Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

There’s an exciting gig coming to Wellington this week – especially if your heydey was in the 70s. 10cc is returning to the capital on Friday night to play a gig at the Opera House, performing classic hits like The Things We Do For Love, Dreadlock Holiday and I'm Not In Love. 10cc was formed in 1972 - after frontman and songwriter Graham Gouldman had begun his career writing hits for The Hollies a...

It's the second week of the winter recess at Parliament - known around the building as one of the quietest weeks in politics of the year.  But despite many politicians taking the week off or working back in their electorates, there's still work being done in the halls of power - including public submissions on the Regulatory Standards Bill today. What does the bill do, and why has it been so...

Local elections are less than four months away now, and nominations officially opened today. But with four races in Wellington with hot favourites, are we less excited than we have been in previous years? Also, Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul wants some of the city's statues pulled down, including the William Wakefield monument on the bank of the Basin Reserve, claiming we shouldn't have statue...

Scott Robertson has named his first All Blacks 23 of the year, to face France at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night.  France have won their past three tests against the All Black - but could that winning streak end this weekend as Robertson's men face a French side missing some of their stars? Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and Wellington's All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper jo...

The government has announced three new law and order policies this week, including increased penalties for coward punches, assaulting first responders and shoplifting. But what impact will these changes have?  Also, Act and New Zealand First have shot down Finance Minister Nicola Willis' plans for a policy costing unit. Is this something we should have? National's Otaki MP Tim Costley and Lab...

Labour leader and Remutaka MP Chris Hipkins says he is sceptical of the idea the Interislander could be privatised.  It comes after a cabinet paper obtained by the Herald floated the possibility of partially or fully privatising the ferry service.  Hipkins joined Nick Mills for his monthly catch-up, where the pair also discussed the state of the economy, whether weight-loss 'wonder drugs...

Well-known Wellington personality Ken Laban has thrown his hat in the ring to be Lower Hutt's next mayor.  The 68-year-old has spent his career as a police officer, later becoming a commentator with TVNZ and Sky Sport. Since 2013 he has served as a Greater Wellington Regional Councillor.  He grew up in Wainuiomata with sister Dame Winnie Laban, a former Labour cabinet minister.  Lab...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says New Zealand has not “escaped the aftershocks of world events” as new data shows hardship rising and more Kiwis struggling to pay the bills. Speaking to Newstalk ZB   Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills about the state of the economy, Willis acknowledged it had been “a tough time”. “Things were starting to come along and then come April there were some reaso...

It's been a big weekend of music on Worth Farm in Somerset, England as the 2025 Glastonbury music festival was held.  This week Nick and James dissect the highlights of the festival, argue about an audio-visual experience that is coming to Wellington this month, and listen to Liam Finn's latest album Hyperverse.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's exactly halfway through 2025 -  six months ago the catch phrase of the Wellington business community was 'survive til 25'. Are our businesses still struggling halfway through the year? Also, have tourism numbers in Wellington bounced back to pre-Covid levels, and can Kiwi consumers and businesses cope with the increasing costs of flights? To answer those questions, Business Central/Welli...

Legislation will soon be introduced bolstering the maximum sentences for those who assault first responders and Corrections offices. Will it be supported across Parliament? Also, a New Zealand First MP has announced her resignation from Parliament after just 18 months. Why is she leaving? To answer those questions, Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills for the Beehive Buzz. LI...

OPINION Well, we've got a new idea from Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul and you better brace yourself for this one. She was in the paper over the weekend - not advocating for Wellingtonians, for our economy, our businesses or our vulnerable people. She’s advocating for something else entirely. She wants to strip prominent statues around Wellington of their heritage status. She wants these statu...

A social housing block that has sat empty in central Wellington for more than a decade will soon lose its heritage status - and there's hopes it could be demolished this side of Christmas.  The Gordon Wilson flats on The Terrace have sat empty since 2012, with Victoria University buying the land in 2014. But the buildings held heritage status, making permission to demolish the buildings diffi...

This week on the Business Panel, Nick was joined by two second-generation Wellington business owners. On the agenda was the state of the city, potential changes to sick leave, and the mood amongst the business community about upcoming local elections.  Listen to Dragonfly owner Tania Siladi and Nada Bakery owner Michael Gray above. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon departs early tomorrow morning for   China, leading a business delegation to Shanghai, where he hopes to boost the country’s profile as a tourism and education destination.  He'll also meet with president Xi Jinping. So what is he hoping to achieve on the trip?  Also, Luxon hinted this morning at possible changes to legislation surrounding sick leave...

A new Curia poll has seen Labour overtake National, albeit by a very slim margin. Is it realistic to think Labour could form a government after next year's election? Also, d espite soon having a new water entity, Wellington's water bills from the second half of this year will be the equivalent of $50 a week - and by 2033 the bills will reach $20 a day. Can Wellingtonians afford this?  To answ...

The Hurricanes are officially out of the Super Rugby Pacific competiton, losing to the Brumbies in Canberra over the weekend. How did they perform this season - and who is likely to take out the competition now?  Also, golfer Ryan Fox has picked up his second major. What does the future hold for him? All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper and Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Nick Mills for...

It's Fieldays this week - and it coincides with a poll finding just 3 per cent of farmers support Labour, while 54 per cent back National. Why is National seemingly the party of farmers? Also, should farmers be able to use their Kiwisaver to purchase their first farm or herd? To answer those questions, Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and National's Mike Butterick, live from Fieldays, j...

Wellington Hospitals Foundation has launched its annual Jammies in June appeal to support children in hospitals around the region. Demand for pyjamas is even higher this year, with the foundation hoping to collect 3400 pairs of sleepwear.  The pyjamas are provided to children arriving at the hospital, as well as to children living in cold damp housing in the community. To discuss the appeal,...

The latest report from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is out - and it doesn't make for good reading.  Suicide rates remain high, with no significant decrease since 2018. Also, fatal drug overdoses rose by 88% between 2016 and 2023, and 16,000 fewer people accessed specialist mental health and addiction services in the 2023/23 financial year compared to 2020/21. So are we actually...

This week is Men's Health Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness of the health struggles men face.  Every day, eight Kiwi families lose a much-loved partner, father, brother or grandfather to a preventable disease. Even worse - one in four Kiwi men won’t live to retirement age.   Men's Health Week ambassador and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined Nick Mills to talk about the week of...

This week the Loemis winter festival begins in Wellington with multiple events incorporating music, dance, food and art across the region until June 21. One of those shows will see iconic Wellington musician and Oscar winner Bret McKenzie and his band the State Highway Wonders taking the stage.  Bret McKenzie and Loemis festival director Andrew Laking joined Nick in the studio to discuss the...

One of the worlds greatest George Michael tribute acts is on his way to Wellington and while Wellington Mornings' music man James Irwin is a fan of tribute acts, Nick certainly isn't. Are tribute acts good or a gimmick?  James also takes a look at the albums turning 25 this year, and upcoming gigs in the capital. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former All Blacks captain Stu Wilson has died, aged 70. Wilson, who could play centre or wing, made 85 appearances for the All Blacks between 1976-83, including 34 tests, two of which he captained. He made nine overseas tours, including that with the 1978 Grand Slam team which beat all four Home Unions. He was captain in all eight matches of the 1983 tour of England and Scotland. He also represent...

The Prime Minister's deputy press secretary Michael Forbes has resigned after allegations he recorded audio of sessions with sex workers, and captured photos of women in compromising positions. But despite complaints being investigated by police in July last year, Luxon was never informed. Should he have been told?  Also, there have been 63 Kainga Ora tenancies terminated in the last ten mont...