Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Nick is joined in studio by Labour Leader Chris Hipkins for the first of their monthly chats for the year. Starting with the fallout from last week's events in Hipkins' private life being bought to the public eye. We get his thoughts on the line of privacy as a politician and how he and his family are handling the situation. Then into the fuel crisis. Yesterday the government launched their plan -...

The cost for water is going up for Wellington households. Tiaki Wai - the new water entity looks after Wellington, Porirua, and Hutt Valley is coming into effect July 1 and the price is eyewatering.  The average household in the region currently pays about $2,100 a year for water through rates, but under the new model that would shift to a standalone charge of roughly $2,410 annually — about...

The annual Cuba Dupa festival hits Wellington this weekend from 28-29th March.  Nick speaks to Director Bianca Bailey to see what we can expect from this year's event. The free event runs over Saturday and Sunday, and will feature over 210 acts, 70 food vendors, 220 performances.  The festival is expecting tens of thousands of visitors, Bailey shares how they are preparing and what to lo...

The Wellington Region ranked lowest in ASBs latest regional economic scoreboard.  Nick speaks to Dot Loves Data Director and former Wellington Mayor Justin Lester on the issue. Lester says there are positives coming for Wellington, and is confident that our economy is recovering - just slowly. He talks through the causes and effects of our economic downfall and the comparisons to other region...

EDITORIAL: Let’s just call this out for what it is, because I think a lot of people are thinking the same as me here.  When I saw Nicola Willis standing there at Marsden Point—hard hat on, big fuel tanker behind her—telling us we’ve got seven weeks of fuel supply,  I thought, right… we get it. Message received.  But then it quickly turned from reassurance into something else entirel...

Nick is joined on the Business Panel this week by General Manager of Wellington on a Plate (WOAP) and Beervana, Penny de Borst and Gollins Commercial property broker, Chris Gollins.  Our guests discuss doing business in Wellington City and how it's changing this year. In time of turmoil for the city - we hear about the success of de Borst and Gollins' businesses, the hardships and the plans a...

Nick Mills wraps the week with former Wellington City Mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast and former Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy.   Are we panicking too much over the fuel supply from the Strait of Hormuz? Or is this justified?  How badly is our country going to be impacted by the US/Israel Iran conflict? Fuel, food, economy – our guest faceoff on the important issues of the week.  They d...

For this week's Friday Sport Kick-off, Nick is joined by Newstalk ZB’s sports gurus Adam Cooper and Jason Pine.  How are the Hurricanes looking for the season? Cooper thinks tonight's game against the Highlanders is the true test.  The crew look at the games ahead for the Hurricanes and the starting players – including Ruben Love. Phoenix Women are the centre of attention and with a big...

EDITORIAL: I want to spend this morning talking about something I'm genuinely concerned about. I want to be tough on crime, like everyone does. I want to be serious about saving lives on our roads, course we do, that's a no brainer. So this is exactly where you start.  The latest numbers are in, and they are big.  Police issued 538,192 speeding fines in 2025—now that’s the highest i...

For Politics Thursday this week Nick is joined by Labour MP Ginny Andersen and National MP for Otaki Tim Costley. After this week's events with Minister Chris Hipkins family life reaching the public eye - we talk to our politicians around where we draw the line for privacy as a public figure. Then panel tackle the top political issues of the week starting with the latest GDP increase of 0..2% - wh...

The cult classic Rocky Horror show is back in Wellington with the West End cast performing at the St James Theatre. Nick is joined in the studio today by star and Frank-N-Furter himself, Stephen Webb. Stephen, along with all the cast and live band have flown all the way from London and the West End production of the hit musical.  He shares what it's like touring, bringing it to NZ and what ma...

EDITORIAL: Last week on the show we talked about something that doesn’t get said enough in politics—that some people are just too nice for it.  We mentioned Shane Reti. A genuinely decent man. And I’m going to say the same thing again today about Chris Hipkins.  I’ve met him several times. Always the same—polite, grounded, asks how you are and actually cares, actually listens. Not a show...

