October 19, 2025 • 33 mins
In this week's Business Panel Nick Mills chats with Tokomanawa Queens co-owner Rachel Taulelei and Wellington Cricket CEO Todd Bryant.
They discussed the business of sports, and the excitement within Wellington basketball and cricket sphere right now. They also give their thoughts on doing business in the city, bringing the crowds to Wellington, the future of Wellington sport, the basin and sky stadium, and their hopes for the new era of the council and mayoralty.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk SEDB. Monday's meaning Business. It's the business
panel on Wellington Mornings with Quinovac Property Management, a better
rental experience for all. Visit quinovic dot co dot inshead.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Let's get done, Let's get down to business. You monnight
mo Night Garden.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
You've had a million.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Million every two weeks. On a Monday morning, we have
a business panel. We get we ring around, sometimes we
get told no, sometimes we get told yes. We ring
around and try and get some influential business people in
the studio to have a bit of a chat, talk
about business, talk about politics, talk about things that can
(00:53):
make Wellington a better city. Today. We've been very lucky
enough to get a couple of very busy business people,
Rachel to Lilly. Now most of you will know Rachel
as a woman of I suppose her business paroles around.
She owned Fishery Fisheries, fisheries retailer. She's been on boards
(01:16):
of things like Wellington Airport and well She is currently
on the board of Wellington Airport and on the board
of Sky Stadium. It's not called Sky's Dadium anymore, is it.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Technically it is it this.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Minute, okay, and a prominent businesswoman and owns the Queen's
Basketball women's basketball team as well and joining or good morning,
by the way, how are you.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I'm great, thank you as always. Yeah, nothing too hectic,
but busy enough.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
You look very refreshed if you just had a break
or something, you look really refreshed and vibrant.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
That's just a look for this morning, just for you.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Okay, thank you. Todd Bryant is the CEO of Wellington Cricket.
Formerly he worked in I think Capital Football then't new
is that writer?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I got that correct, corrected about ten years in football,
so about eight Capital Football and two in his own football.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Okay, and now you are CEO of Wellington Cricket. By
the way, just let you know. I went through the
basin on Friday. You had a friendly game there and
I watched for a while. It was great to see
cricket being played at the base in reserve again so
early in the year.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Yes, yeah, it's a long a long winter for me.
And having O Tiger at last week for three pieces
and games against the Firebirds was good, good to see
and made me excited for the season which starts this weekend.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
You know what, there's no sound and anything in sport
like a basketball going through a net that swish and
someone whacking a cricket ball like that that you know
they say leather on willow or whatever they say.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Below and a Paul goes down Adelaide Road, it's always
good to see and.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
It sounds amazing and just that, Oh and the echo
of the place it was. It was nice to go
through the base and reserve as I was walking through. Now,
both of you are obviously very closely involved with sport,
professional sport. How tough is it right now trying to
keep things afloat? I mean, business is tough. We're going
through a hard type sport you think would be on
(03:06):
the of that. Rachel, how I know through sources that
you do extremely well with the Queens, you know, with
your sponsorship. How tough is it?
Speaker 4 (03:16):
It's really tough.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
It's I think sport it's really challenging to keep it
financially sustainable.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
I think that part of that is because.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
You're it's sported and it's an optional extra in people's lives.
And so when you look at the economic environment that
we have nationally or you know, Wellington specifically to be
able to get people to jump on to sponsoring or
partnering with you.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
It's really hard.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
You're one of the decisions that they're having to make
about where they spend their money. Also, you know, women's sport,
women's sports a tough one, but I think is in
a great moment to be able to tell the story
of women's sports and their ex in our favor. But
certainly you're in a list of priorities when you come
to partnering with businesses.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
See, the weird thing is coming from a background I'm
not totally involved anymore, but coming from a background of
men's sport, I always say, oh, it's easy for the
woman because women make a lot of the decisions, a
lot the buyings done by women's it's easier for them
to find sponsorship than from men's sport because you're looking
like you're helping someone doing some good.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
I wish it was that easy.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
But you know, also you know as you start getting
up the hierarchy, if you like in some of the businesses,
you will know that there are fewer and fewer women
as you go into an update hierarchy. But I also
think women are as a stute as the men in
those positions, and they have to think about what's the
return on investment that I'm going to get from sponsoring
a new code, a new style of playing in this space.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
So I wish it was that easy, Todd.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
You've got a foot in both caps because you've got
a very successful women's program and a very successful men's program. Now,
talking to your predecessor a few years ago, they said
it was very difficult to get sponsorship for the women's side.
Is it getting any better?
Speaker 3 (04:52):
It's always challenging. And I think as a sports system
in Wings and we're almost competing on each other in
training at commercial revenue for our teams. But we're blessed
with five White Ferns and seven Black Caps that play
for Wellington, and we've got the curs you know, merely
International Player of the Year last year, so our brand
is strong and the Blaze have got a good following.
(05:14):
So I wouldn't say it's easy, but we've got a
good seat of commercial partners that have the you know,
align with our values as an organization and want to
be part of, you know, making sure opportunities are given
two young women and also young men to not only
represent Wellington but also go on and represent the white
fans in black caps, so it's a daily grind. I'm
not going to lie.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Well, it's been like that forever, so I don't think
you've got that on your own. You guys have been
doing it for forty years and as I said, there's
nothing that were's a pair of shoes out faster than
looking for sponsorship for a sports team. But I want
to ask you, Todd, is it any easier now that
we've got through everything then compare your figures and compare
your numbers to pre COVID.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I'd say it's even more challenging given the I guess
current economy, not only in New Zealand but also in Wellington.
I've been in the role just over twelve months and
you've got to pull on different levers to make sure
you're financially sustainable. Commercial revenue is one of them. We're
lucky we're funded heavily by our national body News Eyland Cricket,
but at the same time we can't rely on that
(06:16):
to be sustainable moving forward. We're also got a high
performance one which we're speaking about now, but also got
a community, so our community and we can lean on
the lights of classical gaming, and those relationships and support
we get from those organizations is also really good.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
So Rachel, coming to you as a board member, you're
on boards of lots of companies, I mean, how important
is sport on that As a board level, do they
look at it and say, what are we doing? What
are you doing for our community? What are you doing
to help our product? In the wider sense of it?
Does that come into it?
Speaker 4 (06:50):
It definitely comes into it.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Maybe not to the level of specificity as to are
we sponsoring the Queens or are we sponsoring the Firebirds,
but it does come up in and around what's our
responsibility as a good corporate citizen of Altto and what
are the things that we can do and lean into
and support that have broad benefits. So we're much like
told where we have really amazing partners. Once you have
locked in with a partner, you know they've really bought
(07:12):
into you and what you're doing. And so we have partners. Ironically,
some of our biggest partners are not in Wellington because
they see the bigger picture and what we're trying to
build here with the Queens. But you know, ans CO
does it because askin Beef and Lamb company. They do
it because they want to be seen as like good
contributing citizens and they really are invested in equity for women,
So this is the way they can do it. Centerport
(07:33):
do it because their people love it. You know, we
would have fifty Centiport people at every game at the
same from mine to ten. You know, these are not
traditional sponsors of women's sports, but interesting with mighty teen,
one of the partners is a woman and one of
the owners of the winery and put it to her
in Upper Heart and Tony Stores as a woman, and
she wants to do this because she just knows how
good it is and how good is for her people.
(07:55):
So at the board level, you understand that you're doing good,
but you leave it to the team to get evolved
in the in the weeds of that howit shows.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Up just quickly to both of you. What advice would
you give to a boardings team that was starting out
like a club, local club team or sporting team that
just wants to get some sort of basic sponsorship to
be able to put some teams in sporting competition.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Todd Relationships and commercial sponsorship is a two a exchange
you've got a service, and look after your commercial partners
and build that relationship and make sure that they feel valued.
