Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

This week on Capital Letter with Georgina Campbell: A mysterious long tunnel that was mentioned on the contents pages of heavily redacted documents won't see the light of day in Wellington's $6.4 billion transport plan. A long tunnel was not part of Let's Get Wellington Moving's (LGWM) recommended programme of investment, nor the package that was endorsed by the Government. But all of a sudden it...

It's Level Two but not as we know it for Wellington Businesses today. Under Delta Level Two indoor gathering are limited to 50 people.  Iain Macleod from Penthouse Cinema in Brooklyn told Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills cinema's that would normally fit 100 people look very different.  He says people also have to wear masks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his weekly Tuesday business slot, NZ Herald's Wellington Business Editor Hamish Rutherford tells Nick Mills how the Wellington economy can bounce back during the revised Alert Level 2 restrictions, and also addresses the issue of products getting into the country due to shipping delays. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellingtonians have been slapped with more than 800 parking fines on the first day of paid parking since the Covid-19 lockdown. Some motorists have been particularly unlucky and have landed themselves with double tickets. Wellington's mayor admits his council's parking wardens were too heavy-handed during lockdown. Other councils around the country waived their fees. Andy Foster told Nick Mills it...

Not everyone in the Capital is happy about new Level Two rules All of New Zealand, except Auckland, will move to Alert Level Two from midnight tonight but it won't look the same as it did last time. Masks are mandatory in most public venues - there's a limit of 50 people for indoor gatherings, 100 for outdoors. There's mandatory record keeping at bars, restaurants, cinemas, churches and hairdresse...

On Wellington Mornings Political Panel MP Nicola Willis and Labour MP Kieran McAnulty talk possible changes to our terrorism suppression laws in the wake of Friday's attack, should Hipkins get a break to focus on Covid-19, what is the feeling in the National Party after a shake-up, and is it time to change the way we give out the pension? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of the terror attack at Countdown New Lynn on Friday, focus has turned to a gap in our anti-terror legislation. The Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill is at the Select Committee stage.  The Government's now moving fast to pass through terrorism suppression laws, which would criminalise planning and preparing a terrorism act though opinion are split on whether that would have prevented...

Wellington Morning's host Nick Mills interviews rising Wellington musician Louis Baker on his success, music in lockdown and writing his first song in Te Reo called Te Utu o Te Aroha. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Friday Faceoff: Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen and Lawyer Brigitte Morton talk the man who escaped from an Auckland MIQ, what's wrong with out MIQ system, MPs returning to Parliament this week, why 90% of us pay a 'lazy tax' for not trying to get better deals, and China limiting kids gaming time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The drive continues to stop Lower Hutt's Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre closing. The only non-hospital birthing centre in the Wellington region will shut this month, after its owners decided it was no longer sustainable. Call for local DHBs to fund the centre have so far failed, but a 6000-strong petition has been presented, pleading them to reconsider. Birth educator and member of Hutt Families f...

This week on Beehive Buzz with Newstalk ZB Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen: Parliament ressumes this week in small numbers despite Covid-19 lockdowns, the demand and supply debate over vaccines, why does the Prime Minister hold up charts during the 1pm press conference and the social media splash they are making. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's Music Time, James Irwin looks at a "so bad it's fun" Bee Gees tribute album by the Foo Fighters, under the guise of The Dee Gees. We mark some pillars of the music world who've passed away. It's 25 years since the Macarena started punishing our ears, and a classic Rolling Stones record is this week's Cash in the Attic. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

A call for the Capital's transport plan to change it's approach. The Road Transport Forum says Let's get Wellington moving has been a mess from the start. It's CEO Nick Leggett is calling on those running the project to focus on big ticket items and long term decisions - instead of smaller shorter projects like speed reduction.  His organisation is also part of 'Progress Wellington' a coalition of...

This week on Money Talks: Financial expert Marcus Hull from Mortgage Ability talks how to sort you finances out if lockdown has given them a knock. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Capital Letter: Wellington Issues Reporter Georgina Campbell talks what life in Wellington is like in Alert Level Three and the Wellington City Council is looking at a referendum on the issue of Three Waters Reforms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington might be in Alert Level Three but that still means we are to stay in our bubbles which can take a toll on our mental health. Nick Mills talks to leading mental health advocate Mike King about how to re-frame the way think about lockdown. But King says the government don't think about the toll Covid-19 takes on our mental well being. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Tuesday Business: Wellington Business Editor Hamish Rutherford talks the impact WOW's postponement will have on the Capital and how much Alert Level Three will help local business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World of Wearable Arts show (WOW) has been postponed due to the Covid-19 Delta outbreak. With the country's ongoing alert level restrictions organisers believe opening on September 30 wasn't achievable. The show was expected to hit the stage from September 30 to October 17. "The WOW Team is deeply disappointed we have had to postpone the 2021 World of WearableArt Awards Show," organisers said...

Professor Graham Le Gros is the Director of the Malaghan Institute in Wellington. People are now pouring in, at a rate of 90,000 a day on Friday, all keen to do their bit for the country by getting a jab. As the Prime Minister remains coy on how many doses of the vaccine are left amid a period of high demand, Dr Le Gros is concerned we could run out before a large shipment of Pfizer arrives in Oct...

In our weekly catch-up with National's Nicola Willis and Kieran McAunulty, we debate the issues around how to ensure our vaccination rates align with supply, and how important is it to be holding Parliament when some or all of the country is at level 4? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A call from a Wellington business to move Father's Day because of Covid lockdowns. Owner of wholesale company Moana Road Paul Ballentyne says delays will mean presents in the post will be late for Father's Day He told Nick Mills businesses are crying out for a boost but likely won't get it if Father's Day remains on September 5th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Friday Faceoff: Business leader and Managing Director of Iron Duke Partners Phil O'Reilly and Council for International Development Director Josie Pagani talk possible alert level changes, trust in the government's handling of the latest Covid-19 outbreak, MFAT's halting of resettlement applications for people from Afghanistan and who would win in dancing with the stars Ashley Bloomfi...

Wellington Swimmer Lewis Clareburt made his Olympic debut in Tokyo a few weeks ago, finishing seventh in the men's 400 metre individual medley. The 22-year-old's had to come straight out of MIQ to be in level 4 lockdown, so Nick Mills decided to give him a call. Read the full story on whether Lewis Clareburt will stay based in Wellington on New Zealand Herald Premium at https://bit.ly/3Djq5ll LIST...

Tilly Lloyd from Unity Books updates Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills on how the iconic book store is coping in Level 4 before reviewing Commercial Hotel by John Summers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party is calling for more government transparency when it comes to Covid-19. Criticism comes after revelations people in Auckland and Christchurch may have received Covid-19 vaccines that were just made up of saline solution. Saline solution is not harmful but National's Covid-19 spokesperson Chris Bishop says the government needs to be more upfront on contact tracing, vaccines and mo...