October 23, 2025 • 33 mins
Nick Mills wraps the week with Wellington City Councilor Nicola Young and Infrastructure CEO, and former Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett.
After the wild weather this week, Nick and Nicola share their thoughts on the red warnings and its pros and cons for the city. They also discuss the new Wellington transport announcements including the Mt Vic tunnel and Petone to Grenada, and the need for bipartisan politics to keep the city and country moving forward. As well as the mood as the new council starts up, talk of deputy mayors and give their hots and nots of the week.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from news Talk said B Wellington's official week interview. It's
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for all. Visit Quovi dot code on its head.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
O Thursday, a dozen starts by.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
It's that time of the week where we get excited.
We get very excited because we bring a couple of
guests and I behave like a peacock because I've got
people around me instead of nobody around me, and I've
got a couple of people I know reasonably well coming
to join us today. Nikola Young, good morning, Welcome and
congratulations for making it onto the counsel again.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Thank you, and good morning.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
How do you feel great?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
I am so cheerful at the moment, I'm almost unbearable.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Well, you've got another three year contract in a wage
for three for three more years you have to retire
and take the pension.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Well, I mean, I'll talk to you about the council
later on. But the atmospheric Council is so different, it's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Well, it's only the second week. Nick Leggott, good morning
and welcome. We know it. Hey, we know what you
know what the second week like is on council. Of course,
everything's fantastic.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
But from where the council has been to where it
is now, I think of Nicholas noticing that, and I'm
hearing that around the traps a bit. That's it's a
good signal that stuff is going to get better.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
And Wellington, I missed Tory.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Will you offer to take her to the airport?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
But she said that she was leaving. I still miss
There's no excitement.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I'm sure you can find her. Nick.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
No, she doesn't talk to me, you know that. Don't
look at me like that as if I could find her.
She doesn't talk to me, doesn't like our show, doesn't
like me. Right, let's start Nick. Why firstly, why are
you sitting so close together?
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Well, we like each other, it's all people listening. I
think that we're sort of I mean like there's a
good half a meter between us.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
There is no way there's a half a beat up
between you. I mean, come on, I mean, no, wonder
you didn't win the Maryalty. You're wellity, you can't measure anything.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
We both actually ran and we were two good of friends.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So yeah, and we used to meet after the meetings
and have a drink together.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
But I've known Nick for a long time.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
People I know when to sit next to close.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
We're nicer people.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Yeah, you should.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
You should get some intimacy and your relationiacy.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
No, No, it's an emotional warmth.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I'm the same age as your children. I think people
listening are going to know that.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
You know, we'll change down this morning. Those things are okay,
it's acceptable now the world's stage. The world is a
little bit different, is it?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Intimacy and your platonic relationships? Nicholas, That's that's what I
would say to you.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Okay, platonic, platonic, don't know how to spell it, don't
understand it.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Non romantic friendships.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Okay, And of course I knew taking.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
The people I know.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yesterday's whether Nick, I'm going to start with you because
you're an infrastructure guy. To me, we did what we
were supposed to do. We as the media pushed it
out there, pushed the barrow, read alert all the things
that we needed to do, but we stopped a nation
should have we.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Well, I think in Wellington it seemed like a bit
of an over reach, didn't it. I think in parts
of the South Island. It was clearly a lot that
the battering.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Was clearly more serious. I mean all this stuff.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
You know, when the media does or when the weather
people don't predict, you know, big disruptive weather, we you know,
there's a whole you know, we all say, oh, we
should be we should have done more when they predict
and we overreact. We're sitting here like we are now
saying oh, we did too much. It's a hard thing
to get right. And you know, somebody was killed in
(03:59):
Wellington was previous that it was a bad weather day
though it makes but it puts people on edge now,
I know. I heard some examples around the place of
people refusing to come in to work because of the
warnings when actually it was perfectly safe to go into work.
And you know, we've had a discussion before the show
Nik around the economic impact shut When you shut a
(04:22):
city down, there is an economic consequence, and Wellington was
no different. So there are businesses that are already doing
it tough that are then you know, without customers because
we scare everybody were staff and still paying staff exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
But I think the thing is actually Tuesday was the
winds were frightening. I mean I went up with my
son's thirty six kilo Irish waters band. I thought he
was going to start flying the wind was so strong.
So I turned around and went a very sheltered area.
I would not go into the town belt in that
kind of weather. But I think the council was on
a hiding to nothing. I mean, if they hadn't they
(04:57):
thought they were told the winds were going to be
much greater than it turned up. They were, I mean
they were, they were pretty well.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
They were still. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Can I tell you so where I live, the there
was the tide was so high in Powet Hanoi, and
that it was up and the boat into the boat sheds.
You know that the line the place the road around
State Highway fifty eight was closed. You know, there were
there were there was an impact.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
We know that happens all the time.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Well, it does happen sometimes, Yeah, and it's going to
happen more.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
There's a bit late. They closed down Auckland Harbor Bridge,
you know, for wind, for wind when actually it's I'm
not a wind expert, but I mean it's probably quite safe.
I do think we over react because people it's this
is partly the health and safety culture that we live in,
you know, and I mean some of that I think
is nuts because there is a risk so much. Do
(05:46):
we overcook it yesterday? Yeah, but for the right reasons,
you know. I mean, if we'd undercooked it, as Nick said,
we'd undercooked it. I mean, I remember years ago, nineteen
eighty seven, there was this huge storm in Britain and
the weather forecaster said on the BBC there might be
a bit of a breeze tomorrow and it was this
massive hurricane which knocked down, you know, five hundred year
(06:06):
old oak trees and all the rest of it. People
still talk about today, the fact that they didn't give
enough warning. Councils, forecasters, they're always going to be criticized
if they get it wrong.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Okay, so what do we do next week? You know,
we're in the middle of spring. We know what spring
weather's like in Wellington. Do we do the same thing again?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
You just ask people to use their brains and take
make decisions for themselves.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Common sense.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
A lot a lot of people can we know this
because of COVID, A lot of people can work from home.
If you can work from home, you should, But then
there are things like, well, if school's clothes, you create
childcare challenges?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
There are.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
There are a whole lot of reverberations, aren't there.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
So it is about balancing it and thinking greatest good
to the greatest number. If you can get people off
the roads and off public transport on a daylight yesterday,
it's better, yes.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Well, and tie down the trampolines and absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
I mean a classic example of that. One of the
people that work for me and my other job works
with me and the other job. You know, he lives
in wy Now Mr came to work and then he
started panicking. He said he's got a young baby. He
didn't want to be, you know, not be able to go.