And that goes back to relationships.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
For me. We started really hard and on and probably
this is a function of my day job and brand strategy.
We focused really hard on what is at its core
the point of the exercise of the Queens, what's our
greatest gift to the world. And so I brought together
people who were experienced in sport and entertainment of Jimmy
m clarkson and Tarmathi Allison and Kinkapci, people who's very
living is based on engagement and entertainment, and really understood
(08:56):
from them what would it look like if you were
to build something really special here and the four and
you were taking it to the world, and how would
people lock in and support that. So getting really really
clear on what your brand of your team might be.
And I know that sounds lofty if you're a small
train going to get sponsorship, but if you can say
the words about why you, that's really powerful. I think
when you're talking to the very necessary networks that Todd raised.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Someone told me thirty five forty years ago when I
was starting out doing exactly what you guys were doing that.
Don't bother cold call, don't bother knocking on doors. The
only way you're going to get sponsorship is by picking
up the phone and knowing something. I don't believe anything's
changed in forty years, Todd.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
I completely agree. It's a lot harder to say no
to someone over the phone or in person that it
is over an email.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Or a cold call.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
But going back to that, it's you don't always ask
at the start. She's you know, start talking about your
story and your brand while you're here so you can
create that connection. Because you do get knows, which is fine,
But I think how you do it's really important.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Isn't it great getting a know? Though? To me? In
sports sponsorship, there's two The greatest thing you can get
is a yes, and the next greatest thing you can
get is no, because you know where you are rather
than quickny is always good, isn't it?
Speaker 5 (10:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (10:13):
But I think you've got to be You've almost got
to be built for rejection.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
You have to be able to you know, this happens
all the time where and there are always great reasons
why people can't do it, especially at the moment, as
I said, you know, last year we had a program
called Sponsor a School where corporates could quite literally sponsor
school into the program. And this year half the team,
half of those companies dropped off because they were prioritizing
their spind but we pick up another half and my
responses always I understand no problem at Allways, been awesome
(10:37):
he being a part of the program.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
See you next year.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Yeah, yeah, you cannot. You cannot burn those bridges. You
cannot to be.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
Dirty on people when it's a tough environment out there.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Business Panel today we have Rachel t Lelly and Todd
Bryant in the studio. I want to ask you guys
about Wellington City Council. We've had a new council voted
on and a new mayor, but do you reckon that
they should be in a position to do a little
bit more. We've seen Auckland to do a hell of
a lot of work on special events, major events and
(11:07):
sporting events. We've got a new stadium opening in christ Church.
Rach Shall, I'll start with you because you are on
the board of the Wellington Stadium sky Stadium for a
few more months. Are we doing enough as a city
doing enough to attract major events to the city in sports.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Well, I think you've seen what I guess I'll answer
it in two ways. With regards to support of sports
indirectly by way of investment into the stadium one hundred percent.
We've had really really fantastic support from the Greater Wellington
Regional Council and from Wellington City Council to support us
in our you know upgrades. We're a twenty five year
old venue and we love it for that effect. And
you know, I was in Yankee Stadium last year and
(11:45):
they love the fact of how old they are. So
I hope that we can transition into that space where
we're not even going to be the newest stadium because
it's christ Church. We're not the biggest because it's going
to be Auckland, but we can be the most love stadium.
You know, Wellingtonians are really parochial, so we want to
get that back into the stadium. But equally we have
to do our part at the stadium to make sure
that we're offering great experiences that you can't get on
your couch.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
So to support that, Council's Greater.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Wellington and Wellington City have been really really good, So
that's excellent attracting events. You may have seen a new
fund pop up of late about forty million dollars to
attract events through into the country. And I believe the
Prome Minister here's the final says to you know what
does get the investments. So that's hopefully positive for us.
I think a lot of it will go to Auckland.
(12:27):
But I know that the relative or the respective groups
like Wellington and ZED and the Stadium and a couple
of others have all banded together to put best foot
forward with our promoters such as TG to try to
bring them into the city. So some of it's about
the city Council, but then other other parts of that
as on us as the operators.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Do you think they're sharp enough just to yuse or no?
Do you think they're like onto it? I've got a
feeling that Auckland sort of they've just got this buzz
about them.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
I do think they're sharp enough, Yeah, I do. I
do think there are people in the Wellington City Council
who are really smart and who are onto it and
who are nailing.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
It great Todd. Are we getting enough with sporting way cricket?
Are we getting the internationals and to Wellington. Are we
being competitive with I mean we all know that you
have to pay to get these big events into the city.
Are we being competitive enough?
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yeah, Cricket Wellington has a management agreement for the base
from Reserve, so we went really closely to council and
the facility. In my opinion, I'm probably biased, is the
best career gard in the country. Is iconic and we
do get international events there every year. We've got England
playing next week at sky Stadium. They've got West Indies
Test before Christmas, and we've got India touring next year.
(13:37):
And the council and Wellington z to really support of
us bidding for those games to make sure we get
fixtures here. But it is competitive across the whole country,
so our relationship with the council is positive. I think
Wellington's going to turn. I think that I'm a proud Balentonian.
I grew up here, I was born here. I love
living here and I want to see the city thrive
and I think sport is a massive way to help
(14:00):
do that and I think good things around the corner.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Could you see the day and listen to both of you.
But I'll come to you first, Todd, because it's something
that I've dreamt of the day that we actually developed
the Basin Reserve into being that twelve to fifteen thousand,
say twelve thousand stadium that does all the NPC does,
Super Rugby, does all the cricket internationals even Do you
think we could see a day that we could do
(14:24):
that develop it into that stadium.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
It depends on the cricket lovers out there. Might hate
me for saying this, but I think the Basin Reserve
could be used a whole lot more, not only just
for cricket, for Phoenix Yep, Phoenix Rugby. We have Kelly
Kitty at the Basin that we do. We have music events,
we have beers at the Basin. I think the facility
is probably not maximized enough, but cricket does dominate the facility. X.
(14:47):
We don't have another first class venue in Wellington, which
is something and I'm trying to work on.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
All right, Rachel, I mean that's part of Sky Sky
Stadium runs the Basin as well. Could you ever see
that that dream come true where we had that smaller,
more compact, multi usable facility at the Basin.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
I think so.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
I think that it would be a fairly significant investment
to do that. You know, it probably falls into the
same campus. Could we put a roof on the state
You know, I like to find people when they ask
me that, but you know it probably falls into that category.
Ideally yes, But equally, you know, could we build an
inner city three story sport facility where you could have
you know that is indoors training facilities with a basketball
(15:25):
court on the top floor that you know has three
or four thousand viewership. Those are the things that happen
in cities that are similar size around the world. So
I think, I mean, this is one of the challenges
for the new counselors. How do you think really smartly
about bringing people back into the CBD and sport is
one of those things going to trick people in.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Yeah, just quickly on that, and I've got to take
a break in a seat, but I'd like to get
you both of your opinion on this. Bowls clubs are
a bit of a thing of the past. I mean,
you've got bowling greens in every suburb around Wellington. I've
had this dream long time ago to actually convert a
few of those into multi purpose stadiums so that you
could be karate judo, Badlington, basketball, netball. I mean, there's
(16:04):
a thousand sports that can play out of them instead
of having a grass green that gets used now and again, Rachel,
your thoughts on it.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
I've probably I've been to a bowling green a couple
of times, had quite good. You know, it's great for
Rose on a Saturday afternoon. But yeah, I do think
I mean, I think probably because I'm not a player,
but I know the people that do love it. And
a friend of mine is the chair of the World
Bowls Association, and you know, I don't know that the
numbers are necessarily dropping off, but and it doesn't have
to be an either or like, I think, we've got
(16:32):
a lot of spaces you'll know, in the city at
the moment to do those sorts of things.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
But why as a council are we not doing something that.
