Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has arrived in Melbourne for a packed five-day schedule after her trip to Europe, saying it was "excellent" to get her business mission under way at last. Ardern was welcomed with a ceremony by Wurundjeri elder, Aunty Joy Wandin-Murphy, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today. Afterward, she told media the trip had been long-planned. Ardern had intended to visit Austral...

Taxpayers have so far paid more than $140 million worth of subsidies to help produce the upcoming sequels to the Avatar movie. According to figures from the New Zealand Film Commission, the cash rebates for the upcoming movies will be the second largest in the agency's history. The only production to have received more taxpayers' cash is the Hobbit movies – which received more than $161m between 2...

Labour MP for Mana Barbara Edmonds and National's deputy leader Nicola Willis debate labour shortages within hospitality, New Zealand's free trade deal with the EU, Parliament's independent watchdog, visa changes for young Kiwis in Britain and Health New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Pine and Adam Cooper discuss the All Blacks v Ireland series beginning and the historic new women's National Basketball League. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Wellington mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast and Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy join Nick Mills for Friday Faceoff. Together they discuss New Zealand's free trade agreement with Europe, Let's Get Wellington Moving, the possibility of a super city, Paul Eagle, the fatal Timaru crash and Roe v. Wade. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The families of five boys killed in a drink-driving accident say a two-and-a-half year prison sentence is far from enough to address the lifetime of suffering they'll endure without their loved ones. Tyreese Stuart Fleming, 20, was the driver and sole survivor of an overloaded car which smashed into a power pole near Timaru last year. The force of the crash split the car in two, instantly killing...

In 2015 the St James Theatre, a Category 1 Heritage building on Courtenay Place, was found to be earthquake-prone. The work to strengthen the theatre to a minimum of 67% of the New Building Standard started in April 2019 On Saturday the 2nd of July it will officially open its doors for a public open day. Nick Mills went along for a sneak peak. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Newstalk ZB chief political reporter Jason Walls explains how he thinks the Roe v. Wade decision has affected the National Party and updates Nick Mills on the Prime Minister's trip to Europe.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An eclectic group of guys with a love of Americana folk music are urging audiences to ditch the Covid blues for their high-energy tunes. T-Bone - guitarist and songwriter Gerry Paul, American fiddler Richard Klein, multi-instrumentalist Cameron "Dusty" Burnell, bassist Aaron Stewart and guitar and mandolin player Michael Muggeridge – released their debut album Good 'n Greasy on June 17. The North...

The Government is moving ahead with a second Mt Victoria tunnel for Wellington and light rail running from the central railway station to Island Bay as its "preferred choice". Upgrades will also be made to improve traffic flow at the Basin Reserve, which involves the extension of the Arras Tunnel. The package is estimated to cost $7.4 billion in 2030 dollars. New Zealand Herald Wellington issues r...

Managing director of Gazley Holdings Myles Gazley and sales director of Tommy's Real Estate Nicki Cruickshank join Nick on the Business Panel. Together they discuss Let's Get Wellington Moving, lack of faith in the council, Paul Eagle running for mayor, inflation, the Prime Minister's trip to Europe and mental health issues within business. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

The Government has announced more free flu vaccines and a second Covid-19 booster for groups of people at risk of hospitalisation. Health Minister Andrew Little said an extra 800,000 New Zealanders will be eligible for free flu vaccines from Friday July 1. This will include children aged 3-12 and people with serious mental health or addiction needs. Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre Dr...

New Zealand Herald Wellington Business Editor Jenée Tibshraeny discusses how retail investors are more pessimistic in NZ than in Australia, how interest-only home loans are getting harder to obtain and what she expects from the latest bank lending data. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every fortnight Director of Mortgage Ability NZ Marcus Hull joins Nick Mills for Money Talks. This week he analyses ANZ's new lending conditions, why Millennials may be living pay cheque to pay cheque and an interesting new company credit checking tool. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour MP for Mana Barbara Edmonds and National's deputy leader Nicola Willis join Nick Mills for Politics Monday. Together they discuss Paul Eagle running for Mayor, the Roe v. Wade case, Wellington's livability, the Prime Minister's Europe trip, Kris Faafoi departing politics and the likelihood of a recession. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After months of rumour and speculation, Labour Rongotai MP Paul Eagle has formally announced his campaign to be Wellington's next mayor. "I'm running because Wellington needs new leadership that's strong and stable and they need someone who's prepared to put the mojo back into the capital city of Aotearoa New Zealand," he told the Herald. Eagle criticised incumbent Andy Foster for his inability to...

This week on Faceoff Nick Mills is joined by Chairman of the National Maori Authority Matthew Tukaki and Director of Franks Ogilve Brigitte Morten. Together they discuss ambulance response times, Wellington's District Plan, transgender athletes and celebrating Matariki with a public holiday for the first time. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB's chief political reporter Jason Walls discusses whether the Prime Minister should apologise to Charlotte Bellis and how Chris Hipkins is performing as Police Minister.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington man was found dead in his doorway six hours after calling an ambulance complaining of chest pains. The man's family don't know how long he was waiting for help to arrive, but were told his death was being referred to the Coroner due to the hours-long wait for the ambulance to show up. The 73-year-old's daughter-in-law, who wanted to only be referred to as Katrina, spoke to Nick Mills....

Property expert Matt Ryan analyses a recent tenancy tribunal case from Dunedin, revisions to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act and how property is currently comparing to other investment avenues.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter has criticised the idea of a second Mount Victoria tunnel proposed under the Let's Get Wellington Moving project.  She says a second tunnel would make barely any difference to motorists and should instead be specifically for walking and cycling.  She joins Nick Mills on Wellington Mornings.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Herald Wellington issues reporter Georgina Campbell joins Nick Mills to discuss how her working arrangements have changed forever and how Hutt Hospital's improved earthquake status is no saving grace. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Mayor Andy Foster joins Nick Mills for his monthly catch up in June.  This time he discusses whether he supports a second Mount Victoria Tunnel, the St James Theatre reopening, the new District Plan and Matariki.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Herald Wellington business editor Jenée Tibshraeny sheds some light on a potentially major conflict of interest created by finance minister Grant Robertson, and how the cost of importing petrol has hit a new record. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Rugby is receiving criticism after deciding to hold a premier women’s rugby grand final on the day of the inaugural Matariki public holiday. It comes after a women’s rugby club couldn’t start in the planned week and the season had to be re-jigged.  TJ rang up Nick Mills to share what he thinks of the decision and what Matariki means to his family.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listen...