He said, hey, I'm going home. I said, good on,
you get in your car and get home. And he
got home and the road closed later. I mean that's
common sense.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, And a good employer that's prepared
to let him.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Well, everyone would do that, wouldn't No, No, no, I'm not sure.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Nick, we are we disturbing.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
I'm just looking at the I just took videos yesterday
of of.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Of sorry just just lovely looking back.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Yeah, it's on it's on topic because I was actually
looking for the trampoline. I saw a photo this morning
of a trampoline flying meters in the east today.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Might have been a.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Flying listeners that don't know what we're talking about. Nick
Legett while in the conversation with me and this is
my biggest gripe in my life, was on conversation with Boomer.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
He went to his phone, Boomer gripe like.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
NICKNA help me out here. He did go to his phone.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
He did, But I'd have to say that I think
is far more disciplined with his phone than he used
to be. And he was trying to find something to
illustrate his point. And I think he was trying to
be off service to the program.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Could he do it during an ad break? Make it
a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I'm sure he's noted your comments.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Your parents were teachers, weren't they your family whole, it's
all it's coming through loud and clear.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Well, I mean, I just want to have a conversation.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
We haven't seen each other's.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Was I off was I? Was I not involved in
the conversation.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
You were definitely not involved in the conversation. I've been
so quiet, you don't know you were looking at your phone,
like we're getting off topic the strike. Can we do
the strike before having an air break or do you
want us to go to an air break. We're taking
an ad break and I can sort out my guests once
and for all to get it right for the next
three quarters of an hour. It's eleven fifteen Nikola Young
(08:55):
and Nick Leggett, our guest are our guests for Friday
Face Off, And you can almost work out that I'm
taking a couple of days off after this because I'm
so excited because.
Speaker 5 (09:04):
It's so grumpy.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I'm not grumpy with I'm in a good mood. I'm
in the best mood I've been in for ages Friday
Face Off. Nikola Young and Nick Leggett. Nick, I want
to start with you on this mega strike. Yesterday was
a bit of a I mean everyone was taken out
of work and kids were taken out of school. Operations
weren't happening and all that stuff. So that was everyone
was affected. But because the optics weren't there, a bit
(09:27):
of a dud.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Yeah, I mean it was an unfortunate for the organizers
sort of events overtook the optics and look, we I
think we're pretty tolerant in New Zealand. I think there's
a general acceptance that there's a right to strike. But
I would say, you know, this was one hundred thousand workers.
(09:49):
How you regain that momentum to make the point you
want to make without losing public sympathy is a problem
they're going to have. And you know, we know that
our health system is tenuous, We know that it's things
are a bit dicey, right, taking yourselves out of work
for a day can throw that into chaos. And yes,
it makes a political point, But what worries me of
those people that are waiting for operations, that are waiting
(10:11):
for medical procedures, things that will really improve their lives
might be a cataract, it might be something like that,
or a hip replacement. When you disrupt that, you are
playing with people's lives.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
And I think that.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
The public will have a short wick on this because
we are in stressed economic times where a bit grumpy
is a nation, and I reckon that public sympathy will
wear thin.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Nichola Sir Brian Wroches really made me sit up and
listen the day before the strike when he said he
was trying to have meetings and they weren't showing up,
and the right ones weren't tying up. Wanted to have
meetings on a weekend. No, that wasn't going to happen.
He showed to me that he was generally trying to
make it work and he got nothing from the unions.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
I listened to him this morning when he said that.
He thought, no, they've got it out of their system.
Perhaps they could actually start to come to the negotiating table.
I mean what staggered me about the unions. I think
it was the Education Teachers unit, where Palestine was their
number one priority.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
I've just looked down.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I mean, you talk about losing public sympathy, you know,
like the city council has to stay in this lane.
So I have voted against the council having a sister
relationship with Romolah in Palestine. You know, it's like, what
do we know about international affairs, but they're on strike
and that's their number one priority.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Well, it was the way when they got in front
of Erica Stanford and the first thing they.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
Brought up was Palestine was the first item. Light Knackler
just lost. I just thought, no, these they're they need
to be talking about my kid's education and being better
resourced to be able to do that education and to
put Palestine there massive judgment there.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
But I mean the other thing is that salaries in
the private sector have been really suppressed for some years,
and some of the big consultancies have had three restructures
in the past eighteen months, and so it's not just
the public servants. We are in very for called economic
times and I think New Zealand is at a cross
road cross roads, and I just thought that the strike,
(12:14):
especially the bit about Palestine from one section was stupid
and as it happened, the gods dealt it with the weather.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I mean, it definitely was. The other thing that I
said this morning, which I kind of like, is I
want that woman that turned up from wa and went
took her placard and went to Parliament on her own.
I want her teaching my kids. That's who I want.
I mean, she's going to far some grass, she's got something.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
What did the placards say, I don't know. Member it
was it was pro the strike, right, yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Yeah, she was striking, she was, but she went from
Wain went over the hill.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
But I am amused that the people always why why
is it the teachers always strike in term time. Well,
of course we know the answer, but it is kind
of amusing.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Well, I mean, I've got a family member that head.
Wednesday was a teacher's only day, was it? Yeah, Thursday
was the strike. Friday, they're back at school, Monday they're
off and they got back to what's sort of learning?
Is that gonna help? I mean, it's ridiculous, isn't it.
You both looking at me as if I'm saying something
weird right.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
Now to talk about something we're just nodding an agreement.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Okay, Well, remember there's no screen, so people listen. Well,
you can tell people not he doesn't help by cust
what he has my clients. My clients doesn't don't get
help by you, Noddy. Let's talk about transport. Neck. You
have something you're very very up to play with and
an expert on.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Why do you always ask nick first?
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Well, okay, let's talk about bipartisanship. Chris Bishop Nikola, what
do you think about bipartisanship.
Speaker 5 (13:42):
We'll go back, we'll teach that, we'll teach you.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
We'll go back to infrastructure and about it.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Well, actually that but that is also infrastructure because we
have to we have too much short term thinking in
this In this country, we have a three year election
cycle and it is it is really hard for for example,
the construction sector to have confidence when they don't know
or the you know, oil and gas, they don't know
whether next year we have an election, what is going
to happen. I think we have to have more bipartisan
(14:08):
activity or relationships at Parliament.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Do you think that's possible?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Yeah, of course it's possible.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
I mean, I mean we get it with education. Did
they tried to do it?
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Well?
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Yeah, but I mean I do know. They used to
always say in Parliament that you know, you can only
really make friends with people on the other side of
the house because people on your side of the house
are all striving for the same job. And I mean
one of the things that council, which is why I'm
so cheerful about council, is I think this term we
will have bipartisanship, We will have the Council working together.
Not everyone will agree, but Andrew has made it very
clear he wants to work across the aisle the National
(14:40):
Party or National Government. Would you know, National led government
have made it very clear they need to we need
to have bipartisanship to get some of these big infrastructure
projects and other projects and give people confidence that they're
going to be there and you know that the road
is going to be built. It's not going to just
buy the houses and then not build the road.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Can I get permission to ask Neck a question? I
just want to check Nowick. I'm trying to think of
his name and I can't get it off the top
of my head. Did the guy from Potido that was
the infrastructure builder they that build the tunnel in Auckland
and stuff has gone to allow?
Speaker 5 (15:10):
Yeah? Sewan Sweeney.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Sean Sweeney. Now I watched him on Q and A. Yes,
I think I watched it three times. I recorded it
and watched it three times. Yes, he had the answer
to everything. Yes, very very simple. Give it to us
in a couple of lines. Why he thinks this whole bipartisanship,
that's the root of it. And then from there where
do we go?
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Absolutely, look, a lack of bipartisanship on infrastructure costs this
country billions of dollars every year and that is not
an exaggeration. So we have the start stop mentality. So
Nicle mentioned three year parliamentary terms. If there's a change
of government, projects that are funded, designed, ready can just
(15:51):
get canceled in a heartbeat. And I want to give
your listeners an example, a local example, Hayward's Hill State
Highway fifty eight between Paleta Hanui and the Hut Valley.
There have been disruptions on that road for seven or
eight years. We've now got transmission gully, so there's a
greater need and that the new interchange or feeling new interchange.
