Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

The latest rating valuations are out for Wellington - and its not good news for the value of almost every property in the city.  The average property has decreased in value by 24.4% since the last valuations in 2021 - but could it mean rates bills come down?  Also, Wellington City Council crown observer Lindsay McKenzie has given his first report to the Local Government Minister - what'd...

Music legends Toto have announced a gig in Wellington, performing at the TSB Arena in April. But who is the special guest joining them?  Also, Sir Paul McCartney has hit out at the rise of artificial intelligence - but is his stance slightly hypocritical given The Beatles utilised AI in their latest single?  To answer those questions, Nick Mills was joined by Wellington Mornings music gu...

It's our first Business Panel of 2025 and there is one question on everyone's mind: will the capital's economy bounce back this year?  Whatever happens, today's guests say Wellington needs to remain positive and celebrate what makes the city great.  WellingtonNZ chief operating officer Heidi Morton and Capital Creative Arts Trust CEO Kim Bailey joined Nick Mills on the panel today. The p...

Thousands will descend on the Waitangi Treaty grounds this week ahead of celebrations on Thursday - but the Prime Minister will be notably absent. Where is he celebrating the day?  Also, a government-wide investigation into allegations of misuse of census data still hasn't been released. When will the findings be known? To answer those questions, Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joine...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has floated the idea of campaigning on asset sales at the next election - but what does the government have to sell?  Also, a three-day police operation that saw 14 people arrested for being in possession of stolen trolleys has drawn criticism from some local leaders, alleging its an attack on the poor. Is this an appropriate use of police resources? To answer...

The Wellington Firebirds have missed out on a place in this year's Super Smash finals due to rain - but the Blaze are aiming to pick up their ninth title. What have been the best moments of this Super Smash season?  Also, Amelia Kerr has been named ICC's Womens Player of the Year. How much of an asset is she to New Zealand cricket and Wellington?  Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Sp...

The government has announced a raft of speed limit changes around the country, bringing some speed limits back to what they were before the last government changed them. But will this cause more harm on our roads? Also, both David Seymour and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have raised the prospect of asset sales, with Luxon hinting National may take an asset sales policy to the next election. Do...

Parliament has returned from its summer recess to what will be one of the most watched select committee considerations ever, with hundreds of people expected to give their view on the Treaty Principles Bill.  The select committee process began today with submissions from the bill's sponsor David Seymour. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls has been watching proceedings and joined Nick Mi...

Act leader David Seymour used his state of the nation speech last week to call for a discussion on privatisation - including of the health system. Seymour told his supporters New Zealanders need to get past the "squeamishness of privatisation", and suggested the health system could be privatised, with the government funding medical insurance for individuals. Responding to the suggestions, Public S...

Justin Lester is not ruling out running for Wellington mayor this year - and Nick Leggett and Josie Pagani are convinced he will run. But what are his chances? Also, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th US President this week. What will be the impact of the major decisions of the first few days, and what can we expect over the next four years?  To answer those questions, ChildFund CEO Josie...

The Australian Open has been entertaining us now for over a week - and tonight the men's semi-finals take place. What can we expect? Also, Richie Mo'unga has confirmed he will be remaining in Japan, despite efforts by All Blacks coach Scott Robertson to lure him back to the national team. How does this reflect on Robertson?  To answer those questions, Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Spo...

Wellington mayor Justin Lester isn't ruling out another run for Wellington's top job.  The former mayor, who failed to win reelection after one term in 2019, says it's not his intention to run but he may stand depending on the other candidates.  "If Wellington got to a state where things got so bad and there were no good candidates and my family came to me and said we want you to do some...

The year in politics has begun with a bang, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announcing a cabinet reshuffle that sees two big portfolios, health and transport, handed to new Ministers.  But how will the new Ministers perform in their new jobs, and what did Shane Reti and Melissa Lee do wrong to lose their biggest responsibilities? Also, Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th Presiden...