Good morning, New Zealand.  Let's start the show this morning by asking you a simple question: how fragile is our economy right now, really?   Because just when it feels like we might finally be seeing those green shoots growing, a bit of momentum, a bit of optimism creeping back into the country — along comes another debate that feels like it could shut things down yet again.  Yes,...

All gift cards sold or given out with a purchase now have a minimum expiry date of three years as yesterday the government has amended the Fair Trading (gift card expiry) Act.  Why is it not longer or unlimited? Nick speaks to Consumer NZ spokesperson Jessica Walker discusses the changes and how they will affect customers.  Walker says they have been campaigning on the amendments fo...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has arrived in Samoa, and on the agenda is a ceremony to receive the matai, chief title.  This visit is the first for Luxon in Samoa, and his first time meeting Samoa PM La’aulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Fosi Schmidt since he was elected in September. Reports that he had requested the title have been debunked by the Prime Minister and his team. Other Prime...

For Friday Faceoff this week Nick is joined in the studio by lawyer and former MP Stephen Franks and managing director of Gazley Motors Myles Gazley. Starting with the government's warnings of carless days due to fuel shortages from the Iran conflict. Gazley and Franks give their insight into the issue, the response from the government and the public. Should the government implement the idea, or a...

This week for Friday Sport Kick-off Nick is joined by Jason Pine to wrap the weeks sport - and what's to come for the weekend. Starting with the biggest question in rugby at the moment - who will be Dave Rennie's All Blacks assistant coach? Jason and Nick talk Tana Umaga and Cory Jane, their stats, their legacy and hopes for the job. Tonight the Hurricanes play the Force in Napier, they go through...

This week for Politics Thursday Nick is joined by Labour MP and spokesperson for Health and Wellington Issues, Ayesha Verrall and National MP for Otaki, Tim Costley. Yesterday the Covid-19 response findings were released, what have our politicians learned from these findings? Verrall, who was associate health minister at the time, shares her thoughts on the inquiry findings surrounding spendings,...

Nick chats to Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith after an open letter was signed by Wellington's regional mayors. The letter states the mayors and other community leaders reject the government's plan to give police power to move on rough sleepers for 24 hours.  Minister Goldsmith shares his thoughts on the rejection of the orders, and the reputation of Wellington. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com...

Wellington Regional mayors, iwi and community leaders have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister stating that new move on orders are not welcome in the area. The move on orders have been proposed by the government to cope with growing numbers of homeless people in city centres - giving police powers to move people for 24 hours. The letter from the mayors is concerned that this is not the bes...

The new Central Library, Te Matapihi Ki te Ao Nui is opening this weekend, March 14th.   To celebrate the council is throwing an opening ceremony – originally budgeted at a $405k cost to the rate payer.   After receiving the budget, Mayor Andrew Little slashed the cost to $178k.  The library is reopening after 7 years of earthquake strengthening and refurbishments. The opening event...

For our business panel this week Nick is joined in the studio by Retail NZ CEO, Carolyn Young and employment law expert and partner at JB Morrison, Tess von Dadelszen. Young and von Dadelszen discuss doing business in the city, in such hostile times in terms of international, national and local politics.  Starting with the effect of the Iran conflict, what are the effects of instability and p...

This week for Beehive Buzz, Nick is joined by Newstalk ZB Political Reporter Azaria Howell.  Rumours swirl around Prime Minister Luxon's position and a coup, after last week's Curia poll result had National at 28%.  And tomorrow the findings from the report on the Governments Covid-19 response are released. What is the feeling in the beehive right now, and what is expected to come of thi...

Wellington City Council's revenue and financial working group has released their report with 50 suggestions to cut council spending and rates rises. Chair of the group and deputy mayor Ben McNulty joins Nick to discuss the findings of the report. The report will head to public consultation, after the council meeting on Thursday.  The report aims to save about $8 -10 million, including cutting...

OPINION : Luxon should not bow down to negative polls.  What a weekend it’s been for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.  And strangely enough, the whole situation really kicked off right here on this show on Friday morning with a little chat with Nicola Willis.  The results of the poll were out, people were talking about miserable they were, the Nicola Willis interview kicked it off....