At the Hayward's end, the last labor government, the ardan
(16:16):
And government came in canceled the safety improvements that were
ready to go. Finally, towards the end of that government
they were ready to go again. National came in and
reprioritized and said, no, you've got to have a smaller
funding envelope. People have lived with disruption there now, the
lack of the lack of being able to move the
minutes that it's added to people's every person's journey along
(16:37):
that costs our economy. That you know, there isn't a
labor or a national way to do safety improvements on
a road. We've got to lock the stuff in for
the longer term. We've got to have it funded. Now
let politicians politicize stuff that you know, whether you know,
let's get well into moving. But even that, there should
have been a way forward.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
And huge millions and millions of dollars just wasted on nothing.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
One hundred million wasted on let's get willing to move
because that was the design that was paying people to
do designs. So do the business case, Well we hadn't.
There was no project because there was no money to
pay for what they were planning. So it's all topsy turvy.
Now when we say by partnership, we say, oh, we
just want them to agree on more. And I think
it's election year next year. And my challenge to your
(17:22):
listeners note is to demand this of political parties. We've
actually got to change the political culture in this country
where we say we don't let them buy us off.
They pick us off and they get the public to react.
Do you want rail?
Speaker 5 (17:36):
Yes or no?
Speaker 4 (17:38):
We've actually got to say that no, No, You are
the politicians, you're the decision makers. You should have the
final say on our behalf on how much things cost.
But we expect you to get it together and build
a consistent infrastructure pipeline and if you don't agree, we're
going to punish you politically. That's the only way to
solve this. And I can tell you this, other countries
(17:59):
do it. Ireland, we had the former Prime Minister of Ireland,
Leo Aredke, talk to our conference Building Nations earlier this year,
and we said to him beforehand, you know, you have
got these two major parties and they're kind of both
sort of center to center right, so we can see
how Ireland has just gone from zero to hero over
fifty years. You know, low corporate tax, right, welcoming in
(18:22):
foreign direct investment. They've really built that country, but they've
educated their population. He said, well, the funny thing is
that shin fein that the center left party support that
low corporate tax, they support foreign direct investment because they've
seen how the nation works. But there's also the public
now expect those policy settings to stay in place, and
we need that. We need that here, We've got it.
(18:42):
We've got to be consistent.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
And I wanted you to go on and say what Sean,
you've got your your contact.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
Well, Sean is now an island.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Yeah, of course, but his idea was we bring basically
I don't He didn't actually say it, but basically has
bring the ministry it works back in, wasn't it. I
mean he wanted to have one group of people that
were going from infrastructure and infrastructure yes, and going part
of that. So we've talked about you go, you go
rot it.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
So we've got to build the capability in the schools
inside government to get us a better deal when negotiating
these things. That's that's that's the Ministry of work side
of things, right.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Kind of like just a group that go from one
project to another project.
Speaker 5 (19:23):
And that's right.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
And the stronger they are, and that the harder they
crunch the commercial deals on behalf of the taxpayer, the
better off New Zealand will be.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
One hundred percent agree, right, Nikola Young and Nick Legget
joining us, we sort of went back to front with
the bipartisanship thing. Now I want to talk about the
new actual transport announcements, which hopefully we'll go hand in hand. Nick.
I'm going to start with it' all right with Nichola
to start with Nick on this because I know he's
had a lot to do with it over the year.
I know you have as well.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
I know that you're you know, I'm not sensitive.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
So okay, what will these two new roads mean for
willing To Will a new tunnel between Mount Victoria and
High Tye tie the second Tunnel and the Patonity two Grenada? Nick,
how will these roading and sort of change willing.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Well I think they will complete our road transport network. Look,
Wellington is held back by the fact that it takes
a long time to get through to the airport of
the hospital. It takes a long way to long time
to get through the city. That congestion adds costs, It's
disruptive and.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
It needs to be.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
We need to be brought into the twenty first century.
Patni to Grenada. That will ease congestion no longer in
the morning twenty five percent of the traffic down the
gorge and up the Gorge.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
On the other side. Obviously, I know where Patoni comes out.
Where does Grenada come out.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
I think the new proposal is it will come in
at Newlands somewhere and there, so that will be. That
will be that east west connection across the region will
be a game changer. It will improve the I hate
the word, but the resilience of our transport network.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
Like so people be able to.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Get round with a bit more surety at peak time
and if.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
There's an accident we can go round another way.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
That's right, and that bipartisan push again. You know, we
need the council lined up, the Wellington City Council lined
up with central government. We need this to be enduring
and enduring project or set of projects because it will
go across governments and we need so we need that.
You know, I'm hoping that a labor mayor and a
labor council can agree with a national government and we
(21:32):
get you know, we get that sense of like this
is going to be a happening thing and we can
all sign up to it. When I was mayor of
put out to a part of what drove me into
to stand in Wellington was when that original Basin flyover
was proposed. I was coming in at six am for
TV interviews at the basin in favor of the base
and flyover. Because no, and this is no disrespect to you,
(21:54):
but no Wellington politician would had the guts to front
and I'm not including on that because she is not.
There are two or three people I'm thinking of, but
they couldn't get a local council or a regional Council
to front that issue. I had to come in from
the sticks and that made me realize the lack of
leadership around these big projects, transport projects because they're regional projects.
(22:18):
And I'll say this as well, put Her to It
and lower Heart both voted in favor of exploring two
weeks ago exploring amalgamation. You know, a local referender. I
think Andrew Little's got an open mind from what I've
heard him say.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
We've got to.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Push this form and they wouldn't have it, wouldn't have
the referendum on our babits.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
Wouldn't have it on it.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
So Wellington would have could have voted on that they
and they lost that opportunity. So we've got to get
on the same page. It's vital for the region we
talk about. We all know Wellington is at the bottom
of a very long and sow economic cycle. My view
is that public sector cuts are not the reason for that.
They're just another kick another But you know, our population
(22:58):
in Wellington City didn't grow at the last census, Train
shrank the only place in the country that is a
symbol of a really sick Wellington city. We need these
infrastructure projects to boost us. And for those people saying
we need public transport as well, yes we do, but
roading a roads can take buses. But it is about
(23:19):
separating the national traffic on State Highway One with the
local traffic. And I'd like to see some trenching involved
so we can actually, you know, have a proper living
city above these roads.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Nikola, I will let you have a shape.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
So the Marnt Victoria Tunnel is close to my heart
because of course I live on Mark Victoria and I
represent the Lampton Ward, but I am a Wellington City
councilor and signed an oath to put Wellington first. I
feel very strongly about the Mont Victoria Tunnel. My father
firstod for Parliament for Miramar in nineteen sixty three and
campaigned on a second Mont Victoria tunnel nineteen sixty three,
(23:55):
and we still haven't got one for various reasons. I
know that there are some people in Mount Victoria, at
the southern end of Mark Victoria who'll were very opposed
to it. Yes, I think the houses in Patterson Street
will be demolished, but they have been owned by the
government since sixties, that's right. I mean they have been
rentals for sixties and and I just can't wait for
that tunnel to come through. It will be transformational. And
(24:17):
I feel sorry for people, well sorry for people in
the Eastern Suburbs, because it's as if you're on an
island where you can only get across when the tigers
and all the tighter is up. Because I won't go
to the Eastern Suburbs, for example, on a Saturday, I
won't go near the Eastern Suburbs because the traffic as
it is. And Nick rang me the other day because
we do talk occasionally. He was coming in from the
airport and he said, it's going to take me forty
(24:39):
five minutes to get home.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Crazy, that's that Saturday thing. I was laughing because I
so often people say to me, well, you don't work
on a Saturday, Let's have brunch on Saturday in town.