I mean, we know that basketball's are fastest growing sport.
We know, Badenington, karate judo, there's just so many of them.
Could you see that happening?
Speaker 3 (16:46):
I think we need to look at what we want
the city to look like in ten years time and
rather looking at what's in front of us now. So
I think innovation and different ways of carving up the
city is something that should be put on the table.
And I think the key is working consistently across stakeholders,
working in partnership and sort of problem solving and setting
a really good direction. Really important that partnership piece for me,
(17:09):
with the sports and councils, in order to look forward
to the future, we need to do that.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
I mean, you came from football, and football has got
a reasonably serious issue with the councils with their fees
and their costing. I mean football correct me if I'm wrong,
and you'll be able to correct me. But is a
very very fast growing sport that's played indoors. I mean,
surely some more stadia venues would be a good thing
to get people more physical. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I think the biggest challenge if you build more venues
is going to probably be more costs put on to
the community user. And I think the work that Football
did around council ground chargers is real. Rates are going up,
council ground charges are going up, Costs are going up
all over the place, where you don't want that to
be a barrier for young people to be able to
(17:56):
play sport. So building your venues absolutely on board with that,
but who pays for it?
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Well, look, I can say for an absolute fact that's
happening in basketball at the moment. There is an unprecedented
demand for kids to be playing sport, but they cannot
keep up with the fees associated with entering the leagues
term after terms. So through the foundation that's associated with
the Queens, what we've been trying to do lately is
find corporates who will sponsor an entire term of leagues
(18:22):
because you know, the schools are they cannot keep up
so and so that takes me to then are those
fees too high? You know, if the council were going
to invest in a space, could the council sponsor kids
leagues out at Ko Tangy like, make them a nominal
cost just to keep them in there, keep them active
because the benefits of those kids participating far outweighs the
(18:43):
investment that they would have to be making because that
association plays hundreds of thousands of dollars to rent those
courts on behalf of others.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
So tell me is there enough courts right now for basketball?
And Warrington?
Speaker 4 (18:53):
I think you could always do with more?
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Okay, Rachel to Lilly and Todd Bryant are here as
guests special guests for our business panel. I mean that
piece of news just then about Phoenix setting up a
can to me, what do they called charter school? Todd,
what are your thoughts on that? I think it's great.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
The Wines of Fanis are doing amazing things for the city,
not just for their high performance men's and women's teams,
but they've got a really good pathway program within their academy,
and education is really important, so they're providing that as
part of players that want to come and be part
of that pathway program, so they do still do get
education which is a priority as well as their football.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Rachel, when I first heard this piece of news, I thought,
what a good like almost to prep school before you
go to a scholarship in the States. Your daughter's lucky enough,
blessed enough, talented enough to be doing one of those scholarships.
But you know, we've got other two hundred kids in
US right now going to a school like that for
a year before. It's pretty exciting, isn't.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
It's really exciting.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
I think that there are other schools also who do
this manicure and tutor who you know that they were
set up by a vetnicals injury and her husband that
really focus in on the learnings of sport and transferring
those over to the academic So I think that's following
in line of those sorts of schools and they pay dividend.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Yeah, and the prep sicals a great idea.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Lily did a year at a Florida prep school and
it just really you grow up quite quickly.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Yes, but having that facility here where you train, get
yourself into shape and get the education because you know,
so many kids in football, basketball, athletics can't get scholarships
because they don't have the education.
Speaker 5 (20:26):
Correct that spoiler alert for anyone who's thinking about sending
their kids in the States or where we're on a scholarship.
It's actually the grades that make the difference between a
good band or otherwise program.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Yeah, one hundred percent. Let's talk about Wellington business stuff.
Let's go to the CBD. I'll start with you on
this one, Todd, because you based in town. Rachel's based
in town as well, but you would walk the streets.
How would you describe Wellington CBD right now? How do
you feel the city's the vibe of the city you
go past and you see shops for lease and you
feel a little bit how do you feel. I'm not
(20:56):
going to describe it for you.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
I wouldn't say disappointed is not the right word. But
sometimes you know, you go through the city and you
go you know, it used to be so different, and
I want to see Wellington thrive and come back to
what it originally was. I grew up here as a
young boy. I was down Courtney Place on the weekends.
We're walking back from the Basin Reserve on the Courtney
Place to have a beer after a game, and the
vibe was amazing. And I actually truly believe, and I
(21:21):
said it earlier that I think Welllington's about to turn.
Hopefully we blessed with some really good weather over the
summer and people start coming back into the city and
the new council formed a real clear direction around how
we can turn the city back to what it really,
really really should be.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Rachel, you're passionate about the city. What are you feeling
right now?
Speaker 4 (21:41):
It is tough.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
You wouldn't want to gaslight yourself into imagining that it's not.
I mean, I was doing something on Sunday morning which
took me into Courtney Place. You know, it's not a
great prospect. You know, there are people sleeping rough there's
a lot of As you drive down kent Terrace, there's
a lot of boarded up properties. So you know, the
reality is that city, I think is doing it tough. However,
(22:03):
I think that Wellingtonians have to fight for it. I
don't think that we can expect the government to or
the central government to sorry local government to do it
all for us. I think, yep, we've got a new
mayor that's fantastic. He should be able to bring together
the councils in a way that perhaps they haven't been
for the last few years. But it is also reliant
on the private sector. You know what vision Wellington pulled together.
You know, Wellington Alive under Justine Lister. People are wanting
(22:25):
to improve the rhetoric, they're wanting to improve the conditions.
So it's a bit of a full court press to
go back to the sporting analogy, but it's a full
court press on being able to lift the nose up
on Wellington because it is categorically necessary.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
It's weird because one of my sons said exactly the
same thing yesterday we were watching Q and a together,
and he said to me, we've got to stop asking
the council and the government to do it and do
it ourselves. But it's a catch twenty two situation because
you need to work in partnership with the council, don't you, Rachel.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
Absolutely, and look you would.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
Arguably we are the capital. We have the beehive on
the back doorsteps. So not only should we be able
to work really well without our local government because we're
not so big that you can't wrap your arms around it,
we should be able to work really closely with central
government because you can walk down the road and walk
through the front door. I'm not totally sure that that's
gelling as it might, but with a new mayor, I
think everyone should just for a second put aside any
(23:18):
degree of politics they might have been carrying around, or
any degree of inks that they have, and become agnostic
about who's in the seat and really think about how
they can support it going forward.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
How do we actually do that though time, How do
we actually lay those barriers. I picked up the paper
this morning and saw a councilor going on how great
it was that that's a labor council. I mean how
can we actually do that when they can't do it
within their own table.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
It's a million dollar question.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Nick.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
Answer to that, we probably wouldn't be sitting here having
this conversation. I think Rachel touched on it and you
did as well. Partnership is massive. Valentinians are resilient. Like
a lot of people that I've employed at Cricket Wellingston
love been able to work for an organization that adds
value to the Wingston community. And there's so many people
out there, not just in the sports sector, but within
(24:04):
the corporate or public sector that life of Wellington. I
just think it's about connecting with those relationships, working together,
and I think strong sort of direction, clear leadership, getting
rid of the red tape, and I think we need
to bring Wellington back to what it originally was. And
I think we can put the pass behind us, as
Rachel said, and I think there was a oyster I
(24:27):
look at as an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Are we going to struggle to do that though, when
the people around the table are still still sort of
trying to push that whole narrative of what party. You know,
this is a council table, what political party they belong to?
