Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Things are tough in Wellington at the moment, with unemployment biting and public service cuts and staff working from home affecting central city businesses.  Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young and Trinity Group director and Hospitality NZ board member Jeremy Smith joined Nick Mills to talk business in Wellington.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week was another difficult one for the Greens, with an outburst followed by further allegations against MP Julie Anne Genter.  Newstalk ZB's political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills to talk about the issue, as well as the long-awaited Darleen Tana report, political donations and Winston's spat with former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Three waters us behind us and its time to look at how we can properly look after our water infrastructure, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says.  One answer is a Wellington Water mega entity, capturing Kapiti, Wairarapa and the central city. Baker joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills to discuss the idea.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wellington Phoenix may have missed out on finishing at the top of the A League table, but we've still got a home semi-final to look forward to.  Newstalk ZB's Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills to talk all things sport.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was two council foes reuniting on Friday Faceoff this week... but it turns out they're actually good mates.  Wellington City Councillor Nicola Young and former councillor and now the PSA's assistant secretary Fleur Fitzsimons joined Nick Mills to dissect the news of the week.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The florist who's accused Julie Anne Genter of yelling at her says the confrontation could have been avoided.   Laura Newcombe says the MP also pulled out her phone during a heated exchange over cycleways.   The Green Party is not disputing the story.   Newcombe told Nick Mills on Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings that Genter didn't need to come into her shop.   She says Genter didn't need to keep t...

Both Nicola Willis and Ayesha Verrall say they've never seen anything like the outburst from Julie Anne Genter on the floor of Parliament last night. The Finance Minister and Labour's Health and Wellington Issues spokesperson joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills to talk the political issues of the week. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been another death on the rugby field, this time in Auckland. 33-year-old Cory Heather died at a game in Beachlands after a suspected knock to the head over the weekend.  Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills asked what more needs to be done to ensure players' safety, and heard from caller Johnny who is soon to quit working after some poor dementia test results. In tears, he spoke of years o...

James Shaw signs off from Parliament this week after a 10-year career, much of it as co-leader, and at one point even the sole leader of the Greens.  Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills to talk about his legacy, as well as news the government will be signing off on the budget today and the details of a new Pharmac announcement.  LISTEN ABOVE See omny...

Just a day after a Curia poll showed Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any New Zealand mayor, she joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills for her monthly catch-up. Also on the agenda was the failed Reading Cinema deal, the Golden Mile project and the renewal of her Green membership. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says Wellington City Council's now-collapsed deal with Reading Cinemas was "shady" and could have found the council in hot water with the Auditor General.  She was joined by Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen to talk the political issues of the week with Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where to now for the derelict Reading Cinemas complex, and what has the failed deal cost the council? Those questions are yet to be answered, NZ Herald Wellington Issues reporter Georgina Campbell says.  She joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills for her regular Capital Letter slot.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington institution Cranfields is set to shut down, while the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport is going from strength to strength as the training facility for the Hurricanes and the Phoenix.  The leaders of those respective businesses joined Nick Mills to talk through how things are... and the pair had quite different outlooks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has returned from a week long tour of South East Asia, aimed at improving New Zealand's relationships with Singapore, Thailand and the Phillipines.  Newstalk ZB senior political reporter Sophie Trigger joined Nick Mills to talk about the trip, as well as the government's changes to lending regulations and the fast track consent bill.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.co...

On Friday Faceoff this week Nick was joined by political commentator Josie Pagani and former broadcaster Mark Sainsbury.  On the agenda was Wellington's mega tunnel proposal, Tory Whanau rejoining the Greens, police pay and the Stuff/Newshub deal.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Wellington for 33 years...

On Politics Thursday this week Nick was joined by Housing Minister and MP for Hutt South Chris Bishop, and Labour's Hutt South list MP and police spokesperson Ginny Andersen. On the agenda was the police's rejected pay offer, cuts to Oranga Tamariki, Wellington's mega tunnel proposal and new record immigration figures.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge says the idea of banning begging in the city wouldn't solve the problem. The issue of begging is back at the fore after a Rotorua and Christchurch city councillor called for a ban in their respective cities.  But Edridge says people only beg because they are in need and we need to fix the source of the problem.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau's switch from independent to Green party member breaches the trust of her voters, Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills says.  Newstalk ZB revealed yesterday that the Wellington Mayor had renewed her Green Party membership, after initially letting it lapse so she could form more constructive relationships with other councillors.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listene...

The zoo has hit Wellington, with Madagascar The Musical set to take over the St James Theatre this week. The main cast and show producer joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills for an in-studio performance.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the government is rushing into signing up to pillar two of the AUKUS pact "[The new government] is effectively saying yeah, we want in. I wouldn't say we want in until we know what we're signing up for," he told Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills. "I don't think that's something responsible governments do."  Also on the agenda was the proposal for a new 'mega tunn...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon landed in Singapore late last night, the first stop of a week-long trip to South-East Asia. Luxon is also visiting Thailand - the first visit from a New Zealand Prime Minister in 11 years, and the Phillipines - the first visit in 14 years. Newstalk ZB's senior political reporter Sophie Trigger joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills, where they also talked Winst...

Transport Minister Simeon Brown says an idea to build a "mega tunnel" under Wellington City from The Terrace to Kilbirnie could be a better option than a second Mt Victoria tunnel, but there needs to be further investigation. The NZ Herald revealed this morning that the government had asked NZTA/Waka Kotahi to investigate the feasibility of the mega tunnel, but so far there are no rough costs. Bro...

Friday Faceoff this week saw former Cabinet Minister Peter Dunne and Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy join Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills.  On the agenda was MPs pay, Upper Hutt's boy racing issue, the tragic Billy Guyton story and the relaxed rules of dogs in public.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It'll be a quick turnaround for the Sky Stadium groundskeepers this weekend with the Phoenix playing tonight and the Hurricanes playing tomorrow night in what's set to be a big weekend of sport.  Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Sports Breakfast host Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills to talk the weekend's sport.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.