I go, Do I really want to spend that much
time driving into town.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
On Saturday mornings. I will only do things where I
can walk because the traffic is dreadful.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
And you think, like kids sport, We've got a lot
of family with similar age kids to us in the
Eastern Suburbs. It literally cuts you off.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Yeah you can't, Okay, well we all agree it's a must,
and we all agree that those people with your friends
from Mount Victor drank the cheap champagne that I still
got the photo of that celebrated stopping the last one.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
They probably didn't vote for me, ever, Nick.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Can I just say one last thing? Those houses that
Nichola mentioned that have been owned by the government since
the sixties, does that not indicate that how long it
takes to get these things through.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
If we do this stuff faster, we can.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
Have the benefits built quicker and everybody will enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
The word again, by pass and resilience a.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Word, Nikola Young and Nick Leggett rodo Nikola, what are
you smiling? It?
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Well, I'm smiling at the look on your face. You
look like the chest out of cat.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Well, it's because I've got to ask you about council things.
Can I be as specific as say, how's it going well?
Speaker 2 (26:02):
And I will give you some very specific answers. It
is fantastic, It has it is trans It has been
transformed because we have an adult as the mayor who
knows what the job involves, and we also have a
new chief executive. I think the two of them will
be a terrific partnership. The atmospheric council is totally different.
(26:23):
I used to go in there with a feeling of
sort of dread in my stomach. I don't anymore when
I've been in and out quite a few times. It's
very collegial. I think it's going to be a totally
different council and thank god, I mean because at large,
you know, I think we will always I mean, Andrew
has made his expectations very clear. At the stage, we
(26:44):
don't know what committee structure we're going to have. We
don't know anyone's roles.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Just so you don't even know who's deputy me. You
must have someone must be having a convid. Would you
be so so enthusiastic if you're not going to be
deputy here.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
I am delighted to be re elected as a councilor
to represent Lampton Ward. I stood and I have said
I will do whatever is right for well acton and
the mayor can make whatever decisions he wants, whatever he does.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
When's it're all going to come out?
Speaker 2 (27:10):
I think on Wednesday, I think at the we have
our first council meeting when he would announce the structure
and things. But it's just.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Who decides on it. Does he decide on everything. He
decides who's in chairs, who's on positions. Everything he doesn't get,
You don't get, and no one on council gets to
decide or have a vote or anything on any of that.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Well, if he puts in it a f he appoints
a deputy mayor that the council don't like or don't want.
If they have a majority, they can overturn that.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Okay, But there are other positions like this. Who sits
on the airport board for a start, he decides.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
It, Yes, yes, but he'll be talking to the officers
as well. But it's just you know, I have I
said to Andrew. I had my one on one with
him last Friday. I was the last one because my
surname begins with a Y. And I said to him,
I've only been in this office, the mayor's office once
in the past three years. I've had more conversations with
Andrew in the first three days after the elections than
(28:01):
I had with the former mayor in three years. It
has transformed and there's a real determination by all sides,
the Greens, Labor, the Independence that we want to make
this work and we want to get the city moving.
And I'm feeling very optimistic. I am an optimist, but
I am feeling there's got.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
To be a couple of there's got to be I'm
looking at Nick as I say, this has got to
be a couple. What do we what do we say
renegade in that council?
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Well, I won't be one of them.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
Well they didn't say there wasn't going to be renegades,
was it.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Look I think that for for well considy to function, well,
they've got to be able to disagree on issues that
they disagree on, you know, whether they're philosophical or just
practical disagreements. But then they've got to come back together.
They've got to come back together and govern the city
in a collegial and cohesive way. And I think that's possible.
(28:53):
I think Andrew Little, judging by what Nichola is saying,
but also looking at his past experience, he's got he's
got the ability to bring that together. So you do
want them to disagree. It's not a come by our session,
but you actually the function and the toxicity that was
there previously, you know it was was I mean, it
was it was a clear reason why Wellington wasn't able
(29:15):
to get back on only one change.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
No, there's quite a few changes with the counselors. We've
got few.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
There might be the only one new counselor, isn't it
no sex? Sex? Is it the other day? It is
only one?
Speaker 5 (29:25):
You know, we know there's one.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
There's one who there's only one who lost their seat,
the one that lost it. Yeah. But the thing is
that one of the things that we need to do,
and I have spoken to the mayor about this, is
spend more time as counselors together. So we had none
of that in the last training, other than one lunch
where we will pay for ourselves. So you know, we
have to be we have to get to know each other.
(29:49):
We have to work together, and that includes occasionally having
cups of coffee together or even dare I say it,
a glass of wine.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Is I'm gonna I'm gonna. I'm going to go to
an ad break before I say it. But there's one
name that I want to ask you about because I
can't see her fitting into anywhere and that and that
all and in that council. But I'll ask you during
an air break. Then I don't lose my.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Job the Friday facet.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Okay, okay, Nikola, You'll be moaning or mourning that I
haven't been coming to you first, and I just comment, well,
I mean, what's the difference between a comment and a moan.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Tone of voice? Look on my face, you moaning or mourning?
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Right, give me your hots and dots.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
So well, I was going to say my hot is
the great vibe at the Wellington City Council, but we've
kind of covered that. But I would say I am
really optimistic about the future of the city, not just
the council. I think we've been through We're in the
bottom of the trough and I think next year we're
going to have the library will be opened. I think
there are new restaurants willing to be opened. I think
(31:00):
we have turned the corner. It is early days and
I have said I'm an optimist. But the other thing
is totally nothing to do politics. On my deck, I
have deck, I have a Zeronima, a poor Knight's lily,
and it has the most it's an endangered plant, it
has the most amazing red shoot stamens. I've got about
thirty of them out and every day I'm getting two
(31:22):
or three two sitting two feet from my window. It
is fabulous, isn't that That's unexpected from me?
Speaker 4 (31:29):
Hard to beat that one, Nick, Yeah, well I won't.
My hot as actually was. We've covered it and that's
actually the tunnel announcements. I think that that will be
superb for Wellington.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
I hope there are no dead bodies in this one.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
Didn't you just say she was an optimist.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
I'm just thinking about the history, the history.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Yes, why not?
Speaker 4 (31:54):
Is Tippati Mardi's behavior burning the legislation in front of
Parliament this week. I've got no problem with parties pushing
the boundaries. I've got no I think that's healthy for democracy.
But when they seem to want undermine when to party,
Marty seems to want to undermine the sort of the
very fabric of our constitutional and democratic arrangements, to me,
(32:15):
it's sort of calls into question. They're you know, that
they're just performing for an audience rather than actually trying
to help govern the country or at least contribute to
the parliament. And I do think that's got I think
that's that's a problem for us. And I want to
see them taking part more and getting more on the
page and then healthily disagreeing.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Be not just a protest movement. Correct, that's what it is. Approach.
Speaker 4 (32:40):
There are too many activists I think often that that
get elected to things these days and often may find well,
I don't know what to do because I actually might
be responsible for something.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
And so we do. You know, you do have to.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Activists are great, but often not in positions where a
power to have.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
To add Nick Legget Nikolae Young, thank you both very
much for coming and have a glorious weekend. Long weekend
and holiday. Now it's hardly a holiday. I'm shifting officers.
