Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Winston Peters' state of the nation speech was "classic Winston" - taking potshots at the media and the opposition.  Jason joined Nick Mills for the Beehive Buzz. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Council is planning to make about 2500 Newtown car parks time-limited, sparking concerns from Mary Potter Hospice that some families won't be able to spend as much time with their families. CEO Tony Paine, who told the council the plan would be "catastrophic", spoke to Nick Mills.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday Faceoff this week Wellington City Councillor Ben McNulty and Greater Wellington Regional Councillor Simon Woolf discuss the state of the Green Party and Wellington city's new district plan.  Also on the agenda was the possibility of the regional council buying more shares in Centreport and whether Ombudsman Peter Boshier should be allowed to continue in his role.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnyst...

Former Cabinet Minister and political commentator Peter Dunne says the allegations against Darleen Tana are a serious credibility issue for the Green Party.  He spoke to Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills about turmoil yet again engulfing the Green Party.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Politics Thursday Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and Finance Minister Nicola Willis talk health targets, the Ruapehu bailout and the Ombudsman's age limit.  Nick Mills also asks if Police Minister Mark Mitchell advocated for a stronger police pay offer in cabinet, and if he came against a brick wall in the form of the Finance Minister.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/lis...

Wellington now houses the country's first community based Depression Recovery Centre. Whakamātūtū : A place of recovery offers a therapeutic day programme for for people with moderate to severe mental health issues at purpose built premises on Cuba Street. The director and driving force behind the new facility is mental health advocate and lawyer Brent Williams, who spoke to Nick Mills on site. LI...

On this week's Capital Letter, Nick and Georgina Campbell discuss the Transport Minister's refusal to commit to pedestrians and cyclists being able to use the new Mt Victoria Tunnel. They also looked at the upcoming rates rise for Wellington residents, and fundraising efforts by Royal NZ Ballet. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on music time, Nick and James celebrate the ninth album from multi Grammy winning musician Norah Jones, enjoy some humour metal from an A list Hollywood actor's band and just maybe you have this dusty old album from a New Zealand band in your attic that worth nearly $1000. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Friday Faceoff, Dot Loves Data director and former Wellington mayor Justin Lester, and director of Iron Duke Partners Phil O'Reilly discuss the continuing public service cuts and how they're affecting the capital city. They also assessed the new Government's first 100 days in office, the TVNZ job and programme cuts, whether the Hurricanes Poua should have made a political stand in t...

In Politics Thursday this week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Labour's Health and Wellington Issues spokesperson Ayesha Verrall react to the news that TVNZ is proposing to cut up to 68 jobs. They also discussed the government's plans with emergency housing, continued public service cuts, the grounded Air Force Boeing 757 plane, National's new roading plan and how we can stop health workers be...

The Hurricanes Poua team performed a haka before its first game of the Super Rugby Aupiki season last weekend, which was critical of the coalition government. They altered the haka, and referred to people being "puppets of this redneck government". Many times, over many years, I've said that politics and sport have no place on the same grounds. I've also felt that the respect that the haka is held...

In this week's Capital Letter, NZ Herald Wellington Issues reporter Georgina Campbell updates Nick on her investigation into whether the Wellington City Council's deal to by Reading Cinemas land is really fiscally neutral to ratepayers. They also discuss a halt in some legal proceedings against those who built the Transmission Gully motorway. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Former Wellington Mayor Andy Foster and political commentator Brigitte Morten joined Nick Mills on this week's Friday Faceoff. They discussed the Wellington City Council's controversial Reading Cinema deal, the closure of Newshub, tougher laws announced on gangs, the staff still employed by Let's Get Wellington Moving and whether organisations should still provide bills on paper to those who want...

Wellington's controversial Reading Cinema deal has moved ahead, despite backlash and an eleventh hour twist. The Wellington City Council's officially buying the land the boarded-up quake-prone site sits on - for $32 million. A motion to block the deal from going ahead failed. Philanthropist Sir Mark Dunajtschik offered to buy the site yesterday, but his philanthropic offer didn't come to fruition...

In the latest edition of Politics Thursday, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Labour's housing and local government spokesperson Kieran McAnulty discuss the proposed closure of Newshub and if the Government should play a bigger role in supporting media. They also discussed the Wellington City Council's possible purchase of Reading Cinema land, the repealing of smokefree laws, the government's cra...

The New Zealand Fringe Festival is underway in Wellington. The New Blue is a unique performance showcasing the remarkable story and songbook of New Zealand's first recording pop star, Pixie Williams. Created by Williams' daughter Amelia Costello, it's the musical story of her life, crafted by people who knew and loved her. It's also a much wider story, exploring life in Wellington  at the time, an...

In today's Capital Letter, NZ Herald's Wellington Issues reporter Georgina Campbell talks to Nick Mills about the $32m Reading Cinema deal dividing Wellington, ahead of it coming before the latest City Council meeting. They also look back on the recent Wellington City Council by-election, and update the situation around apartment owners struggling to find affordable insurance. LISTEN ABOVE See omn...

In this week's Music Time, Nick and   James  rave about a global superstar who has just released his first new music in over 30 years They also pay tribute to Clinton Brown, a New Zealand musician and all-around good guy who has played in some our country's biggest acts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has admitted the secrecy around the $32 million Reading Cinema deal went on for too long. The deal is finally set to be discussed in public later this week after every councillor the Herald spoke to on Saturday indicated support for it to be aired. The cinema building was closed in early 2019 after an earthquake risk was discovered and it has since become a symbol of t...

On this week's Friday Faceoff, Nick Mills was joined in studio by Infometrics principal economist chief economist Brad Olsen and Wellington City Councillor Nicola Young. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A twist in the Wellington City Council by-election. Green Party candidate and renting advocate Geordie Rogers has won the Pukehinau-Lambton ward seat. Final results show he beat businessman Karl Tiefenbacher by just 45 votes. Provisional votes had Tiefenbacher ahead, before specials were counted. Geordie Rogers says it looked like votes weren't going his way initially, but he's glad people have gi...

In today's Capital Letter, NZ Herald Wellington Issues reporter Georgina Campbell discussed her latest opinion piece on the Government's plans for the future of the Cook Strait ferries. Georgina and Nick also chatted about the tight race in the By-election for the Wellington City Council's Lambton Ward, and where things stand on the Council's proposed cutbacks to pools and libraries. LISTEN LIVE S...

An organisation that provides a safe space and a friendly face for young people out on Friday and Saturday nights is extending its service from mid-February through to April.    Take 10, with the support of Wellington City Council, has been parking up their mobile unit on the corner of Courtenay Place and Taranaki Street on Friday and Saturday nights since 2019.    Run by the Vulnerable Support Ch...

St John isn't the only ambulance service under financial pressure. The organisation's taking some ambulances off the road to save costs for when a worker is sick - or on leave. Wellington Free Ambulance is also stretching the dollar further, and is asking government to take more of a responsibility to help and provide some security. CEO David Robinson told Wellington Mornings they're having to ask...

On this week's Friday Faceoff, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and political commentator and lecturer Bryce Edwards spoke at the murmurings that Annette King was approached as a possible option as Commissioner for the under-fire Wellington City Council. They also discussed the latest budget cuts made by the Wellington City Council to fund water infrastructure upgrades, David Seymour's pledge to fine pa...