Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

It's Politics Thursday and Nick Mills is joined by Labour MP Ginny Andersen and National MP for Otaki Tim Costley to discuss the political news of the week.

Starting with Nationals plea for Labour to commit to their rates cap proposal.

Is the risk of flip flopping between governments worth it? Do we need a different solution to the frivolous spends of councils? Andersen shares Labour's thoughts and why they still have not taken a s...

Labour leader Chris Hipkins joins Nick Mills on Wellington Mornings to chat the latest in politics, including Paul Henry's entrance into politics with the ACT Party.

Hipkins shares his thoughts on famous faces entering politics, and how he thinks broadcaster Paul Henry will fit into the beehive. "Shane Jones is going to have a bit of competition for parliament's biggest blowhard."

Then how is Labour reacting to the shifts in Nation...

EDITORIAL:

I start the programme this morning with incredibly sad news that last night, New Zealand lost one of its true greats. 

Sir Sam Neill has died. 

Now, I'm not going to spend the next hour listing every film he made or every award he won, because, quite frankly, we already know what Sir Sam Neill achieved.  

We know the remarkable career he built. We know the incredible body of work he leaves behind.  

F...

New Zealand icon Sir Sam Neill has died and tributes are flying in from all over the world. 

The Jurassic Park actor passed away unexpectedly on Monday 13th July in Sydney surrounded by his family.

Nick Mills spoke to NZ film producer and founder of Gibson Group Dave Gibson who shared his memories of Neill. 

While Neill was well-known for his international roles, Gibson says what really cemented him as a NZ icon was his "...

Nick Mills is joined for the business panel this week by two owners of successful businesses, Helen Turnbull, head chef and owner at Michelin recognised 50/50 and Deanne Milldove, co-founder and owner of Orizen Tyres, which has 8 branches across the lower North Island.

Both owners are Paraparaumu based, they share how doing business out on the Kāpiti Coast differs from the CBD. What makes the Kāpiti community better to do business ...

It's a political Friday Faceoff this week with esteemed journalist and editor of Politick Richard Harman and NZ Herald Political editor Thomas Coughlan joining Nick Mills in the studio.

Starting with the Moa Point plant review in the hands Minister Simon Watts desk, which has no timeline for public release. Harman and Coughlan discuss why the government could be withholding it and how are they feeling 150 days into the ecological d...

ZB Sports experts Adam Cooper and Jason Pine join Nick Mills for an All-Blacks special edition of Friday Sport Kick-off.

This is the first test of Dave Rennie's new All Blacks, and our first chance to see how this side will work under his reign. The team make their debut at Christchurch's new Te Kaha stadium against France on Saturday.

The crew take a look at the Dave Rennie's first positioning of the squad and his statement with m...

It's time for our Politics Panel and this week Nick Mills is joined by Labour MP Ayesha Verrall and National MP for Otaki Tim Costley.

Starting with Minister Casey Costello's statement that she is considering a review on excise tax of tobacco. We hear what Verrall and Costley think of this stance and how do we address the growth of the illicit tobacco trade.

The death of a man who spent 9 hours in the Waikato Hospital Emergency Dep...

Wellington City Mayor Andrew Little joins Nick Mills in the studio for the July edition of his monthly catch up.

Mayor Little takes Nick's and callers questions for the hour on the latest in the capital.

They hit the top stories of the week including the council's public defiance of move on orders, solutions to our homeless problem and how we can get the city looking and feeling good again.

Then onto the three advisory groups put t...

Nick Mills talks with co-founder of STILL Minding the Gap, Jo Cribb this morning about the start of the new "Lift the Lid" campaign, which is pushing for mandatory gender pay gap reporting in New Zealand.

In New Zealand the gender pay gap is 5.2% for women, 12% for Māori wahine and 16% for Pacific women. Cribb believes more transparency from businesses will shut the gap and allow fair pay.

They discuss why the campaign is calling f...

Three Wellington restaurants were awarded the highly sought, world famous Michelin stars last night. 

Winners Steve Logan from Logan Brown, and Mark Limacher from Ortega Fish Shack join Nick on the show to celebrate the wins. 

Logan (Logan Brown) says the business been hit by the tough economic times in Wellington, but the star reaffirms the work they've done over the last 30 years.

Limacher (Ortega Fish Shack) is buzzing...

EDITORIAL: Now for me one of the biggest problems facing politics today isn't the just the economy, it's not just crime, it's not just health, it's not even just the cost of living, which are all hugely important.  

But it’s one word: trust. 

Who do we trust in politics? 

Do we actually believe what politicians tell us anymore? 

Because if we don't, then don’t we have a real problem? 

This lates...

EDITORIAL: 

I have been one of the strongest supporters of giving police the power to move rough sleepers on.  

I've said repeatedly that we need to clean up our streets.  

We need safer city centres.  

We need people sleeping in parks, doorways and shop entrances helped. 

Helped into accommodation, not just left there. 

But yesterday, watching Q+A, I found myself asking a very different question. ...

The All Whites are heading home after their dreams of reaching the knockout round at the FIFA World Cup were smashed by Belgium 5-1. 

Former All White David Chote joins Nick Mills on the show this morning to discuss the tournament and future of football for Kiwis.

Did the All Whites play as well as they should be expected to on a world stage? 

Nick and David discuss if we punched at our weight, and is playing in Oceania h...

Wellington City Missioner Reverend Murray Edridge says the country's homeless situation is "significantly worse than it's ever been", and the reduction of numbers for those in emergency housing is not a reflection of reality.

This comes as an investigation by Q+A has revealed the Ministry of Social Development has a target metric for employees to decrease the number of people receiving emergency housing services.

Rev. Edridge joins...

For Friday Faceoff this week Nick Mills is joined in the studio by heavy hitters and former ministers Christopher Finlayson and Peter Dunne.

The panel get started by debating the changes Tama Potaka has backed down on in his conservation bill. Did he make the right choice politically and ethically? Or should Kiwis be up for the conversation around conservation?

The WCC have opened up a rates system change to public consultation. Wh...

For Friday Sports Kick-off, Jason Pine beams into the show from Vancouver from the FIFA World Cup. 

It's the eve of the All Whites vs Belgium game, which they must win to progress into the knockout stage. 

Although Belgium are the clear favourites, Pine says they haven't played as well as expected this tournament. 

So, Pine chats with Nick about our chances and the vibes in Canada with the hype around the football.

L...

Nick Mills is joined in the studio this morning by National Minister Paul Goldsmith and Labour MP Willie Jackson for our Politics Thursday panel.

They cover the hot political issues of the week - starting with new controversy around move on orders.

Mayor Andrew Little says the council will continue in defiance of the government's move on orders, but has offered no specific solution. Our panel discuss this, and what they think about...

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports and has taken off all over the world, so I thought it was about time I see what all the fuss is about. 

I headed out to "Love Pickleball", Upper Hutts brand new Pickleball dedicated facility - and the largest in Australasia. 

I toured around the location, home to ten courts, a shop and cafe and equipped with all the gear you need and coaches.

I met with programme manager and...