They should belong to the Party of Wellington. That's the
party that we should be belonging.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Surely, that's that leadership piece though within council. Hopefully with
a new mirror in charge, you know, that can be
dealt with quite quickly and there'll be a you know,
not a blank piece of paper in front of them,
but I imagine one that's pretty empty. And how do
they work collectively together to support the city.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Now I'm going to ask a personal question of the
business panel, one that they might not like answering because
they're probably doing business with them both. But Lily and Todd, Bryan,
I want to ask you how much Todd, and I'm
going to start with you, how much confidence do you
have in this? I mean, the council really is in
the new council. I think it's one new person on
the council, but we have a new mayor. How much
(25:21):
confidence do you have when you wake up in the
morning and think I've got a lot to do and
hopefully my counsel's doing right by me.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
So very load to question, Nick. I think I said earlier,
We've got a really good relationship with the council from
a base and reserve point of view and we work
really closely with them. I'm always a glass half full
individual and I like to think that we can put
the politics at the door and weave through it. And
I like to sort of put a statement out there there.
(25:50):
I do have confidence in this new council and I
look forward to working with them. I know they've got
their inductions over the next sort of FORTI five.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
They've had them. I think they've done last week they were.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Done over and they're actually all coming to the Basin
Reserve in November as a collective where I'll get to
meet them mor and speak to them. So yeah, I'm
confident and we want to work with them and we
want to support them.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
It's tough.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
It must be tough being a counselor, and the council
have so many different leavers that they need to manage
as sort of governors of the region. How can we
do our bit to help them as well?
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Rachel, I'm the same.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
I'm probably much I'm a glass half full person all
of the time, and I like to believe in the
potential of people. And so if you believe in the
potential of this council under a new mayor, and also
having had the last few years been a little tumultuous,
to say the very least. You would hope that they've
got this short period now it's a bit of a
honeymoon period where they're safe, they've got their seat, they
(26:46):
can breathe a little bit and go collectively, what can
we do because they're judged, you know, for every minute
they're in the seat, they're judged for the next election around.
So I've got great hope that they'll be able to
pull it together and listen to the voices that they
have become louder and louder over the last couple of
years about what the city both needs and wants.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
I'm a half full too, But if there's a hole
in the bottom of the glass and it's leaking, I
want to fix it pretty damn quickly.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Yeah, And that's what I want to see out of
this council and this mayor. I want to see, Hey,
you've got fantastic people. You've got fantastic talent around you
and every form in every way. You've got the movies,
you've got the sports. You know, you've got business people
that are doing great things, you know, but they need support.
Speaker 5 (27:27):
Yeah, I think that one of the key attributes they'll
have to display is both transparency and openness being accessible.
So you know, if they are accessible and you can
pick up the phone, you can have a conversation with
the mayor and or council and council laws that I
think will go a very very long way to stop
any kind of division where you see these they're not
rogue groups, they're just itinerant groups who are popping up saying, hey,
(27:50):
here's what we think the city should be about.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Todd I said it a number of times. I think
clear leadership with the new mayor in place. One of
the challenges I probably sympathize with the council and the
council officers is that the terms only three years a
lot of the time, and it takes six to twelve
months to embed sort of ways of working for a council,
and then you've probably got another eighteen months working together,
(28:12):
and then you're campaigning again for your next election. And
I think that that's a real challenge, not just for
the councilors themselves, but all the council staff that work underneath.
I'd love that to be a conversation, and I don't
know if that's something they've thought about. But yeah, there
might be a hole on the bottom of the glass, Nick,
But I'm really keen to move forward with this new
(28:33):
council and I think we'll see what happens.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
It's about how I mean, the whole in the bottom
of the glass is just a now, Andy, It's about
how quickly they can put put a stop and the
stop it leaking, isn't it. I mean, that's that's all
we're asking.
Speaker 4 (28:45):
Yep.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
And I think keeping everyone informed as they do so,
whether it's it's water, or it's infrastructure, or it's parks,
or it's sports, or it's recression, whatever you're housing rates,
you know there's no well, actually there is an end
to that list because there are five or six things
which rise to the top very very quickly. So I
think addressing them with urgency and with ruthless prioritization. But
keeping everyone in four Does he do that because Wellingtonians
(29:08):
they're on the precipice of the okay, now what so
people want.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
To be informed?
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Todd, what's your first impressions of Andrew Little.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
I think he demonstrates a presence and strong leadership, given
in particular his time in central government as well. I
think he's going to be able to sort of corral
the counselors together. Quite early on he was He's pretty
quick to come out publicly once he got the mayorship. Mayorship.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
Sorry, and.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
I've said this so many times. I'm positive with the change.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Rachel.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
I don't know Andrew personally, but I think this is
not yet, not yet.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
But what I think is this is not his first
time at the radio, so I think he brings with
him a pretty enormous lived experience and irrelevant lived experience
that that will put him in good steered for local government.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Todd, you know, I love doing and the shows or
any any guests I have and that are Wellingtonians. I
love guessing what high school they would because I reckon,
I'm really good at guessing at what high school you're
going to get to. I want to find out what
high school you went to if you're a well in Tonian. Okay,
Rachel to Lily Todd, Brian, you have got someone really,
really special arriving into well into the airport, and yeah
(30:21):
it's blowing a gale, and yes they're sitting there waiting
for you to arrive because the traffic's taking you too
long to get there, because we've still only got one
Mount Victoria tunnel. So you've got there, they've been shot,
shooting around, blowing around, landing and well into the airport.
You're taking them somewhere very special. Rachel to Lily, what
are you going to do with that, that real special person?
Speaker 5 (30:43):
So I makesually not going to meet them curbside, I'm
going to go in. I'm going to meet them in
the airport.
Speaker 4 (30:47):
You might have noticed. He's a bit of propaganda for you.
Good days just open and Wellington Airport.
Speaker 5 (30:51):
It's beautiful, like it's a really great place to just
catch your breath after you've had you know, two goes
at landings, but you're on the ground now, so you're
having a beer at a good day. And then I
think we jump in the car go around the waterfront
because that's one of the jewels of the city. Would
probably park up in and around are where Cohen's and
then just walk the waterfront, you know, past to Papa
past Chafers Park, all the way round to the boat Club,
(31:12):
past the Funny Walker, because to be able to be
a part of that, you really get a great vibe
for the city when you see the water, you see
the greenery, you see the actually operating port there. You know,
it's a city that says, I think we're close to hir,
We're close to the elements, close to the tour and
we work.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Yeah, beautiful, beautiful Todd, what are you doing? Well?
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Once the planes landed, the wind stops and they always
say you can't beat Wellington on a good day, I'd
probably nip around Lyle Bay, have a coffee at Matanui Cafe.
And this person I'm picking up has probably got similar
interests in me, so would probably then head out to
the Hut Valley and play a nice round of eighteen
holes at Bullcot Farm and we'll finish sort of early
(31:54):
early afternoon, and we actually might actually dip over the
hell to martin Borough and have a wine in the
sun to sort of cap off a good day. And
on the way home we'd go back to the hotel
and the CBD and we'll finish the night off with
a nice cold Heineken Silver at Do Little Secret and
the CBD.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Well, well, your guest, Yeah, I want to be your
guest too, except the golf. I can't do golf. I
cannot do golf, Thank you both so much for giving
up some of your time and coming on the show
and helping educate Walentonians, Tell Welling, giving your advice to
Walentonians and talking about the issues. We have really enjoyed
having you both on. Rachel to Learly Todd Bright. Good
(32:34):
luck for the rest of the year, and if we
don't see each other beforehand, a good Christmas break. Oh
my gosh, we're getting to that stage of the year
where we start talking about Christmas breaks.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
We've got a couple of Queen's games before the end,
so if anyone's keen to get along to them, I'll
just hijack it.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
For a minute. Queen startings here you can find where
we are. We're having a great season.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Nothing like a salesperson has said, Tod, what have you got?
Speaker 3 (32:55):
You've got a couple of a few notes here to
the cricket season. Community greet season started the weekend just gone,
and our High performance season starts next weekend. So please
come down to the Basement Reserve. Purchase your old memberships
gets you access to or ins National Cricket and all
Super Smash.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
There is nothing better than spending some time at the
Basin Reserve. You know, It's my favorite place in the world,
standing on the fence just watching a bit of cricket.
