Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Nick speaks to Sam Bishop, a spokesperson from the Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office on the latest update for the storm battering the lower North Island.  A link to the NZ Herald live blog is below. Weather live updates: Evacuations as storm hammers lower North Island, thousands without power amid localised flooding - NZ Herald LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

On Friday Faceoff this week, Nick was joined by former Hutt City Mayor and ex-committee chair of Wellington Water, Campbell Barry, along with broadcaster Mark Sainsbury. They discussed the latest issues and accountability around the Moa Point sewage crisis, Wellington Mayor Andrew Little's pledge to cut commercial rates, the Government's LNG proposals and whether having a degree these days is impo...

A major golf event is underway at the Royal Wellington Golf Club. The Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship is being held in New Zealand for the first time. It features more than 80 players from around the world - including 10 New Zealanders - with the winner receiving entries into three women's majors this year. More than 300 people are volunteering for the event. Nick spoke to Royal Wellingt...

It's Politics Thursday, and today Nick is joined by Tim Costley, National MP for Otaki and Ayesha Verrall, Labour MP and spokesperson for Health and Wellington Issues. Starting with breaking news - parts of Transmission Gully are moving to 110kmph speed limits. Then onto the news of the week including the RBNZ Covid Inquiry - is it a political move or for the good of the country. Our politicians f...

Nick is joined by Fringe CEO Kim Bailey in the studio to talk about the Wellington Fringe festival - starting this weekend! The festival includes over 150 acts from Wellington and around the world and is on from February 13th to March 7 2026. In it's 36th year the festivals brings theatre and fun to Wellington at many venues all across the city. Kim tells us a bit about the festival, what it bring...

This week on our Business Panel Nick is joined in the studio by mother-daughter Tommy’s real estate duo Alexia and Danielle Stoddart. The panel focuses on the realities of doing business in Wellington’s property market, and how hard is it working with your family? They unpack what it really takes to operate and stay resilient in the capital’s changing property landscape. From market conditions and...

Newstalk ZB senior political reporter Azaria Howell joins Nick to discuss the week in politics.  Azaria breaks down what unfolded over Waitangi Weekend —from speeches and protests to the policy signals shaping the election. Also the announcement of Peeni Henare leaving politics. Are the Greens distancing themselves from Te Pati Māori? As both the greens and labour make a push for the Māori se...

Steve Walters is the general manager  of Kilbirnie,  Rongotai  and Lyall Bay business association . He joins   Nick on the show  to discuss the impact of the Moa Point sewage leak on local businesses, including disruption, financial pressures, and what support business owners are calling for as the situation continues to unfold.     LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystu...

Nick Leggett is the Chair of Wellington Water. He joins the show to talk through the latest updates on the Moa Point sewage leak, including how the response is progressing, how long we will have to wait   till  its safe again and what it means for Wellington’s coastline and local communities going forward.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Faceoff was on a Thursday before the long weekend, and Nick was joined by Capital NZ Director, and Jacinda Ardern's former chief of staff Neale Jones, along with BRG senior consultant, and former chief press secretary to Chris Luxon, Hamish Rutherford. They discussed the major failure of Wellington's Moa Point treatment plant, what to expect politically from Waitangi Day, and possible coalition ag...

A grim prediction, as Wellington Water crews return to the city's wastewater treatment plant to determine what's caused Wednesday's catastrophic failure. Heavy rain's caused the Moa Point plant to shutdown, sending wastewater into the capital's South Coast. Crews are trying to ascertain the full impact of the flooding on the equipment and operations. Wellington Water CEO Pat Dougherty told Welling...

Today on Music Time, James Irwin joins Nick in the studio and they chat Nick's own picks for his summer BBQ playlist, plus Piney. What are the vibes of their BBQs? James gets to the bottom of it. Plus, how does James find all this music? He shares his tips and tricks to discovering albums, both old and new. And some great gigs are lined up for our city. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

For Friday Faceoff this week Nick Mills is joined by Nick Leggett and Nicola Young. The three Nic’s debate the issues of the week – starting with the rates mess up at the council again with levies. Should we have consequences or is it just a case of human error? They discuss if Wellington is ready for a natural disaster, after the tragedy at Mount Maunganui. Landslides kill more people than earthq...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins Nick Mills in the studio today to discuss the latest Infometrics report that suggests the economy will not recover convincingly this year. Willis shares what she thinks the economy will look like this year, and Nick asks about interest rates, OCR hikes and manage the banks power. They also talk about the tragedy of Mount Maunganui, and how politics should play...