I'm having a week off.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
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 said B Wellington's official week interview. It's
Friday Basar with Coudovic Property Management, a better rental experience
for all. Visit Quovi dot code on its head.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
O Thursday, a dozen starts by.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
It's that time of the week where we get excited.
We get very excited because we bring a couple of
guests and I behave like a peacock because I've got
people around me instead of nobody around me, and I've
got a couple of people I know reasonably well coming
to join us today. Nikola Young, good morning, Welcome and
congratulations for making it onto the counsel again.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Thank you, and good morning.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
How do you feel great?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
I am so cheerful at the moment, I'm almost unbearable.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Well, you've got another three year contract in a wage
for three for three more years you have to retire
and take the pension.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Well, I mean, I'll talk to you about the council
later on. But the atmospheric Council is so different, it's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Well, it's only the second week. Nick Leggott, good morning
and welcome. We know it. Hey, we know what you
know what the second week like is on council. Of course,
everything's fantastic.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
But from where the council has been to where it
is now, I think of Nicholas noticing that, and I'm
hearing that around the traps a bit. That's it's a
good signal that stuff is going to get better.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
And Wellington, I missed Tory.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Will you offer to take her to the airport?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
But she said that she was leaving. I still miss
There's no excitement.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I'm sure you can find her. Nick.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
No, she doesn't talk to me, you know that. Don't
look at me like that as if I could find her.
She doesn't talk to me, doesn't like our show, doesn't
like me. Right, let's start Nick. Why firstly, why are
you sitting so close together?
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Well, we like each other, it's all people listening. I
think that we're sort of I mean like there's a
good half a meter between us.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
There is no way there's a half a beat up
between you. I mean, come on, I mean, no, wonder
you didn't win the Maryalty. You're wellity, you can't measure anything.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
We both actually ran and we were two good of friends.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So yeah, and we used to meet after the meetings
and have a drink together.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
But I've known Nick for a long time.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
People I know when to sit next to close.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
We're nicer people.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Yeah, you should.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
You should get some intimacy and your relationiacy.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
No, No, it's an emotional warmth.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I'm the same age as your children. I think people
listening are going to know that.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
You know, we'll change down this morning. Those things are okay,
it's acceptable now the world's stage. The world is a
little bit different, is it?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Intimacy and your platonic relationships? Nicholas, That's that's what I
would say to you.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Okay, platonic, platonic, don't know how to spell it, don't
understand it.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Non romantic friendships.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Okay, And of course I knew taking.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
The people I know.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yesterday's whether Nick, I'm going to start with you because
you're an infrastructure guy. To me, we did what we
were supposed to do. We as the media pushed it
out there, pushed the barrow, read alert all the things
that we needed to do, but we stopped a nation
should have we.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Well, I think in Wellington it seemed like a bit
of an over reach, didn't it. I think in parts
of the South Island. It was clearly a lot that
the battering.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Was clearly more serious. I mean all this stuff.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
You know, when the media does or when the weather
people don't predict, you know, big disruptive weather, we you know,
there's a whole you know, we all say, oh, we
should be we should have done more when they predict
and we overreact. We're sitting here like we are now
saying oh, we did too much. It's a hard thing
to get right. And you know, somebody was killed in
(03:59):
Wellington was previous that it was a bad weather day
though it makes but it puts people on edge now,
I know. I heard some examples around the place of
people refusing to come in to work because of the
warnings when actually it was perfectly safe to go into work.
And you know, we've had a discussion before the show
Nik around the economic impact shut When you shut a
(04:22):
city down, there is an economic consequence, and Wellington was
no different. So there are businesses that are already doing
it tough that are then you know, without customers because
we scare everybody were staff and still paying staff exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
But I think the thing is actually Tuesday was the
winds were frightening. I mean I went up with my
son's thirty six kilo Irish waters band. I thought he
was going to start flying the wind was so strong.
So I turned around and went a very sheltered area.
I would not go into the town belt in that
kind of weather. But I think the council was on
a hiding to nothing. I mean, if they hadn't they
(04:57):
thought they were told the winds were going to be
much greater than it turned up. They were, I mean
they were, they were pretty well.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
They were still. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Can I tell you so where I live, the there
was the tide was so high in Powet Hanoi, and
that it was up and the boat into the boat sheds.
You know that the line the place the road around
State Highway fifty eight was closed. You know, there were
there were there was an impact.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
We know that happens all the time.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Well, it does happen sometimes, Yeah, and it's going to
happen more.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
There's a bit late. They closed down Auckland Harbor Bridge,
you know, for wind, for wind when actually it's I'm
not a wind expert, but I mean it's probably quite safe.
I do think we over react because people it's this
is partly the health and safety culture that we live in,
you know, and I mean some of that I think
is nuts because there is a risk so much. Do
(05:46):
we overcook it yesterday? Yeah, but for the right reasons,
you know. I mean, if we'd undercooked it, as Nick said,
we'd undercooked it. I mean, I remember years ago, nineteen
eighty seven, there was this huge storm in Britain and
the weather forecaster said on the BBC there might be
a bit of a breeze tomorrow and it was this
massive hurricane which knocked down, you know, five hundred year
(06:06):
old oak trees and all the rest of it. People
still talk about today, the fact that they didn't give
enough warning. Councils, forecasters, they're always going to be criticized
if they get it wrong.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Okay, so what do we do next week? You know,
we're in the middle of spring. We know what spring
weather's like in Wellington. Do we do the same thing again?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
You just ask people to use their brains and take
make decisions for themselves.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Common sense.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
A lot a lot of people can we know this
because of COVID, A lot of people can work from home.
If you can work from home, you should, But then
there are things like, well, if school's clothes, you create
childcare challenges?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
There are.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
There are a whole lot of reverberations, aren't there.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
So it is about balancing it and thinking greatest good
to the greatest number. If you can get people off
the roads and off public transport on a daylight yesterday,
it's better, yes.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Well, and tie down the trampolines and absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
I mean a classic example of that. One of the
people that work for me and my other job works
with me and the other job. You know, he lives
in wy Now Mr came to work and then he
started panicking. He said he's got a young baby. He
didn't want to be, you know, not be able to go.
He said, hey, I'm going home. I said, good on,
you get in your car and get home. And he
got home and the road closed later. I mean that's
common sense.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, And a good employer that's prepared
to let him.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Well, everyone would do that, wouldn't No, No, no, I'm not sure.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Nick, we are we disturbing.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
I'm just looking at the I just took videos yesterday
of of.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Of sorry just just lovely looking back.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Yeah, it's on it's on topic because I was actually
looking for the trampoline. I saw a photo this morning
of a trampoline flying meters in the east today.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Might have been a.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Flying listeners that don't know what we're talking about. Nick
Legett while in the conversation with me and this is
my biggest gripe in my life, was on conversation with Boomer.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
He went to his phone, Boomer gripe like.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
NICKNA help me out here. He did go to his phone.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
He did, But I'd have to say that I think
is far more disciplined with his phone than he used
to be. And he was trying to find something to
illustrate his point. And I think he was trying to
be off service to the program.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Could he do it during an ad break? Make it
a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I'm sure he's noted your comments.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Your parents were teachers, weren't they your family whole, it's
all it's coming through loud and clear.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Well, I mean, I just want to have a conversation.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
We haven't seen each other's.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Was I off was I? Was I not involved in
the conversation.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
You were definitely not involved in the conversation. I've been
so quiet, you don't know you were looking at your phone,
like we're getting off topic the strike. Can we do
the strike before having an air break or do you
want us to go to an air break. We're taking
an ad break and I can sort out my guests once
and for all to get it right for the next
three quarters of an hour. It's eleven fifteen Nikola Young
(08:55):
and Nick Leggett, our guest are our guests for Friday
Face Off, And you can almost work out that I'm
taking a couple of days off after this because I'm
so excited because.