You cannot beat it on a good day.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk SEDB. Monday's meaning Business. It's the business
panel on Wellington Mornings with Quinovac Property Management, a better
rental experience for all. Visit quinovic dot co dot inshead.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Let's get done, Let's get down to business. You monnight
mo Night Garden.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
You've had a million.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Million every two weeks. On a Monday morning, we have
a business panel. We get we ring around, sometimes we
get told no, sometimes we get told yes. We ring
around and try and get some influential business people in
the studio to have a bit of a chat, talk
about business, talk about politics, talk about things that can
(00:53):
make Wellington a better city. Today. We've been very lucky
enough to get a couple of very busy business people,
Rachel to Lilly. Now most of you will know Rachel
as a woman of I suppose her business paroles around.
She owned Fishery Fisheries, fisheries retailer. She's been on boards
(01:16):
of things like Wellington Airport and well She is currently
on the board of Wellington Airport and on the board
of Sky Stadium. It's not called Sky's Dadium anymore, is it.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Technically it is it this.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Minute, okay, and a prominent businesswoman and owns the Queen's
Basketball women's basketball team as well and joining or good morning,
by the way, how are you.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I'm great, thank you as always. Yeah, nothing too hectic,
but busy enough.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
You look very refreshed if you just had a break
or something, you look really refreshed and vibrant.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
That's just a look for this morning, just for you.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Okay, thank you. Todd Bryant is the CEO of Wellington Cricket.
Formerly he worked in I think Capital Football then't new
is that writer?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I got that correct, corrected about ten years in football,
so about eight Capital Football and two in his own football.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Okay, and now you are CEO of Wellington Cricket. By
the way, just let you know. I went through the
basin on Friday. You had a friendly game there and
I watched for a while. It was great to see
cricket being played at the base in reserve again so
early in the year.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Yes, yeah, it's a long a long winter for me.
And having O Tiger at last week for three pieces
and games against the Firebirds was good, good to see
and made me excited for the season which starts this weekend.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
You know what, there's no sound and anything in sport
like a basketball going through a net that swish and
someone whacking a cricket ball like that that you know
they say leather on willow or whatever they say.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Below and a Paul goes down Adelaide Road, it's always
good to see and.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
It sounds amazing and just that, Oh and the echo
of the place it was. It was nice to go
through the base and reserve as I was walking through. Now,
both of you are obviously very closely involved with sport,
professional sport. How tough is it right now trying to
keep things afloat? I mean, business is tough. We're going
through a hard type sport you think would be on
(03:06):
the of that. Rachel, how I know through sources that
you do extremely well with the Queens, you know, with
your sponsorship. How tough is it?
Speaker 4 (03:16):
It's really tough.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
It's I think sport it's really challenging to keep it
financially sustainable.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
I think that part of that is because.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
You're it's sported and it's an optional extra in people's lives.
And so when you look at the economic environment that
we have nationally or you know, Wellington specifically to be
able to get people to jump on to sponsoring or
partnering with you.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
It's really hard.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
You're one of the decisions that they're having to make
about where they spend their money. Also, you know, women's sport,
women's sports a tough one, but I think is in
a great moment to be able to tell the story
of women's sports and their ex in our favor. But
certainly you're in a list of priorities when you come
to partnering with businesses.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
See, the weird thing is coming from a background I'm
not totally involved anymore, but coming from a background of
men's sport, I always say, oh, it's easy for the
woman because women make a lot of the decisions, a
lot the buyings done by women's it's easier for them
to find sponsorship than from men's sport because you're looking
like you're helping someone doing some good.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
I wish it was that easy.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
But you know, also you know as you start getting
up the hierarchy, if you like in some of the businesses,
you will know that there are fewer and fewer women
as you go into an update hierarchy. But I also
think women are as a stute as the men in
those positions, and they have to think about what's the
return on investment that I'm going to get from sponsoring
a new code, a new style of playing in this space.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
So I wish it was that easy, Todd.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
You've got a foot in both caps because you've got
a very successful women's program and a very successful men's program. Now,
talking to your predecessor a few years ago, they said
it was very difficult to get sponsorship for the women's side.
Is it getting any better?
Speaker 3 (04:52):
It's always challenging. And I think as a sports system
in Wings and we're almost competing on each other in
training at commercial revenue for our teams. But we're blessed
with five White Ferns and seven Black Caps that play
for Wellington, and we've got the curs you know, merely
International Player of the Year last year, so our brand
is strong and the Blaze have got a good following.
(05:14):
So I wouldn't say it's easy, but we've got a
good seat of commercial partners that have the you know,
align with our values as an organization and want to
be part of, you know, making sure opportunities are given
two young women and also young men to not only
represent Wellington but also go on and represent the white
fans in black caps, so it's a daily grind. I'm
not going to lie.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Well, it's been like that forever, so I don't think
you've got that on your own. You guys have been
doing it for forty years and as I said, there's
nothing that were's a pair of shoes out faster than
looking for sponsorship for a sports team. But I want
to ask you, Todd, is it any easier now that
we've got through everything then compare your figures and compare
your numbers to pre COVID.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I'd say it's even more challenging given the I guess
current economy, not only in New Zealand but also in Wellington.
I've been in the role just over twelve months and
you've got to pull on different levers to make sure
you're financially sustainable. Commercial revenue is one of them. We're
lucky we're funded heavily by our national body News Eyland Cricket,
but at the same time we can't rely on that
(06:16):
to be sustainable moving forward. We're also got a high
performance one which we're speaking about now, but also got
a community, so our community and we can lean on
the lights of classical gaming, and those relationships and support
we get from those organizations is also really good.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
So Rachel, coming to you as a board member, you're
on boards of lots of companies, I mean, how important
is sport on that As a board level, do they
look at it and say, what are we doing? What
are you doing for our community? What are you doing
to help our product? In the wider sense of it?
Does that come into it?
Speaker 4 (06:50):
It definitely comes into it.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Maybe not to the level of specificity as to are
we sponsoring the Queens or are we sponsoring the Firebirds,
but it does come up in and around what's our
responsibility as a good corporate citizen of Altto and what
are the things that we can do and lean into
and support that have broad benefits. So we're much like
told where we have really amazing partners. Once you have
locked in with a partner, you know they've really bought
(07:12):
into you and what you're doing. And so we have partners. Ironically,
some of our biggest partners are not in Wellington because
they see the bigger picture and what we're trying to
build here with the Queens. But you know, ans CO
does it because askin Beef and Lamb company. They do
it because they want to be seen as like good
contributing citizens and they really are invested in equity for women,
So this is the way they can do it. Centerport
(07:33):
do it because their people love it. You know, we
would have fifty Centiport people at every game at the
same from mine to ten. You know, these are not
traditional sponsors of women's sports, but interesting with mighty teen,
one of the partners is a woman and one of
the owners of the winery and put it to her
in Upper Heart and Tony Stores as a woman, and
she wants to do this because she just knows how
good it is and how good is for her people.
(07:55):
So at the board level, you understand that you're doing good,
but you leave it to the team to get evolved
in the in the weeds of that howit shows.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Up just quickly to both of you. What advice would
you give to a boardings team that was starting out
like a club, local club team or sporting team that
just wants to get some sort of basic sponsorship to
be able to put some teams in sporting competition.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Todd Relationships and commercial sponsorship is a two a exchange
you've got a service, and look after your commercial partners
and build that relationship and make sure that they feel valued.
And that goes back to relationships.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
For me. We started really hard and on and probably
this is a function of my day job and brand strategy.