For this week's Friday Sport Kick-off, Nick is joined by Newstalk ZB’s sports gurus Adam Cooper and Jason Pine. Starting with the Wellington Blaze, our women's cricket team has a 50% win rate of winning the championship, so will they have a threepeat on their hands this weekend? The Phoenix have their 500 th game this weekend. Pine reminisces on their legacy and thinks back to their...

This week on Politics Thursday, Nick is joined in studio by Deputy Prime Minister and ACT leader David Seymour and Labour MP and spokesperson for Health and Wellington Issues Ayesha Verrall. They debate the political issues of the week, including the latest data that shows fees free university incentives did not increase the number of disadvantaged students studying.  Seymour and Verrall disc...

The Wellington City Council's made another embarrassing blunder on ratepayer bills. Mayor Andrew Little's told Newstalk ZB ratepayers have been overcharged by about 10 dollars each - for the Greater Wellington Regional Council levy. He says it'll be rectified in the next bill. Last month, it was revealed the council had undercharged ratepayers by almost 3.5 million dollars for its sludge levy. Con...

Hnry, the Wellington founded accountacy firm has taken over the name of Wellington Regional Stadium (formerly Sky and Westpac respectively). CEO James Fuller joins Nick Mills on the show to talk about the news, and the excitement of taking the stadium over.  They talk about the reason behind it, and all the details of the new name - Hnry Stadium.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener...

Nick Mills was joined by Stewart Macpherson for a tour of Michelangelo's art at Takina. The exhibition Michelangelo 'A Different View' has been extended for two weeks till Sunday 22nd February.  Nick had the opportunity to walk around the full gallery, taking in the prints of the paintings during his interview with Stewart. Buy tickets here: Buy Tickets - MICHELANGELO - A Different View LISTE...

For the Business Panel this week Nick is joined by the new Business Central and Chamber of Commerce CEO, Hayley Horan and Raygun co-founder and CEO, JD Trask. Horan and Trask start off with the use of AI in business. They discuss the ways they implement it into their lives and businesses and discuss the future of it in different sectors. They then go in depth about how politics are affecting their...

Nick Mills wraps the week with CEO of NZ Child Fund Josie Pagani and Director of the Democracy Project Dr Bryce Edwards. They tackle the issues of the week, including the election date announcement of November 7 th . The latest they could push it – what does this show?  Josie and Bryce give their predictions on how the year will pan out political. They analyze the polls, discussing what the n...

For this week's Friday Sport Kick-off, Nick is joined by Newstalk ZB’s sports gurus Adam Cooper and Jason Pine. Starting with the biggest sporting news at the moment – Razors replacement. They give their takes and predictions on the coaching saga of the All Blacks. Who will take over the mantle?  They also discuss the USA All Blacks vs Springboks game set to be in Baltimore. And will the Phoe...

Politics Thursday is back with National MP for Wairarapa Mike Butterick and Labour MP Ginny Andersen. They join Nick Mills to talk about the political issues of the week. Starting with the election date announcement - 7th November 2026. What are their plans leading up to it, what are their priorities? Plus, they discuss the state of the health system, what will they do to lower the volume of code...

Wellington is buzzing with the arrival of Ed Sheeran tonight at Sky Stadium, but what happens to the city's event scene after he leaves? Nick is joined in the studio by WellingtonNZ Chief Executive Mark Oldershaw to talk the year ahead and our upcoming events calendar. How are we going to continue to bring life and money into the CBD? Mark tells us WellingtonNZ's plans and hopes for the year, and...

This week on Music Time, Nick and James give their takes on what makes a summer BBQ playlist. They also play (and judge) the crew's own playlists. What would each of their BBQs look like? - James has the answers on Music Time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.