Speaker 5 (09:04):
It's so grumpy.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I'm not grumpy with I'm in a good mood. I'm
in the best mood I've been in for ages Friday
Face Off. Nikola Young and Nick Leggett. Nick, I want
to start with you on this mega strike. Yesterday was
a bit of a I mean everyone was taken out
of work and kids were taken out of school. Operations
weren't happening and all that stuff. So that was everyone
was affected. But because the optics weren't there, a bit
(09:27):
of a dud.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Yeah, I mean it was an unfortunate for the organizers
sort of events overtook the optics and look, we I
think we're pretty tolerant in New Zealand. I think there's
a general acceptance that there's a right to strike. But
I would say, you know, this was one hundred thousand workers.
(09:49):
How you regain that momentum to make the point you
want to make without losing public sympathy is a problem
they're going to have. And you know, we know that
our health system is tenuous, We know that it's things
are a bit dicey, right, taking yourselves out of work
for a day can throw that into chaos. And yes,
it makes a political point, But what worries me of
those people that are waiting for operations, that are waiting
(10:11):
for medical procedures, things that will really improve their lives
might be a cataract, it might be something like that,
or a hip replacement. When you disrupt that, you are
playing with people's lives.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
And I think that.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
The public will have a short wick on this because
we are in stressed economic times where a bit grumpy
is a nation, and I reckon that public sympathy will
wear thin.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Nichola Sir Brian Wroches really made me sit up and
listen the day before the strike when he said he
was trying to have meetings and they weren't showing up,
and the right ones weren't tying up. Wanted to have
meetings on a weekend. No, that wasn't going to happen.
He showed to me that he was generally trying to
make it work and he got nothing from the unions.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
I listened to him this morning when he said that.
He thought, no, they've got it out of their system.
Perhaps they could actually start to come to the negotiating table.
I mean what staggered me about the unions. I think
it was the Education Teachers unit, where Palestine was their
number one priority.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
I've just looked down.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I mean, you talk about losing public sympathy, you know,
like the city council has to stay in this lane.
So I have voted against the council having a sister
relationship with Romolah in Palestine. You know, it's like, what
do we know about international affairs, but they're on strike
and that's their number one priority.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Well, it was the way when they got in front
of Erica Stanford and the first thing they.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
Brought up was Palestine was the first item. Light Knackler
just lost. I just thought, no, these they're they need
to be talking about my kid's education and being better
resourced to be able to do that education and to
put Palestine there massive judgment there.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
But I mean the other thing is that salaries in
the private sector have been really suppressed for some years,
and some of the big consultancies have had three restructures
in the past eighteen months, and so it's not just
the public servants. We are in very for called economic
times and I think New Zealand is at a cross
road cross roads, and I just thought that the strike,
(12:14):
especially the bit about Palestine from one section was stupid
and as it happened, the gods dealt it with the weather.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I mean, it definitely was. The other thing that I
said this morning, which I kind of like, is I
want that woman that turned up from wa and went
took her placard and went to Parliament on her own.
I want her teaching my kids. That's who I want.
I mean, she's going to far some grass, she's got something.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
What did the placards say, I don't know. Member it
was it was pro the strike, right, yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Yeah, she was striking, she was, but she went from
Wain went over the hill.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
But I am amused that the people always why why
is it the teachers always strike in term time. Well,
of course we know the answer, but it is kind
of amusing.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Well, I mean, I've got a family member that head.
Wednesday was a teacher's only day, was it? Yeah, Thursday
was the strike. Friday, they're back at school, Monday they're
off and they got back to what's sort of learning?
Is that gonna help? I mean, it's ridiculous, isn't it.
You both looking at me as if I'm saying something
weird right.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
Now to talk about something we're just nodding an agreement.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Okay, Well, remember there's no screen, so people listen. Well,
you can tell people not he doesn't help by cust
what he has my clients. My clients doesn't don't get
help by you, Noddy. Let's talk about transport. Neck. You
have something you're very very up to play with and
an expert on.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Why do you always ask nick first?
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Well, okay, let's talk about bipartisanship. Chris Bishop Nikola, what
do you think about bipartisanship.
Speaker 5 (13:42):
We'll go back, we'll teach that, we'll teach you.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
We'll go back to infrastructure and about it.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Well, actually that but that is also infrastructure because we
have to we have too much short term thinking in
this In this country, we have a three year election
cycle and it is it is really hard for for example,
the construction sector to have confidence when they don't know
or the you know, oil and gas, they don't know
whether next year we have an election, what is going
to happen. I think we have to have more bipartisan
(14:08):
activity or relationships at Parliament.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Do you think that's possible?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Yeah, of course it's possible.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
I mean, I mean we get it with education. Did
they tried to do it?
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Well?
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Yeah, but I mean I do know. They used to
always say in Parliament that you know, you can only
really make friends with people on the other side of
the house because people on your side of the house
are all striving for the same job. And I mean
one of the things that council, which is why I'm
so cheerful about council, is I think this term we
will have bipartisanship, We will have the Council working together.
Not everyone will agree, but Andrew has made it very
clear he wants to work across the aisle the National
(14:40):
Party or National Government. Would you know, National led government
have made it very clear they need to we need
to have bipartisanship to get some of these big infrastructure
projects and other projects and give people confidence that they're
going to be there and you know that the road
is going to be built. It's not going to just
buy the houses and then not build the road.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Can I get permission to ask Neck a question? I
just want to check Nowick. I'm trying to think of
his name and I can't get it off the top
of my head. Did the guy from Potido that was
the infrastructure builder they that build the tunnel in Auckland
and stuff has gone to allow?
Speaker 5 (15:10):
Yeah? Sewan Sweeney.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Sean Sweeney. Now I watched him on Q and A. Yes,
I think I watched it three times. I recorded it
and watched it three times. Yes, he had the answer
to everything. Yes, very very simple. Give it to us
in a couple of lines. Why he thinks this whole bipartisanship,
that's the root of it. And then from there where
do we go?
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Absolutely, look, a lack of bipartisanship on infrastructure costs this
country billions of dollars every year and that is not
an exaggeration. So we have the start stop mentality. So
Nicle mentioned three year parliamentary terms. If there's a change
of government, projects that are funded, designed, ready can just
(15:51):
get canceled in a heartbeat. And I want to give
your listeners an example, a local example, Hayward's Hill State
Highway fifty eight between Paleta Hanui and the Hut Valley.
There have been disruptions on that road for seven or
eight years. We've now got transmission gully, so there's a
greater need and that the new interchange or feeling new interchange.