We focused really hard on what is at its core
the point of the exercise of the Queens, what's our
greatest gift to the world. And so I brought together
people who were experienced in sport and entertainment of Jimmy
m clarkson and Tarmathi Allison and Kinkapci, people who's very
living is based on engagement and entertainment, and really understood
(08:56):
from them what would it look like if you were
to build something really special here and the four and
you were taking it to the world, and how would
people lock in and support that. So getting really really
clear on what your brand of your team might be.
And I know that sounds lofty if you're a small
train going to get sponsorship, but if you can say
the words about why you, that's really powerful. I think
when you're talking to the very necessary networks that Todd raised.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Someone told me thirty five forty years ago when I
was starting out doing exactly what you guys were doing that.
Don't bother cold call, don't bother knocking on doors. The
only way you're going to get sponsorship is by picking
up the phone and knowing something. I don't believe anything's
changed in forty years, Todd.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
I completely agree. It's a lot harder to say no
to someone over the phone or in person that it
is over an email.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Or a cold call.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
But going back to that, it's you don't always ask
at the start. She's you know, start talking about your
story and your brand while you're here so you can
create that connection. Because you do get knows, which is fine,
But I think how you do it's really important.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Isn't it great getting a know? Though? To me? In
sports sponsorship, there's two The greatest thing you can get
is a yes, and the next greatest thing you can
get is no, because you know where you are rather
than quickny is always good, isn't it?
Speaker 5 (10:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (10:13):
But I think you've got to be You've almost got
to be built for rejection.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
You have to be able to you know, this happens
all the time where and there are always great reasons
why people can't do it, especially at the moment, as
I said, you know, last year we had a program
called Sponsor a School where corporates could quite literally sponsor
school into the program. And this year half the team,
half of those companies dropped off because they were prioritizing
their spind but we pick up another half and my
responses always I understand no problem at Allways, been awesome
(10:37):
he being a part of the program.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
See you next year.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Yeah, yeah, you cannot. You cannot burn those bridges. You
cannot to be.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
Dirty on people when it's a tough environment out there.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Business Panel today we have Rachel t Lelly and Todd
Bryant in the studio. I want to ask you guys
about Wellington City Council. We've had a new council voted
on and a new mayor, but do you reckon that
they should be in a position to do a little
bit more. We've seen Auckland to do a hell of
a lot of work on special events, major events and
(11:07):
sporting events. We've got a new stadium opening in christ Church.
Rach Shall, I'll start with you because you are on
the board of the Wellington Stadium sky Stadium for a
few more months. Are we doing enough as a city
doing enough to attract major events to the city in sports.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Well, I think you've seen what I guess I'll answer
it in two ways. With regards to support of sports
indirectly by way of investment into the stadium one hundred percent.
We've had really really fantastic support from the Greater Wellington
Regional Council and from Wellington City Council to support us
in our you know upgrades. We're a twenty five year
old venue and we love it for that effect. And
you know, I was in Yankee Stadium last year and
(11:45):
they love the fact of how old they are. So
I hope that we can transition into that space where
we're not even going to be the newest stadium because
it's christ Church. We're not the biggest because it's going
to be Auckland, but we can be the most love stadium.
You know, Wellingtonians are really parochial, so we want to
get that back into the stadium. But equally we have
to do our part at the stadium to make sure
that we're offering great experiences that you can't get on
your couch.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
So to support that, Council's Greater.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Wellington and Wellington City have been really really good, So
that's excellent attracting events. You may have seen a new
fund pop up of late about forty million dollars to
attract events through into the country. And I believe the
Prome Minister here's the final says to you know what
does get the investments. So that's hopefully positive for us.
I think a lot of it will go to Auckland.
(12:27):
But I know that the relative or the respective groups
like Wellington and ZED and the Stadium and a couple
of others have all banded together to put best foot
forward with our promoters such as TG to try to
bring them into the city. So some of it's about
the city Council, but then other other parts of that
as on us as the operators.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Do you think they're sharp enough just to yuse or no?
Do you think they're like onto it? I've got a
feeling that Auckland sort of they've just got this buzz
about them.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
I do think they're sharp enough, Yeah, I do. I
do think there are people in the Wellington City Council
who are really smart and who are onto it and
who are nailing.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
It great Todd. Are we getting enough with sporting way cricket?
Are we getting the internationals and to Wellington. Are we
being competitive with I mean we all know that you
have to pay to get these big events into the city.
Are we being competitive enough?
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yeah, Cricket Wellington has a management agreement for the base
from Reserve, so we went really closely to council and
the facility. In my opinion, I'm probably biased, is the
best career gard in the country. Is iconic and we
do get international events there every year. We've got England
playing next week at sky Stadium. They've got West Indies
Test before Christmas, and we've got India touring next year.
(13:37):
And the council and Wellington z to really support of
us bidding for those games to make sure we get
fixtures here. But it is competitive across the whole country,
so our relationship with the council is positive. I think
Wellington's going to turn. I think that I'm a proud Balentonian.
I grew up here, I was born here. I love
living here and I want to see the city thrive
and I think sport is a massive way to help
(14:00):
do that and I think good things around the corner.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Could you see the day and listen to both of you.
But I'll come to you first, Todd, because it's something
that I've dreamt of the day that we actually developed
the Basin Reserve into being that twelve to fifteen thousand,
say twelve thousand stadium that does all the NPC does,
Super Rugby, does all the cricket internationals even Do you
think we could see a day that we could do
(14:24):
that develop it into that stadium.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
It depends on the cricket lovers out there. Might hate
me for saying this, but I think the Basin Reserve
could be used a whole lot more, not only just
for cricket, for Phoenix Yep, Phoenix Rugby. We have Kelly
Kitty at the Basin that we do. We have music events,
we have beers at the Basin. I think the facility
is probably not maximized enough, but cricket does dominate the facility. X.
(14:47):
We don't have another first class venue in Wellington, which
is something and I'm trying to work on.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
All right, Rachel, I mean that's part of Sky Sky
Stadium runs the Basin as well. Could you ever see
that that dream come true where we had that smaller,
more compact, multi usable facility at the Basin.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
I think so.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
I think that it would be a fairly significant investment
to do that. You know, it probably falls into the
same campus. Could we put a roof on the state
You know, I like to find people when they ask
me that, but you know it probably falls into that category.
Ideally yes, But equally, you know, could we build an
inner city three story sport facility where you could have
you know that is indoors training facilities with a basketball
(15:25):
court on the top floor that you know has three
or four thousand viewership. Those are the things that happen
in cities that are similar size around the world. So
I think, I mean, this is one of the challenges
for the new counselors. How do you think really smartly
about bringing people back into the CBD and sport is
one of those things going to trick people in.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Yeah, just quickly on that, and I've got to take
a break in a seat, but I'd like to get
you both of your opinion on this. Bowls clubs are
a bit of a thing of the past. I mean,
you've got bowling greens in every suburb around Wellington. I've
had this dream long time ago to actually convert a
few of those into multi purpose stadiums so that you
could be karate judo, Badlington, basketball, netball. I mean, there's
(16:04):
a thousand sports that can play out of them instead
of having a grass green that gets used now and again, Rachel,
your thoughts on it.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
I've probably I've been to a bowling green a couple
of times, had quite good. You know, it's great for
Rose on a Saturday afternoon. But yeah, I do think
I mean, I think probably because I'm not a player,
but I know the people that do love it. And
a friend of mine is the chair of the World
Bowls Association, and you know, I don't know that the
numbers are necessarily dropping off, but and it doesn't have
to be an either or like, I think, we've got
(16:32):
a lot of spaces you'll know, in the city at
the moment to do those sorts of things.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
But why as a council are we not doing something that.
I mean, we know that basketball's are fastest growing sport.
We know, Badenington, karate judo, there's just so many of them.
Could you see that happening?