Former Tourism minister Stuart Nash says New Zealand should be focused on attracting high-value tourists to New Zealand, rather than greater numbers of tourists that don't spend as much.  Yesterday newly minted Economic Growth minister Nicola Willis said the government would be moving away from the previous government's plan of mainly attracting tourists that spend significant sums while in t...

Wellington mayor Justin Lester isn't ruling out another run for Wellington's top job.  The former mayor, who failed to win reelection after one term in 2019, says it's not his intention to run but he may stand depending on the other candidates.  Asked by Nick Mills if he was running, Lester said he has "zero intention" of running for the mayoralty, saying the job would take him away from...

Construction work on the first phase of Wellington's controversial Golden Mile project was supposed to have begun this month - but diggers and bulldozers are nowhere to be seen.  The council previously said contracts for the project, which would remove cars from Lambton Quay, Willis St and Courtenay Place, would be signed in December. Works on Courtenay Place were to begin this month.  W...

Wellington's iconic Jim Beam Homegrown festival is leaving the city after eighteen years, with this year's festival the last in the capital. Festival director Andrew Tuck told Nick Mills the decision was a hard one, with his team having explored every other option to keep the festival in the city.  He said New Zealand music remains enormously popular and the festival wants the ability to intr...

Some sad news for Wellington was announced on Monday: after eighteen years, the Jim Beam Homegrown festival will be leaving Wellington and is searching for a new home.  How big a loss is this for Wellington, and what other big music events does Wellington play host to?  Wellington Mornings music man James Irwin, sporting a controversial new haircut, joined Nick Mills for the first Music...

OPINION: Some disturbing news came across my desk yesterday. I got a lovely email from Nicola Cranfield with the sad news that Cranfield’s on Johnson St near Lambton Quay is closing.   Often shops close during a recession and unpredictable times.   Shops close because they go broke.   Businesses close when owners have just had enough.   But Cranfield’s has been operating in Wel...

It's the final Faceoff for 2024 - so who better than two Wellington broadcasting legends to dissect the news of the year?  It's been a huge year in politics - and much of it has centered on Wellington. How has both the government and the  opposition performed, and who is the stand-out political performer of the year?  Also, Wellington City Council and Mayor Tory Whanau have had thei...

It’s been a magnificent year in sport. New Zealand had a record haul of 10 gold medals at the Paris Olympics, Wellington took out the NPC championship and the Phoenix had their best ever season. To talk the sporting successes of 2024, who better than legendary sports broadcasters Grant Nisbett and Jason Pine. The pair joined Nick Mills for the final Friday Sport Kickoff of the year, live from Pref...

It’s been a big year for Finance Minister Nicola Willis. She delivered her first budget which included her promised tax relief package, she laid off thousands of public servants and she’s facing deteriorating books, all in the midst of a technical recession. So how would she rate her performance over the year, and what’s in store for 2025? Willis joined Nick Mills for the final show of the year, l...

Parliament has officially adjourned for the year and MPs and Ministers are journeying home to various parts of the country.  Still in Wellington, though, are the two Lower Hutt-based MPs, Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Chris Bishop. The pair joined Nick Mills for the final Politics Thursday panel of 2024, where they debated the economic outlook after news of a big GDP slump, ongoing f...

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau says she would rate her performance as the capital's mayor over 2024 as a "seven or eight".  "I think it's gone up and down. Mid-year was probably around five, and if I would do things differently on certain things I would."  It's been a difficult year for Whanau who has struggled to find a win. The deal to redevelop Reading Cinema collapsed, she failed to ga...

Porirua could have been in store for a rates rise of more than 10 per cent - but the city's mayor says that could be limited to around half of that after careful spending decisions.  Porirua mayor Anita Baker says the council has been careful how its spent money and made cuts in roles where they weren't needed. This week Wellington Mornings is catching up with the mayors across the Wellington...