At the Hayward's end, the last labor government, the ardan
(16:16):
And government came in canceled the safety improvements that were
ready to go. Finally, towards the end of that government
they were ready to go again. National came in and
reprioritized and said, no, you've got to have a smaller
funding envelope. People have lived with disruption there now, the
lack of the lack of being able to move the
minutes that it's added to people's every person's journey along
(16:37):
that costs our economy. That you know, there isn't a
labor or a national way to do safety improvements on
a road. We've got to lock the stuff in for
the longer term. We've got to have it funded. Now
let politicians politicize stuff that you know, whether you know,
let's get well into moving. But even that, there should
have been a way forward.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
And huge millions and millions of dollars just wasted on nothing.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
One hundred million wasted on let's get willing to move
because that was the design that was paying people to
do designs. So do the business case, Well we hadn't.
There was no project because there was no money to
pay for what they were planning. So it's all topsy turvy.
Now when we say by partnership, we say, oh, we
just want them to agree on more. And I think
it's election year next year. And my challenge to your
(17:22):
listeners note is to demand this of political parties. We've
actually got to change the political culture in this country
where we say we don't let them buy us off.
They pick us off and they get the public to react.
Do you want rail?
Speaker 5 (17:36):
Yes or no?
Speaker 4 (17:38):
We've actually got to say that no, No, You are
the politicians, you're the decision makers. You should have the
final say on our behalf on how much things cost.
But we expect you to get it together and build
a consistent infrastructure pipeline and if you don't agree, we're
going to punish you politically. That's the only way to
solve this. And I can tell you this, other countries
(17:59):
do it. Ireland, we had the former Prime Minister of Ireland,
Leo Aredke, talk to our conference Building Nations earlier this year,
and we said to him beforehand, you know, you have
got these two major parties and they're kind of both
sort of center to center right, so we can see
how Ireland has just gone from zero to hero over
fifty years. You know, low corporate tax, right, welcoming in
(18:22):
foreign direct investment. They've really built that country, but they've
educated their population. He said, well, the funny thing is
that shin fein that the center left party support that
low corporate tax, they support foreign direct investment because they've
seen how the nation works. But there's also the public
now expect those policy settings to stay in place, and
we need that. We need that here, We've got it.
(18:42):
We've got to be consistent.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
And I wanted you to go on and say what Sean,
you've got your your contact.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
Well, Sean is now an island.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Yeah, of course, but his idea was we bring basically
I don't He didn't actually say it, but basically has
bring the ministry it works back in, wasn't it. I
mean he wanted to have one group of people that
were going from infrastructure and infrastructure yes, and going part
of that. So we've talked about you go, you go
rot it.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
So we've got to build the capability in the schools
inside government to get us a better deal when negotiating
these things. That's that's that's the Ministry of work side
of things, right.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Kind of like just a group that go from one
project to another project.
Speaker 5 (19:23):
And that's right.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
And the stronger they are, and that the harder they
crunch the commercial deals on behalf of the taxpayer, the
better off New Zealand will be.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
One hundred percent agree, right, Nikola Young and Nick Legget
joining us, we sort of went back to front with
the bipartisanship thing. Now I want to talk about the
new actual transport announcements, which hopefully we'll go hand in hand. Nick.
I'm going to start with it' all right with Nichola
to start with Nick on this because I know he's
had a lot to do with it over the year.
I know you have as well.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
I know that you're you know, I'm not sensitive.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
So okay, what will these two new roads mean for
willing To Will a new tunnel between Mount Victoria and
High Tye tie the second Tunnel and the Patonity two Grenada? Nick,
how will these roading and sort of change willing.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Well I think they will complete our road transport network. Look,
Wellington is held back by the fact that it takes
a long time to get through to the airport of
the hospital. It takes a long way to long time
to get through the city. That congestion adds costs, It's
disruptive and.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
It needs to be.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
We need to be brought into the twenty first century.
Patni to Grenada. That will ease congestion no longer in
the morning twenty five percent of the traffic down the
gorge and up the Gorge.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
On the other side. Obviously, I know where Patoni comes out.
Where does Grenada come out.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
I think the new proposal is it will come in
at Newlands somewhere and there, so that will be. That
will be that east west connection across the region will
be a game changer. It will improve the I hate
the word, but the resilience of our transport network.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
Like so people be able to.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Get round with a bit more surety at peak time
and if.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
There's an accident we can go round another way.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
That's right, and that bipartisan push again. You know, we
need the council lined up, the Wellington City Council lined
up with central government. We need this to be enduring
and enduring project or set of projects because it will
go across governments and we need so we need that.
You know, I'm hoping that a labor mayor and a
labor council can agree with a national government and we
(21:32):
get you know, we get that sense of like this
is going to be a happening thing and we can
all sign up to it. When I was mayor of
put out to a part of what drove me into
to stand in Wellington was when that original Basin flyover
was proposed. I was coming in at six am for
TV interviews at the basin in favor of the base
and flyover. Because no, and this is no disrespect to you,
(21:54):
but no Wellington politician would had the guts to front
and I'm not including on that because she is not.
There are two or three people I'm thinking of, but
they couldn't get a local council or a regional Council
to front that issue. I had to come in from
the sticks and that made me realize the lack of
leadership around these big projects, transport projects because they're regional projects.
(22:18):
And I'll say this as well, put Her to It
and lower Heart both voted in favor of exploring two
weeks ago exploring amalgamation. You know, a local referender. I
think Andrew Little's got an open mind from what I've
heard him say.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
We've got to.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Push this form and they wouldn't have it, wouldn't have
the referendum on our babits.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
Wouldn't have it on it.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
So Wellington would have could have voted on that they
and they lost that opportunity. So we've got to get
on the same page. It's vital for the region we
talk about. We all know Wellington is at the bottom
of a very long and sow economic cycle. My view
is that public sector cuts are not the reason for that.
They're just another kick another But you know, our population
(22:58):
in Wellington City didn't grow at the last census, Train
shrank the only place in the country that is a
symbol of a really sick Wellington city. We need these
infrastructure projects to boost us. And for those people saying
we need public transport as well, yes we do, but
roading a roads can take buses. But it is about
(23:19):
separating the national traffic on State Highway One with the
local traffic. And I'd like to see some trenching involved
so we can actually, you know, have a proper living
city above these roads.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Nikola, I will let you have a shape.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
So the Marnt Victoria Tunnel is close to my heart
because of course I live on Mark Victoria and I
represent the Lampton Ward, but I am a Wellington City
councilor and signed an oath to put Wellington first. I
feel very strongly about the Mont Victoria Tunnel. My father
firstod for Parliament for Miramar in nineteen sixty three and
campaigned on a second Mont Victoria tunnel nineteen sixty three,
(23:55):
and we still haven't got one for various reasons. I
know that there are some people in Mount Victoria, at
the southern end of Mark Victoria who'll were very opposed
to it. Yes, I think the houses in Patterson Street
will be demolished, but they have been owned by the
government since sixties, that's right. I mean they have been
rentals for sixties and and I just can't wait for
that tunnel to come through. It will be transformational. And
(24:17):
I feel sorry for people, well sorry for people in
the Eastern Suburbs, because it's as if you're on an
island where you can only get across when the tigers
and all the tighter is up. Because I won't go
to the Eastern Suburbs, for example, on a Saturday, I
won't go near the Eastern Suburbs because the traffic as
it is. And Nick rang me the other day because
we do talk occasionally. He was coming in from the
airport and he said, it's going to take me forty
(24:39):
five minutes to get home.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Crazy, that's that Saturday thing. I was laughing because I
so often people say to me, well, you don't work
on a Saturday, Let's have brunch on Saturday in town.
