Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

For Politics Thursday this week, Nick Mills is joined by National Minister Tama Potaka and Labour MP Ginny Andersen.  We hear their reaction to the latest GDP figures of 0.8% and if the economy on the right path - even with the looming results of the quarter impacted by the Iran War and oil crisis. Then onto the top stories of the week - the MBIE $30 million scandal. What needs to happen with...

Jammie June aims to fund 3400 pairs of pyjamas for kids in need through the Wellington Hospitals Foundation (WFH). As winter starts to bite, a pair of pjs can significantly help keep vulnerable kids warm. WFH Chief Executive Guy Ryan joins Nick Mills in the studio to celebrate the effort of Jammie June. Guy shares how the initiative works and the change you can make if you donate to the cause.&nbs...

Riverside Medical opens in Lower Hutt this August, it's the dream of Javier and Chantelle Stroud who saw a gap in GP access that needed fixing. Dr Javier Stroud is the lead GP of the practice and along with his wife Chantelle, who is a lawyer, are accepting patient enrolments now and gearing up to open in August. The Strouds join Nick Mills to discuss their new venture and why the Hutt? Chantelle...

The All Whites play their first game against Iran as part of the FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles at 1pm today. ZB Sports host Jason Pine joins Nick on the show to discuss our first game, before he flies out to Vancouver to report from the FIFA Football World Cup. Piney shares what he wants to see tonight, and what the team needs to do to get out of the group stage.  You can watch it live on TVN...

The Hurricanes CEO is in disbelief after tickets to the final against the Chiefs sell out Hnry Stadium in only 15 minutes. CEO Tony Philp joined Nick Mills on the show this morning to announce the sellout.  He shared how hard the entire team have been working to reach the finals and to "fill the tin to the brim." Philp says they are working on bringing in temporary seating to make sure as man...

The Hurricanes have made it to a home semi-final against the Blues on Saturday, to celebrate Hurricane Billy Proctor chats to Nick Mills. Proctor talks how the team are prepping, their mindset going into the game and can they feel the pressure? They chat about Proctor's relationship with fellow mid-fielder Jordie Barrett and defence coach Cory Jane.  And how is the mission to fill the tin goi...

It's Friday Faceoff, Nick is joined in the studio with political commentator, Lawyer and Director of Franks Ogilvie Brigitte Morten, and political commentator and former Chief of Staff to Jacinda Arden Neale Jones.  Starting with the Golden Mile. The review is in, and unsurprisingly over budget. Morten and Jones share their thoughts on blowout of consultancy spend, the next steps for Cou...

What a weekend for the Hurricanes. Newstalk ZBs sports experts Jason Pine and Adam Cooper join Nick Mills in the studio to talk the sports weekend ahead.  Fill the tin! Over 20,000 are expected to be at Hnry Stadium backing the boys in yellow. Will the Hurricanes beat the Blues and get that home final? The crew chat the season so far, the success that has got them to this point and what to ex...

Its Politics Thursday and this week Nick is joined by National MP Tim Costley and Labour MP Camilla Belich to discuss the top political issues of the week. Labour's new policy $20 cap for public transport - is it too good to be true? The panel look at the viability of the $65 million cost and is it fair to rural taxpayers?  Then onto the investigation launched by the police commissioner into...

'Julia' at Circa Theatre is earning rave reviews, star Lara Macgregor graces the studio this morning to chat with Nick Mills. Julia centres around former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, diving into her life and legacy leading up to her landmark 2012 "misogyny speech". The play examines gender, power and the pressures of political leadership through Julia's lens.  Lara talks about her...

Dire Straits saxophonist Chris White makes his return to NZ with 'The Dire Straits Experience'. The tribute group brings back the hits from the iconic 80s band to Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre this August. Chris joins Nick on the show today to reminisce on the old days with the original band and frontman Mark Knopfler. Chris and Nick talk his return to NZ, the success of tribute bands, bringi...

EDITORIAL: Can I ask a simple question this morning? At what point does being prepared become being overprotective?  Now before anyone jumps on me and has a crack at me, let me make one thing crystal clear. Safety comes first.   If lives are genuinely at risk, authorities should act.   Nobody wants to see people injured or killed because someone was too slow to make a decision.&nbsp...

