Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Nicola Willis join Nick Mills for Politics Monday. Together they discuss how coalition negotiations are tracking, New Zealand now being the second highest vaping nation, allegations that Ginny yelled at a teenage volunteer on election night, the Electoral Commission facing counting errors, and Chris Hipkins changing his tune on tax. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

Wellington City Councillor Nicola Young and Broadcaster Mark Sainsbury join Nick Mills for Friday Faceoff. Together they debate whether the council should sell its shares in Wellington Airport, donations going to waste that were meant for a charity hospital, Wellington Water's billion dollar warning, and restaurants folding in the capital.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

I was driving home from work late yesterday afternoon listening to Heather du Plessis-Allan, and I started feeling slightly aggravated. No, more than slightly aggravated, I felt a little bit angry. I thought to myself, New Zealand has voted overwhelmingly for change. We thought we were voting for a government led by a businessman, that would make decisions, like a businessman. Yes, Christopher Lux...

New Zealand Herald Wellington Issues Reporter Georgina Campbell joins Nick Mills to discuss whether she thinks the city council is facing financial crisis, a restaurant owner considering throwing in the towel, and a hospitality triumph. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Restaurant Association of New Zealand President Mike Egan, who also owns Monsoon Poon, and Co Kids Childcare Director Steve Piper join Nick Mills on the Business Panel. Together they discuss what businesses want from the next Government, unemployment on the rise, hospitality venues closing down in the capital, and whether commercial rates are too high. Both also voice strong opinions on the Let's...

Wellington Water estimates it'll need one billion dollars a year, to fix its pipe problems. The water authority says it's in a constrained budget year - as Wellington City Council will this Thursday discuss its financial state. It comes after Newstalk ZB revealed Wellington Water was aiming to replace 100 kilometres of pipes a year, and had only managed 18. Chief Executive Tonia Haskell says it's...

Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Nicola Willis join Nick Mills for Politics Monday following special votes being counted. Together they discuss whether David Seymour and Winston Peters can work constructively, if recounts can make a difference, the Mongrel Mob seeking legal advice regarding the National Party’s gang policy, and Golden Mile contracts remaining unsigned. LISTEN ABOVE See omnys...

Political Commentator Josie Pagani and Wellington columnist Dave Armstrong join Nick Mills for Friday Faceoff. Together they discuss their predictions ahead of the special votes being counted, whether Oranga Tamariki is failing, Lewis Clareburt leaving Wellington for good, Mayor Tory Whanau moving forward with Golden Mile contracts, and her meeting with Reading Cinemas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

There are growing calls for Oranga Tamariki to be shaken up, following new details about a toddler who was killed in Lower Hutt. A homicide investigation's been launched into the death of Lower Hutt toddler Ruthless-Empire Wall, who was killed from blunt force trauma. Our newsroom understands his uncle contacted Oranga Tamariki, wanting the toddler to be uplifted. In July, Police conducted a welfa...

Labour Minister Ginny Anderson and National's finance spokesperson Nicola Willis join Nick Mills ahead of special votes being counted.  Throughout the hour the pair exchange jibes over coalition negotiations, National's fiscal plan, new specialist wait time figures, and the Let's Get Wellington Moving transport project.  LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's Mayor can't yet paint a clear picture of the city council's debt. The council’s gross debt was 1.25 billion dollars at the end of the 2023 financial year. Over the past five years, they paid an average of 25 million dollars annually in interest for the money it has borrowed. A group of Wellington ratepayers say their independent analysis shows the council's facing a billion dollar hol...

All Sports Breakfast Host Adam Cooper and Rugby Editor Elliot Smith join Nick Mills ahead of the All Blacks v Springboks Rugby World Cup Final. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Wellington Mayor Justin Lester and City Councillor Ben McNulty join Nick Mills for Friday Faceoff. During the panel Ben explains why he didn't vote to continue funding the strengthening of the Town Hall, and Justin admits he would have never have approved the project if he knew it would cost $329 million.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Racetech NZ Managing Director David Black and Cranfields owner Nicola Cranfield join Nick Mills on the Business Panel. Over the course of the hour both David and Nicola discuss state of affairs at the Wellington City Council, plans to move forward with pedestrianising the Golden Mile, heritage buildings being neglected by their owners, and whether cash is a dying currency. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnys...

Roger Walker is renowned for designing some of Wellington's most iconic buildings, including the Park Mews multi-unit development in Hataitai.  However at 81 years young, he has no intention of retiring anytime soon, but is preparing to sell his iconic home on Grant Road in Thorndon. In the meantime he's using the space to exhibit his latest paintings, a hobby he has pursued later in life.  He sat...

Economic analysis of Wellington City Council's financial state suggest they're facing hundreds million dollars worth of unbudgeted costs. The research done by Castalia was commissioned by a group of concerned Wellingtonians. The analysis done off public records shows there's at least one billion dollars worth of expenditure not included in the council's long term plan and unbudgeted spending on pr...

Three prominent Wellingtonians are so worried about the city council’s finances that they’ve paid for independent experts to take a look at the books. The resulting economic analysis suggests the council could be facing a $1 billion funding gap in unbudgeted costs and is on track to breach its debt covenants. At the same time Wellington City Council will today vote on whether to pour up to a furth...

Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine and All Sports Breakfast Host Adam Cooper join Nick Mills for Friday Sport ahead of the All Blacks going up against Argentina in the Rugby World Cup semifinal. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PR Specialist and former Labour Chief of Staff Neale Jones and former Wellington Mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast join Nick Mills on the Friday Faceoff. This week they discuss the 2023 Election results, whether Chris Hipkins should stay on as leader, plans for a charity hospital in Wellington being derailed, and tensions at the Wellington City Council reaching boiling point. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

Real estate agents are reporting a massive influx of listings since the 2023 election result, some listing more than they did for the entire month of October last year. Lowe and Co Managing Director Craig Lowe spoke to Nick Mills after listing 50 properties in just 12 days. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mortgage Ability Director Marcus Hull joins Nick Mills every fortnight to discuss all things money. This week they discuss how the change of Government will affect the dollar, Christmas spending getting underway, and new Consumer Price Index figures and what it will mean for Kiwis at the checkout. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between 2001 and 2011 music group Gráda was a highlight of the traditional Irish music scene. Now they're reuniting with a nine-date tour across New Zealand. The tour will begin in Wellington before the group head all over the country. With members from both Ireland and New Zealand, Gráda spent much of their time touring internationally, performing in over 1000 cities in 30 countries over the cour...

Rongotai's new MP has fronted up to media following the weekend's election result. The Greens Julie Anne Genter won the Labour stronghold seat. She explained to Nick Mills why she thinks she won. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg O'Connor believes he's won the Ohariu electorate through his strong ground game. Amongst a blue wave, the incumbent Labour MP beat National's Deputy Leader Nicola Willis in the seat over the weekend. O'Connor thinks his omnipresence and determination got him over the line. He says he's made a real effort to know the people of his electorate well during his six years in office. LISTEN ABOVE Se...

National doesn't have any plans to U-turn building a second Mount Victoria Tunnel, despite the Greens winning two central Wellington seats. Over the weekend Julie Anne Genter won Rongotai and Tamatha Paul snatched Wellington Central, two previous Labour strongholds. The Greens have campaigned against building a second Mount Victoria Tunnel, and instead wanted to prioritise light rail. But National...