I go, Do I really want to spend that much
time driving into town.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
On Saturday mornings. I will only do things where I
can walk because the traffic is dreadful.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
And you think, like kids sport, We've got a lot
of family with similar age kids to us in the
Eastern Suburbs. It literally cuts you off.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Yeah you can't, Okay, well we all agree it's a must,
and we all agree that those people with your friends
from Mount Victor drank the cheap champagne that I still
got the photo of that celebrated stopping the last one.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
They probably didn't vote for me, ever, Nick.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Can I just say one last thing? Those houses that
Nichola mentioned that have been owned by the government since
the sixties, does that not indicate that how long it
takes to get these things through.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
If we do this stuff faster, we can.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
Have the benefits built quicker and everybody will enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
The word again, by pass and resilience a.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Word, Nikola Young and Nick Leggett rodo Nikola, what are
you smiling? It?
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Well, I'm smiling at the look on your face. You
look like the chest out of cat.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Well, it's because I've got to ask you about council things.
Can I be as specific as say, how's it going well?
Speaker 2 (26:02):
And I will give you some very specific answers. It
is fantastic, It has it is trans It has been
transformed because we have an adult as the mayor who
knows what the job involves, and we also have a
new chief executive. I think the two of them will
be a terrific partnership. The atmospheric council is totally different.
(26:23):
I used to go in there with a feeling of
sort of dread in my stomach. I don't anymore when
I've been in and out quite a few times. It's
very collegial. I think it's going to be a totally
different council and thank god, I mean because at large,
you know, I think we will always I mean, Andrew
has made his expectations very clear. At the stage, we
(26:44):
don't know what committee structure we're going to have. We
don't know anyone's roles.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Just so you don't even know who's deputy me. You
must have someone must be having a convid. Would you
be so so enthusiastic if you're not going to be
deputy here.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
I am delighted to be re elected as a councilor
to represent Lampton Ward. I stood and I have said
I will do whatever is right for well acton and
the mayor can make whatever decisions he wants, whatever he does.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
When's it're all going to come out?
Speaker 2 (27:10):
I think on Wednesday, I think at the we have
our first council meeting when he would announce the structure
and things. But it's just.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Who decides on it. Does he decide on everything. He
decides who's in chairs, who's on positions. Everything he doesn't get,
You don't get, and no one on council gets to
decide or have a vote or anything on any of that.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Well, if he puts in it a f he appoints
a deputy mayor that the council don't like or don't want.
If they have a majority, they can overturn that.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Okay, But there are other positions like this. Who sits
on the airport board for a start, he decides.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
It, Yes, yes, but he'll be talking to the officers
as well. But it's just you know, I have I
said to Andrew. I had my one on one with
him last Friday. I was the last one because my
surname begins with a Y. And I said to him,
I've only been in this office, the mayor's office once
in the past three years. I've had more conversations with
Andrew in the first three days after the elections than
(28:01):
I had with the former mayor in three years. It
has transformed and there's a real determination by all sides,
the Greens, Labor, the Independence that we want to make
this work and we want to get the city moving.
And I'm feeling very optimistic. I am an optimist, but
I am feeling there's got.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
To be a couple of there's got to be I'm
looking at Nick as I say, this has got to
be a couple. What do we what do we say
renegade in that council?
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Well, I won't be one of them.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
Well they didn't say there wasn't going to be renegades,
was it.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Look I think that for for well considy to function, well,
they've got to be able to disagree on issues that
they disagree on, you know, whether they're philosophical or just
practical disagreements. But then they've got to come back together.
They've got to come back together and govern the city
in a collegial and cohesive way. And I think that's possible.
(28:53):
I think Andrew Little, judging by what Nichola is saying,
but also looking at his past experience, he's got he's
got the ability to bring that together. So you do
want them to disagree. It's not a come by our session,
but you actually the function and the toxicity that was
there previously, you know it was was I mean, it
was it was a clear reason why Wellington wasn't able
(29:15):
to get back on only one change.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
No, there's quite a few changes with the counselors. We've
got few.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
There might be the only one new counselor, isn't it
no sex? Sex? Is it the other day? It is
only one?
Speaker 5 (29:25):
You know, we know there's one.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
There's one who there's only one who lost their seat,
the one that lost it. Yeah. But the thing is
that one of the things that we need to do,
and I have spoken to the mayor about this, is
spend more time as counselors together. So we had none
of that in the last training, other than one lunch
where we will pay for ourselves. So you know, we
have to be we have to get to know each other.
(29:49):
We have to work together, and that includes occasionally having
cups of coffee together or even dare I say it,
a glass of wine.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Is I'm gonna I'm gonna. I'm going to go to
an ad break before I say it. But there's one
name that I want to ask you about because I
can't see her fitting into anywhere and that and that
all and in that council. But I'll ask you during
an air break. Then I don't lose my.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Job the Friday facet.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Okay, okay, Nikola, You'll be moaning or mourning that I
haven't been coming to you first, and I just comment, well,
I mean, what's the difference between a comment and a moan.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Tone of voice? Look on my face, you moaning or mourning?
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Right, give me your hots and dots.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
So well, I was going to say my hot is
the great vibe at the Wellington City Council, but we've
kind of covered that. But I would say I am
really optimistic about the future of the city, not just
the council. I think we've been through We're in the
bottom of the trough and I think next year we're
going to have the library will be opened. I think
there are new restaurants willing to be opened. I think
(31:00):
we have turned the corner. It is early days and
I have said I'm an optimist. But the other thing
is totally nothing to do politics. On my deck, I
have deck, I have a Zeronima, a poor Knight's lily,
and it has the most it's an endangered plant, it
has the most amazing red shoot stamens. I've got about
thirty of them out and every day I'm getting two
(31:22):
or three two sitting two feet from my window. It
is fabulous, isn't that That's unexpected from me?
Speaker 4 (31:29):
Hard to beat that one, Nick, Yeah, well I won't.
My hot as actually was. We've covered it and that's
actually the tunnel announcements. I think that that will be
superb for Wellington.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
I hope there are no dead bodies in this one.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
Didn't you just say she was an optimist.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
I'm just thinking about the history, the history.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Yes, why not?
Speaker 4 (31:54):
Is Tippati Mardi's behavior burning the legislation in front of
Parliament this week. I've got no problem with parties pushing
the boundaries. I've got no I think that's healthy for democracy.
But when they seem to want undermine when to party,
Marty seems to want to undermine the sort of the
very fabric of our constitutional and democratic arrangements, to me,
(32:15):
it's sort of calls into question. They're you know, that
they're just performing for an audience rather than actually trying
to help govern the country or at least contribute to
the parliament. And I do think that's got I think
that's that's a problem for us. And I want to
see them taking part more and getting more on the
page and then healthily disagreeing.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Be not just a protest movement. Correct, that's what it is. Approach.
Speaker 4 (32:40):
There are too many activists I think often that that
get elected to things these days and often may find well,
I don't know what to do because I actually might
be responsible for something.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
And so we do. You know, you do have to.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Activists are great, but often not in positions where a
power to have.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
To add Nick Legget Nikolae Young, thank you both very
much for coming and have a glorious weekend. Long weekend
and holiday. Now it's hardly a holiday. I'm shifting officers.
I'm having a week off.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
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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