Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau believes she still has a majority of one vote in favour of selling the council's stake in Wellington Airport - but told Nick Mills she isn't sure if the next vote will succeed. "We check it every week and people flip-flop. That's the problem."  The controversial idea passed during the council's long-term plan vote but will come back to the council for a second vote in...

It was a case of the old and the new on Friday Faceoff this week, with Wellington Central Green MP Tamatha Paul, and experienced Parliamentarian and former Minister Peter Dunne on Friday Faceoff.  On the agenda was Wellington Water's performance, how unemployment is affecting young people, and whether they shop second-hand.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks take on Argentina at Sky Stadium in Wellington this weekend, but the game still isn't sold out. Why does there seem to be less hype than usual?  And Wellington Phoenix star goalkeeper Alex Paulsen has signed with Auckland FC - what will this mean for the Phoenix? Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills to discuss.  LISTEN ABOVE See om...

Wellington Water's chief executive Tonia Haskell has resigned after a scathing report into the entity's processes and accountability.  So where to next for Wellington Water, and was Haskell forced out?  A frequent critic of Wellington Water, Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy joined Nick Mills to discuss the organisation's issues. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest unemployment figures are out with those looking for work reaching 4.6%. How desperate is the public for an interest rate cut now?  And who's to blame for the country's energy shortage, and how do we solve it? Those were the questions for the politics panel this week, with Labour's Health and Wellington issues spokesperson Ayesha Verrall and National's Otaki MP Tim Costley.  LISTEN ABOVE...

She's been on our screens for years; Gloss, Shortland Street and even the Billy T James Show, but now actress Iona Rodgers is in Wellington to recount the memories of one of her earliest productions.  Rodgers appeared in six episodes of Doctor Who, and will this week speak at a Wellington on a Plate event with meals inspired by the cult television show.  She joined Nick Mills to talk about her lon...

It's a hit show that is adored overseas, and now it's on its way to Wellington. We Will Rock You is the story of a world without musical instruments, where the cast fights for the rebirth of rock. It features 24 Queen classics and is endorsed by Brian May and Roger Taylor.  Nick was joined by two homegrown members of the cast, Caleb Jago-Ward and Ella Monnery, who told us what we can expect.  You...

It's August... which means Wellington on a Plate is once again hitting the capital's bars and restaurants.  The Burger Wellington competition is also back for another year, with more than 196 burgers and 238 venues taking part. Event organiser Beth Brash joined Nick Mills and Max Towle in the studio with three entries; a calamari burger, a sirloin burger, and a 'jenga' dessert burger.  LISTEN ABOV...

The National Party held its first party conference since entering government over the weekend, where John Key also made an appearance and called to lower the temperature on discussions over race relations.  So how did the conference go, and how heated is the discussion over race relations at the moment?  Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills. LISTEN LIVE See omnystudio.com/lis...

Do our MPs need to look at how they're behaving, and would we reduce alcohol harm if we raised the drinking age? Those were the questions for the Friday Faceoff panel this week, with broadcaster Paddy Gower and lawyer and former MP Chris Finlayson. Also on the agenda was our Olympic success, and the controversial Pablo Esco-burger - is it offensive?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

New Zealand's Olympic medal count now sits at five after a wildly successful night for our rowers, including a standout performance from Brooke Francis and Lucy Spoors in the women's double sculls.  Also, the Central Pulse are off to the ANZ Premiership final - can they take the title? Wellington's All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper and Newstalk ZB news and sports reader Max Towle joined Nick Mi...

Wellington restaurant Ernesto's has been booted out of Wellington on a Plate's burger competition after entering a burger that took inspiration from the infamous cocaine trafficker Pablo Escobar. The 'Pablo Escoburger' was banned from the competition, which Ernesto's won last year, after complaints from the Colombian Embassy of Australia which said it made light of a man who caused the deaths of t...

Emergency department and hospital staff are concerned as police prepare to make   sweeping changes to how they respond to mental health calls. Many of those changes have already been made in Wellington, with police attending mental distress events and assisting clinical staff less frequently, to keep up with demand. It comes as Police Minister Mark Mitchell says police need to focus on their core...

How is Wellington's economy holding up in the face of job cuts and a recession, and what will the Golden Mile redevelopment mean for both CBD and suburban businesses? Those were some of the questions for this week's business panel, consisting of Tomboy Bakery owner Kate Bresolin and florist Yvette Edwards.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens have seen resignations from party members after accusations of mistreating Darleen Tana. Still, the now-independent MP's days might be numbered as the party considers invoking the waka-jumping law.  Meanwhile, the cost of the Defence Force 757 breaking down on the Prime Minister's trip to Japan last month has been revealed. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills with...

The Olympics are underway, with 195 athletes representing New Zealand in Paris - but how many medals are we likely to bring home?  And the Central Pulse have qualified for the ANZ Premiership final - what are their chances? Newstalk ZB and GOLD Sport's Olympic commentators Jason Pine and Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They were the King and Queen of the airwaves and the longest-running duo in New Zealand radio history.  Now Polly Gillespie and Grant Kereama have reunited on Wellington Mornings, sharing laughs and even shedding a few tears on this week's Friday Faceoff. The pair joined Nick Mills to talk the state of Wellington, Ardie Savea's move to Moana Pasifika, and their relationship with the late Jonah Lom...

OPINION Yesterday was a black day in New Zealand history. If you were anything like me, you sat there and watched and read the most horrific stories of abuse in state and faith-based care, struggling to believe this abuse happened in New Zealand.  The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care is a volume of horror.    The report describes the abuse as a national disgrace that will remain a st...

The Royal Commission into abuse in care has revealed horrifying stories of abuse, but what's the next move from the government, and what will redress look like?  And how much blame can be laid at the feet of the last government for Health NZ's money troubles? Those were the questions for our politics panel this week, with Labour's health and Wellington issues spokesperson Ayesha Verrall and Nation...

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care was one of the hardest things he grappled with as a minister in the last government, and says the report will make for sobering reading.  Hipkins joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills to talk about what the report will reveal, as well as other political issues of the week including the sacking of what remained of the Hea...

The Wellington City Council is spending close to $600 million upgrading its social housing stock, but what historic deal sparked the move?  And experts have said the Interislander ferries can last another five years - but can they? NZ Herald's Wellington issues reporter Georgina Campbell joined Nick Mills to talk through her stories of the week.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has returned from a week off in Hawaii as Parliament resumes after a three-week recess - the same day US President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the US presidential race.  Joining Nick to preview the week in Parliament, and with his reaction to the Biden news was Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Joe Biden has officially dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, after a disastrous 25 days which has seen him facing intense pressure after a poor debate showing against Republican nominee Donald Trump. Biden officially announced he was dropping out of the race via a tweet shortly before 6am this morning.  He followed the announcement with another tweet endorsing his Vice President Kamala Harr...

Will Joe Biden step down, and when will it happen, and are Air NZ charging us too much for airfares? Those were some of the questions for the Friday Faceoff panel this week, with Iron Duke Partners director Phil O'Reilly and Wellington hospitality identity Mike Egan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a number of debutants in the All Blacks squad to play Fiji in San Diego on Saturday, and the Wellington Saints take on the Franklin Bulls in Wellington tonight.  To talk through the weekend's sport, Nick was joined by Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.