Speaker 3 (16:46):
I think we need to look at what we want
the city to look like in ten years time and
rather looking at what's in front of us now. So
I think innovation and different ways of carving up the
city is something that should be put on the table.
And I think the key is working consistently across stakeholders,
working in partnership and sort of problem solving and setting
a really good direction. Really important that partnership piece for me,
(17:09):
with the sports and councils, in order to look forward
to the future, we need to do that.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
I mean, you came from football, and football has got
a reasonably serious issue with the councils with their fees
and their costing. I mean football correct me if I'm wrong,
and you'll be able to correct me. But is a
very very fast growing sport that's played indoors. I mean,
surely some more stadia venues would be a good thing
to get people more physical. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I think the biggest challenge if you build more venues
is going to probably be more costs put on to
the community user. And I think the work that Football
did around council ground chargers is real. Rates are going up,
council ground charges are going up, Costs are going up
all over the place, where you don't want that to
be a barrier for young people to be able to
(17:56):
play sport. So building your venues absolutely on board with that,
but who pays for it?
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Well, look, I can say for an absolute fact that's
happening in basketball at the moment. There is an unprecedented
demand for kids to be playing sport, but they cannot
keep up with the fees associated with entering the leagues
term after terms. So through the foundation that's associated with
the Queens, what we've been trying to do lately is
find corporates who will sponsor an entire term of leagues
(18:22):
because you know, the schools are they cannot keep up
so and so that takes me to then are those
fees too high? You know, if the council were going
to invest in a space, could the council sponsor kids
leagues out at Ko Tangy like, make them a nominal
cost just to keep them in there, keep them active
because the benefits of those kids participating far outweighs the
(18:43):
investment that they would have to be making because that
association plays hundreds of thousands of dollars to rent those
courts on behalf of others.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
So tell me is there enough courts right now for basketball?
And Warrington?
Speaker 4 (18:53):
I think you could always do with more?
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Okay, Rachel to Lilly and Todd Bryant are here as
guests special guests for our business panel. I mean that
piece of news just then about Phoenix setting up a
can to me, what do they called charter school? Todd,
what are your thoughts on that? I think it's great.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
The Wines of Fanis are doing amazing things for the city,
not just for their high performance men's and women's teams,
but they've got a really good pathway program within their academy,
and education is really important, so they're providing that as
part of players that want to come and be part
of that pathway program, so they do still do get
education which is a priority as well as their football.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Rachel, when I first heard this piece of news, I thought,
what a good like almost to prep school before you
go to a scholarship in the States. Your daughter's lucky enough,
blessed enough, talented enough to be doing one of those scholarships.
But you know, we've got other two hundred kids in
US right now going to a school like that for
a year before. It's pretty exciting, isn't.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
It's really exciting.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
I think that there are other schools also who do
this manicure and tutor who you know that they were
set up by a vetnicals injury and her husband that
really focus in on the learnings of sport and transferring
those over to the academic So I think that's following
in line of those sorts of schools and they pay dividend.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Yeah, and the prep sicals a great idea.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Lily did a year at a Florida prep school and
it just really you grow up quite quickly.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Yes, but having that facility here where you train, get
yourself into shape and get the education because you know,
so many kids in football, basketball, athletics can't get scholarships
because they don't have the education.
Speaker 5 (20:26):
Correct that spoiler alert for anyone who's thinking about sending
their kids in the States or where we're on a scholarship.
It's actually the grades that make the difference between a
good band or otherwise program.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Yeah, one hundred percent. Let's talk about Wellington business stuff.
Let's go to the CBD. I'll start with you on
this one, Todd, because you based in town. Rachel's based
in town as well, but you would walk the streets.
How would you describe Wellington CBD right now? How do
you feel the city's the vibe of the city you
go past and you see shops for lease and you
feel a little bit how do you feel. I'm not
(20:56):
going to describe it for you.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
I wouldn't say disappointed is not the right word. But
sometimes you know, you go through the city and you
go you know, it used to be so different, and
I want to see Wellington thrive and come back to
what it originally was. I grew up here as a
young boy. I was down Courtney Place on the weekends.
We're walking back from the Basin Reserve on the Courtney
Place to have a beer after a game, and the
vibe was amazing. And I actually truly believe, and I
(21:21):
said it earlier that I think Welllington's about to turn.
Hopefully we blessed with some really good weather over the
summer and people start coming back into the city and
the new council formed a real clear direction around how
we can turn the city back to what it really,
really really should be.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Rachel, you're passionate about the city. What are you feeling
right now?
Speaker 4 (21:41):
It is tough.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
You wouldn't want to gaslight yourself into imagining that it's not.
I mean, I was doing something on Sunday morning which
took me into Courtney Place. You know, it's not a
great prospect. You know, there are people sleeping rough there's
a lot of As you drive down kent Terrace, there's
a lot of boarded up properties. So you know, the
reality is that city, I think is doing it tough. However,
(22:03):
I think that Wellingtonians have to fight for it. I
don't think that we can expect the government to or
the central government to sorry local government to do it
all for us. I think, yep, we've got a new
mayor that's fantastic. He should be able to bring together
the councils in a way that perhaps they haven't been
for the last few years. But it is also reliant
on the private sector. You know what vision Wellington pulled together.
You know, Wellington Alive under Justine Lister. People are wanting
(22:25):
to improve the rhetoric, they're wanting to improve the conditions.
So it's a bit of a full court press to
go back to the sporting analogy, but it's a full
court press on being able to lift the nose up
on Wellington because it is categorically necessary.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
It's weird because one of my sons said exactly the
same thing yesterday we were watching Q and a together,
and he said to me, we've got to stop asking
the council and the government to do it and do
it ourselves. But it's a catch twenty two situation because
you need to work in partnership with the council, don't you, Rachel.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
Absolutely, and look you would.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
Arguably we are the capital. We have the beehive on
the back doorsteps. So not only should we be able
to work really well without our local government because we're
not so big that you can't wrap your arms around it,
we should be able to work really closely with central
government because you can walk down the road and walk
through the front door. I'm not totally sure that that's
gelling as it might, but with a new mayor, I
think everyone should just for a second put aside any
(23:18):
degree of politics they might have been carrying around, or
any degree of inks that they have, and become agnostic
about who's in the seat and really think about how
they can support it going forward.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
How do we actually do that though time, How do
we actually lay those barriers. I picked up the paper
this morning and saw a councilor going on how great
it was that that's a labor council. I mean how
can we actually do that when they can't do it
within their own table.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
It's a million dollar question.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Nick.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
Answer to that, we probably wouldn't be sitting here having
this conversation. I think Rachel touched on it and you
did as well. Partnership is massive. Valentinians are resilient. Like
a lot of people that I've employed at Cricket Wellingston
love been able to work for an organization that adds
value to the Wingston community. And there's so many people
out there, not just in the sports sector, but within
(24:04):
the corporate or public sector that life of Wellington. I
just think it's about connecting with those relationships, working together,
and I think strong sort of direction, clear leadership, getting
rid of the red tape, and I think we need
to bring Wellington back to what it originally was. And
I think we can put the pass behind us, as
Rachel said, and I think there was a oyster I
(24:27):
look at as an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Are we going to struggle to do that though, when
the people around the table are still still sort of
trying to push that whole narrative of what party. You know,
this is a council table, what political party they belong to?
They should belong to the Party of Wellington. That's the
party that we should be belonging.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Surely, that's that leadership piece though within council. Hopefully with
a new mirror in charge, you know, that can be
dealt with quite quickly and there'll be a you know,
not a blank piece of paper in front of them,
but I imagine one that's pretty empty. And how do
they work collectively together to support the city.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Now I'm going to ask a personal question of the
business panel, one that they might not like answering because
they're probably doing business with them both. But Lily and Todd, Bryan,
I want to ask you how much Todd, and I'm
going to start with you, how much confidence do you
have in this? I mean, the council really is in
the new council. I think it's one new person on
the council, but we have a new mayor. How much
(25:21):
confidence do you have when you wake up in the
morning and think I've got a lot to do and
hopefully my counsel's doing right by me.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
So very load to question, Nick. I think I said earlier,
We've got a really good relationship with the council from
a base and reserve point of view and we work
really closely with them. I'm always a glass half full
individual and I like to think that we can put
the politics at the door and weave through it. And
I like to sort of put a statement out there there.
