Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Former NZ ambassador to the United States Tim Groser says Donald Trump's presidential win can be attributed in a large part to the middle class "being screwed".  "The Democrats have become the party of the rich. If you take the top 25 districts in terms of wealth, 24 of them are held by democrats." Groser, also a former Trade Minister, told Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills that Trump will...

Wellingtonian Michael Hobbs says he couldn't pick a winner for the US presidential election - but says the mood is tense and hard to escape.  The former Blues player and Wellington College head boy is now in the private equity industry in Los Angeles, after studying an MBA at Stanford University.  He joined Nick Mills to discuss the mood in the US ahead of today's vote.  LISTEN ABOV...

Vice President and Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris is hosting a relatively small election night event in Washington DC tonight - far smaller than that of Barack Obama in 2008 and Hillary Clinton in 2016/. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan is there and told Nick Mills attendance is restricted, and Harris isn't expected until much later in the evening.  LISTEN ABOV...

Months of campaigning will finally come to an end tomorrow as the United States goes to the polls to choose a new President. Wellington Mornings music man James Irwin has been keeping an eye on campaign rallies, and joined Nick Mills to critique the candidates music choices - and have a punt at what they might choose as a victory song. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

It's being touted by the candidates as the most important election in United States history, and its all playing out tomorrow afternoon New Zealand time. To discuss the importance of the election and how the result could affect relations with New Zealand, US Embassy deputy chief of mission David Gehrenbeck joined Nick Mills.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Phoenix general manager David Dome and Sotheby's International Realty Wellington Managing Director Glen Jones joined Nick Mills in the studio to chat all things business. They discussed the benefits to the city from big events like the Wellington-Auckland football derby at the weekend, and how the region can capitalise on it. Other topics included the state of the housing market, the US...

Mental health campaigner Mike King is under fire for saying alcohol can be the answer to mental health struggles - but did he have a point he just made badly? Also, the United States is in the final days of the 2024 presidential campaign, who will come out on top? Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy and Capital director Neale Jones joined Nick Mills for Friday Faceoff. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/lis...

The Wellington Phoenix take on Auckland FC in the first ever A-League local derby. Who will come out victorious, and can we expect a large crowd? And the All Blacks take on England on Sunday morning, with a few changes in the team. Are they on track for a win? Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Sports Breakfast host Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills for the Friday Sport Kickoff. LISTEN ABOVE See om...

The government has announced that large reputable construction companies, as well as plumbers and drainlayers will soon be able to self-certify their work, removing the need for lengthy council consents.  But could this lead to an increase in shoddy building work? Also, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he's open to a discussion about banning Nazi symbols - is this a good idea? And what w...

The Wellington City Council has met publicly for the first time since voting to ditch the planned sale of its stake in Wellington Airport. It's also the first time the council has met since Local Government Minister Simeon Brown announced he is appointing a Crown observer to the council. So when will the council begin deciding what to cut to fund a large hole in its budget?  NZ Herald's Welli...

The government is appointing a Crown observer to Wellington City Council - but is this setting a precedent that might affect other councils around the country?  Also, the cost to install fencing along Wellington's waterfront has blown out from $7m to $30m. Why does it cost so much for some fencing? Hutt City mayor Campbell Barry and lawyer and former Act MP Stephen Franks joined Nick Mills fo...

The Wellington Lions take on Bay of Plenty in the NPC final at Sky Stadium tomorrow - who will take out the championship? Also, the All Blacks face Japan in Tokyo shortly afterwards. How are both teams looking? Nick Mills was joined by Wellington sports broadcaster Matt Buck and Newstalk ZB Weekend Sport host Jason Pine. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government will appoint a Crown observer to oversee Wellington City Council - but will the advice that led to the decision be released? Also, should Andrew Bayly remain a Minister after accusations of bullying a worker during a business visit?  To answer those questions, Labour's health and Wellington issues spokeswoman Ayesha Verrall and National's Wairarapa MP joined Nick Mills for Poli...

OPINION Yesterday afternoon just after lunch an email landed in my inbox from Simeon Brown. I looked out my window after four or five beautiful days in Wellington and saw clouds coming in from all directions. And that's exactly how I felt reading this email from Simeon Brown. It felt like a dark day. Brown was announcing he was appointing a Crown observer to Wellington City Council. We all know wh...

The Wellington Lions take on Bay of Plenty in this weekend's much-anticipated NPC final at Sky Stadium.  Nick Mills was joined by captain Du'Plessis Kirfi and Lions veteran Brad Shields to discuss the season so far and the team's hopes for Saturday's match. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local government minister Simeon Brown has decided to appoint a Crown observer to Wellington City Council. The decision was reached after the council's long-term plan was forced back to the council table after a vote to ditch the sale of the council's 34% stake in Wellington Airport.  Now all eyes turn to who the observer will be - and what problems they might uncover.  NZ Herald's Welli...

Oscar Kightley has been a journalist, an author, and an actor - but he's also an acclaimed playwright.  He's the writer behind Dawn Raids, a play he wrote in the late 1990s exploring the horror of the raids targeting Pasifika overstayers in the 1970s. But 27 years later, the show has never been staged in the capital. That finally changes this week when Dawn Raids will be staged for two nights...

Kiwi rock band Supergroove have announced they're reuniting for a New Zealand tour and are set to play in Wellington in April next year - huge news for Kiwi music fans.  But it led Wellington Mornings music man James Irwin to wonder how many New Zealand artists or groups are currently in the New Zealand album charts? It turns out the answer is not many.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/l...

Brothers Hamish and Robert Vance have been in the menswear business since young boys, eventually following in their grandfather and father's footsteps as directors of Vance Vivan.  The menswear store first opened in October 1924 - and this month celebrates 100 years in business.  The pair joined Nick Mills to discuss their memories, the impact council decisions are having on CBD business...

National MP and commerce and consumer affairs Minister Andrew Bayly has been accused of telling a worker to "f**k off home" and pulling the 'L' sign with his fingers during a visit to a business.  He's apologised - but the full details around the incident are still unclear. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills to discuss what happens next - if anything. LISTEN ABOVE See...

Local government minister Simeon Brown is awaiting advice on whether to intervene at Wellington City Council - but is it actually necessary?  Also, a year on from the election, how has the government performed? Porirua mayor Anita Baker and PSA assistant secretary Fleur Fitzsimons joined Nick Mills for Friday Faceoff.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former TV star is just one of many names rumoured to be joining the race to be Wellington's next mayor, with the next local body election just under 12 months away. Rumours have been swirling among Wellington's business and political circles about who is considering a run against incumbent Tory Whanau and councillor Ray Chung - the only two candidates to have publicly announced they are seeking...

The Wellington Lions take on Waikato in the first NPC semi-final this weekend at Sky Stadium - what are our chances of making the final? Also, the Blackcaps dismissed India for their lowest home total in a test match in Bengaluru yesterday - how big a moment was this?  Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and Newstalk ZB Wellington news director Max Towle joined Nick Mills for the Friday Sport Kicko...

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau met with local government minister Simeon Brown this morning as he awaits advice on whether he should intervene at Wellington City Council. But is the council actually at the point where intervention is needed?  Also, ACC is facing a $7.2 billion deficit. How did it get to this point, and are increased levies the only answer? To face those questions, Labour's heal...

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the threshold for government intervention in Wellington City Council hasn't been met.  Talking to Nick Mills, he said the council still has an opportunity to pass its long term plan and show government it can function properly.  "Councillors arguing amongst each other is local democracy." "The level of dysfunction has got to be a bit higher than people ju...