It's semi-finals time for Wellington's Hurricanes and the mission is 'fill the tin." Owner Malcolm Gillies and CEO Tony Philp join Nick Mills in the studio to celebrate the semis and reach their goal to sell 25,000 tickets. Gillies talks bringing the life back to super rugby, and what the future holds for privatisation.  Philp and Gillies say the team is ready for the clash against the Blues,...

Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor joins Nick Mills this morning to talk his exit from politics, the Labour list and Rakesh Naidoo candidacy controversy. After three terms as the Ōhāriu MP for Labour, O'Connor is calling it quits. He chats to Nick about the reason, and if it has anything to do with the list rankings released yesterday.  O'Connor says he wouldn't have enjoyed being a list MP as much as l...

NZ Music Month lives on into June, on Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills and James Irwin. The crew discuss which Kiwis have had major global success and what are the top hits from 2000 to now. They also take a look at Pagan records and the huge names that have bloomed from the label.  And James shares his story of hitch-hiking with one of the most beloved New Zealanders ever. Find out who on...

A state of emergency is in place for areas of the Wellington region due to heavy swells on the coast. A mandatory evacuation order is in place for about 350 homes from Ōwhiro to Breaker bay - excluding Lyall Bay. MetService issued the warning for Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head in Wellington and Turakirae Head to Mataikona in Wairarapa. Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office (WREMO) urge...

Musician, actor and producer Troy Kingi joins Nick Mills on the show today to talk his latest show 'Night Lords'. The concert hits Wellington at Meow Nui as part of the winter Lōemis Festival on June 18th. Kingi talks his latest album - the ninth in his 10/10/10 series. In 10 years Kingi has attempted to create 10 albums in 10 different genres. 'Night Lords' blends hip-hop and RnB. They also chat...

Wellington City Andrew Little joins Nick in the studio to talk the latest wins and losses of the city from the last month. Mayor Little says he is "angry" and "horrified" over the $600,000 cost for the promotion website for Te Matapihi Wellington Central Library. Nick asks the tough questions around accountability, Little says he still has faith in CEO Matt Prosser and CFO Andrea Reeves after yet...

Its Friday Sports Kick-off and it's a Hurricanes special as Brad Shields joins the show today! Tonight is the quarter final at Hnry Stadium for Hurricanes and Brumbies, and the fight for the home semifinal. Shields shares an inside look coming up to the challenge of finals.  Shields compares the current line up to the 2016 team, and says the boys are excited and working hard to win tonight. T...

The radio gang is back together - Nick Mills is joined for Faceoff this week by legendary broadcasters Polly Gillespie and Nick Tansley. Starting with arming police, should they be able to carry guns on their hip? They faceoff on gun safety and how this would affect Kiwis. The law only allows for 3 days bereavement leave. The panel discuss the balance between dealing with grief but considering the...

Cult hit "Heathers the Musical" has taken Wellington by storm.  The edgy comedy based off the 1988 film Heathers is touring Aus and NZ, finishing it's Wellington run this Sunday at the Opera House. Lead "Heather" Calista Nelmes joins Nick in the studio to teach him a thing or two about being a 'heather' and the success of the globally renowned musical. If you're in the mood for show stopping...

The latest festival to hit Wellington is Lōemis, a celebration fo both local and international music and art. Nick is joined in the studio by Lōemis director Andrew Laking to find out what the festival is all about.  Laking shares what acts to look out for and why this festival is perfect for a Wellington winter. Bringing in acts from all over the world including Japan and New York City, the...

It's Politics Thursday, Nick is joined by Labour MP Ginny Andersen and National MP for Otaki Tim Costley to debate the hot political issues of the week.  Starting with the TVNZ situation - is the public entitled to transparency around the resignation of their political editor?   And the heartbreaking story of Sheena Hemens who lost her daughter and is now fighting for bereavement le...

Wellington City Mayor Andrew Little spoke to constituents and officials this morning outlining the way forward for council amalgamation, as only ten weeks remain for the government's deadline.  Mayor Little joins Nick on the show this morning to discuss his thoughts and plan as the deadline looms.  With talks of a referendum, Little says if he had to decide today, he would go through wit...

It's Friday Faceoff and this week Nick is joined in the studio by Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett and Wellington's Chamber of Commerce CEO Hayley Horan. It's a post-budget day special. Yesterday Nicola Willis released her much anticipated budget, the panel dissect the winners, the losers and what they think is missing from this year's "sugar-free" budget.  We hear what Horan has heard from...