about the Black Caps test. What's the vibe at the basin this weekend, Alderson tells us all about the last few days, and how the coming ones are looking. Adam and Nick also discuss the Hurricanes. What will Gillies bring to the team, plus...

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little, chair of the Wellington Mayoral forum, chats with Nick Mills to discuss talks of amalgamating. Talks between the councils in the greater Wellington region have begun, Nick asks when will it happen and what is the latest update on progress. Mayor Little also discusses the upcoming premiere of Avatar, and the big weekend Wellington has coming up.  LISTEN ABOVE Se...

On Politics Thursday this week Nick Mills was joined by Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick and Labour MP and spokesperson for health Ayesha Verrall. They discussed the potential for NZ to follow Australia in banning social media for under 16s and other regulations.  Verrall and Butterick then hit the other big political news of the week including Coster blaming Mark Mitchell and Chris Hipkins for ge...

Singer Frankie Stevens joins Nick Mills in the studio for a chat before his event at Carols in the Park at Harcourt Park in Upper Hutt this Saturday. Then we are treated to his rendition of Blue Christmas - live in the studio. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Hurricanes Rugby Chair Malcolm Gillies joins Nick Mills on the show to discuss his plans for bringing the Hurricanes back from financial despair.  Yesterday it was announced that Gillies will take over as Chair with a 50% stake in the team. Nick asks what his plans are for changing the team for the better. More visibility in the community? Changes to the cities stadiums? Gillies shares hi...

This week on music time, Nick and James showcase a local songwriting talent with a connection to one of the biggest music superstars of a generation. They also go deep down the rabbit hole with some of the oddest and kooky Christmas tunes from around the world. As well as James' top Christmas song at the moment. LISTEN ABOVE Listen to Ali Whitton's music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2UWB7...

For the Business Panel this week, Nick chats to two business owners who have moved from the CBD out to Khandallah to see how is business better out in the suburbs? Nick is joined by Julie Gubbs from Gubbs Shoes and Sheila Murray-Hamilton from Hamilton & Murray Boutique. They discuss their businesses, what they do, and how it’s going at the moment out in Khandallah. What was the tipping point t...

Nick Mills wraps the week with former WCC Councillor and Infratil chairman Tim Brown and Regional Councillor, photographer and former WCC Councillor Simon Woolf.  Is hey an okay introduction over email? What do they think of the RMA reform changes for local government? How’s Matt Prosser doing as WCC CEO?  Brown and Woolf face off with Nick over the issues of the week, including their th...

For this week's Friday Sport Kick-off, Newstalk ZB’s sport gurus Adam Cooper and Jason Pine join Nick to discuss the latest in sport this week. With excitement building for Phoenix and Auckland FC Derby game, they talk about their predictions for tomorrow, plus chat about the next T20  They also discuss the Tokomanawa Queens upcoming game in Porirua this weekend, and their gift giving initiat...

On Politics Thursday this week Nick Mills was joined by Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Labour MP Kieran McAnulty. They discussed Minister Watts’ announcement that councils' rates rise will be limited to 2% - 4%. Watts and McAnulty then hit the other big political news of the week including RMA reforms for Regional Councils, water reform and amalgamation. As well as public service payout...

Nick is joined by Wellington City Council CEO Matt Prosser for the first time in the studio. After 7 months in the job we hear how it’s going for Prosser, particularly after the Deloitte report.  How will he change the city, and make it a better place to be? We find out, as Nick asks him about the latest reports, AI use in council, and regional councils – and the likely hood of amalgamation.&...

Labour Leader and MP for Rimutaka, Chris Hipkins joins Nick Mills in the studio for their final monthly catch up for 2025. Hipkins discusses the mood in Labour before the end of the year and after the Labour conference in Auckland. He explains the new GP clinic loan scheme and discusses his thoughts on the rates cap and regional council changes from the Government.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

Mayor Andrew Little is in studio for his last of the monthly catch ups for 2025  with Nick Mills.  He answers questions from Nick and listeners on the state of the city and the latest in council news. They discuss regional council changes, the Golden Mile review, the Deloitte report plus the $48 billion cost of local water reforms. And on December 13 th James Cameron brings the Avatar Fi...

Local c ouncils will have to foot the $48 billion bill for the Government’s new water reform ‘Local Water Done Well’.  Nick Mills talks with Chairman of Tiaki Wai Metro Water Will Peets on how the reforms will work. They discuss the effects on ratepayers, how the bills will work, the change from Wellington Water and the appointment of new CEO Michael Brewer.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio....

Nick Mills wraps the week with former Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy and lawyer and former MP Stephen Franks. They get into the hot topics of the week starting with the latest OCR cut then into the proposed reform of regional councils.  Guppy and Franks also discuss the Tom Phillips inquiry, Luxon’s leadership coup rumours, Nationals police target and give their hots and nots for the week. Plus...

For this week's Friday Sport Kick-off, All Sports Breakfast host Adam Cooper joins Nick Mills to discuss the latest in sport – including the Phoenix.  They dissect what is going wrong with the Phoenix and the crowd sand discuss their game this weekend.  They also chat about The Tall Blacks upcoming games and Golf for Good out in Kapiti starting this weekend.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnyst...

On Politics Thursday this week Nick Mills was joined by Labour MP Ginny Andersen and National's Ōtaki MP Tim Costley. They discussed the latest cut in the Official Cash Rate, how this will impact Kiwis and if we are beginning to see changes in the economy.  Costley and Andersen also hit the big political news of the week including Nicola Willis's statement that National may repeal the Regulat...