(25:50):
I do have confidence in this new council and I
look forward to working with them. I know they've got
their inductions over the next sort of FORTI five.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
They've had them. I think they've done last week they were.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Done over and they're actually all coming to the Basin
Reserve in November as a collective where I'll get to
meet them mor and speak to them. So yeah, I'm
confident and we want to work with them and we
want to support them.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
It's tough.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
It must be tough being a counselor, and the council
have so many different leavers that they need to manage
as sort of governors of the region. How can we
do our bit to help them as well?
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Rachel, I'm the same.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
I'm probably much I'm a glass half full person all
of the time, and I like to believe in the
potential of people. And so if you believe in the
potential of this council under a new mayor, and also
having had the last few years been a little tumultuous,
to say the very least. You would hope that they've
got this short period now it's a bit of a
honeymoon period where they're safe, they've got their seat, they
(26:46):
can breathe a little bit and go collectively, what can
we do because they're judged, you know, for every minute
they're in the seat, they're judged for the next election around.
So I've got great hope that they'll be able to
pull it together and listen to the voices that they
have become louder and louder over the last couple of
years about what the city both needs and wants.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
I'm a half full too, But if there's a hole
in the bottom of the glass and it's leaking, I
want to fix it pretty damn quickly.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Yeah, And that's what I want to see out of
this council and this mayor. I want to see, Hey,
you've got fantastic people. You've got fantastic talent around you
and every form in every way. You've got the movies,
you've got the sports. You know, you've got business people
that are doing great things, you know, but they need support.
Speaker 5 (27:27):
Yeah, I think that one of the key attributes they'll
have to display is both transparency and openness being accessible.
So you know, if they are accessible and you can
pick up the phone, you can have a conversation with
the mayor and or council and council laws that I
think will go a very very long way to stop
any kind of division where you see these they're not
rogue groups, they're just itinerant groups who are popping up saying, hey,
(27:50):
here's what we think the city should be about.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Todd I said it a number of times. I think
clear leadership with the new mayor in place. One of
the challenges I probably sympathize with the council and the
council officers is that the terms only three years a
lot of the time, and it takes six to twelve
months to embed sort of ways of working for a council,
and then you've probably got another eighteen months working together,
(28:12):
and then you're campaigning again for your next election. And
I think that that's a real challenge, not just for
the councilors themselves, but all the council staff that work underneath.
I'd love that to be a conversation, and I don't
know if that's something they've thought about. But yeah, there
might be a hole on the bottom of the glass, Nick,
But I'm really keen to move forward with this new
(28:33):
council and I think we'll see what happens.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
It's about how I mean, the whole in the bottom
of the glass is just a now, Andy, It's about
how quickly they can put put a stop and the
stop it leaking, isn't it. I mean, that's that's all
we're asking.
Speaker 4 (28:45):
Yep.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
And I think keeping everyone informed as they do so,
whether it's it's water, or it's infrastructure, or it's parks,
or it's sports, or it's recression, whatever you're housing rates,
you know there's no well, actually there is an end
to that list because there are five or six things
which rise to the top very very quickly. So I
think addressing them with urgency and with ruthless prioritization. But
keeping everyone in four Does he do that because Wellingtonians
(29:08):
they're on the precipice of the okay, now what so
people want.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
To be informed?
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Todd, what's your first impressions of Andrew Little.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
I think he demonstrates a presence and strong leadership, given
in particular his time in central government as well. I
think he's going to be able to sort of corral
the counselors together. Quite early on he was He's pretty
quick to come out publicly once he got the mayorship. Mayorship.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
Sorry, and.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
I've said this so many times. I'm positive with the change.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Rachel.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
I don't know Andrew personally, but I think this is
not yet, not yet.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
But what I think is this is not his first
time at the radio, so I think he brings with
him a pretty enormous lived experience and irrelevant lived experience
that that will put him in good steered for local government.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Todd, you know, I love doing and the shows or
any any guests I have and that are Wellingtonians. I
love guessing what high school they would because I reckon,
I'm really good at guessing at what high school you're
going to get to. I want to find out what
high school you went to if you're a well in Tonian. Okay,
Rachel to Lily Todd, Brian, you have got someone really,
really special arriving into well into the airport, and yeah
(30:21):
it's blowing a gale, and yes they're sitting there waiting
for you to arrive because the traffic's taking you too
long to get there, because we've still only got one
Mount Victoria tunnel. So you've got there, they've been shot,
shooting around, blowing around, landing and well into the airport.
You're taking them somewhere very special. Rachel to Lily, what
are you going to do with that, that real special person?
Speaker 5 (30:43):
So I makesually not going to meet them curbside, I'm
going to go in. I'm going to meet them in
the airport.
Speaker 4 (30:47):
You might have noticed. He's a bit of propaganda for you.
Good days just open and Wellington Airport.
Speaker 5 (30:51):
It's beautiful, like it's a really great place to just
catch your breath after you've had you know, two goes
at landings, but you're on the ground now, so you're
having a beer at a good day. And then I
think we jump in the car go around the waterfront
because that's one of the jewels of the city. Would
probably park up in and around are where Cohen's and
then just walk the waterfront, you know, past to Papa
past Chafers Park, all the way round to the boat Club,
(31:12):
past the Funny Walker, because to be able to be
a part of that, you really get a great vibe
for the city when you see the water, you see
the greenery, you see the actually operating port there. You know,
it's a city that says, I think we're close to hir,
We're close to the elements, close to the tour and
we work.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Yeah, beautiful, beautiful Todd, what are you doing? Well?
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Once the planes landed, the wind stops and they always
say you can't beat Wellington on a good day, I'd
probably nip around Lyle Bay, have a coffee at Matanui Cafe.
And this person I'm picking up has probably got similar
interests in me, so would probably then head out to
the Hut Valley and play a nice round of eighteen
holes at Bullcot Farm and we'll finish sort of early
(31:54):
early afternoon, and we actually might actually dip over the
hell to martin Borough and have a wine in the
sun to sort of cap off a good day. And
on the way home we'd go back to the hotel
and the CBD and we'll finish the night off with
a nice cold Heineken Silver at Do Little Secret and
the CBD.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Well, well, your guest, Yeah, I want to be your
guest too, except the golf. I can't do golf. I
cannot do golf, Thank you both so much for giving
up some of your time and coming on the show
and helping educate Walentonians, Tell Welling, giving your advice to
Walentonians and talking about the issues. We have really enjoyed
having you both on. Rachel to Learly Todd Bright. Good
(32:34):
luck for the rest of the year, and if we
don't see each other beforehand, a good Christmas break. Oh
my gosh, we're getting to that stage of the year
where we start talking about Christmas breaks.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
We've got a couple of Queen's games before the end,
so if anyone's keen to get along to them, I'll
just hijack it.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
For a minute. Queen startings here you can find where
we are. We're having a great season.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Nothing like a salesperson has said, Tod, what have you got?
Speaker 3 (32:55):
You've got a couple of a few notes here to
the cricket season. Community greet season started the weekend just gone,
and our High performance season starts next weekend. So please
come down to the Basement Reserve. Purchase your old memberships
gets you access to or ins National Cricket and all
Super Smash.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
There is nothing better than spending some time at the
Basin Reserve. You know, It's my favorite place in the world,
standing on the fence just watching a bit of cricket.
You cannot beat it on a good day.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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