July 1, 2026 • 31 mins
Wellington City Mayor Andrew Little joins Nick Mills in the studio for the July edition of his monthly catch up.
Mayor Little takes Nick's and callers questions for the hour on the latest in the capital.
They hit the top stories of the week including the council's public defiance of move on orders, solutions to our homeless problem and how we can get the city looking and feeling good again.
Then onto the three advisory groups put together by the council to improve the city. Why did the Mayor go back on his opinion he was against forming these boards? And Nick asks how the success will be measured.
And Tiaki Wai makes it to day 2. How has the transition gone and what does Wellington have in store with our new water entity.
Plus, Nick and the Mayor celebrate the 3 Michelin stars Wellington businesses were awarded this week.
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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 said, b.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I just want to sit there and listen to that music.
So thats one into me and Andrew Little. He was
not in his head. He's like that nice bit of Beges.
It takes your back, takes us all back to a
bit of Bege's. Who doesn't love a little bit of Beeches.
Let's start with good morning and welcome by the way,
how are you doing. I'm good, thanks Nick you yeah, yeah,
I'm good now apart from turning the wrong mic on,
I'm really good. Ah gosh. Let's start with some good
(00:38):
news with well into me and Andrew Little. Let's start
with Mitchellan Stars. I'm probably saying that wrong. Some of
our residants three were warded stars. A whole lot more
awarded Good Mornings.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah yeah, what are your thoughts? I know, great, it's
fantastic and it does in the highlights. I think, what
what does the real strength of Wellington, which is our
hospitality sector. And of the three restaurants that got them,
I've been to one of them, Logan Brown. I haven't
been to Ortaga for Shek and I haven't been to Jano.
But you know, we're also the home of the Look
calld On Blue Cooking School, so we've got a real
(01:14):
sort of network here of producing good food and the
talent that produces good food as well. So I think
it was great. I think it was a great thing
for willing.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
To Will it make any difference?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
I think it is because you know, people people coming
from out of town, particularly if they come up of
conferences and all that sort of stuff, they want good
places to go and eat. So here's now some solid
recommendations and for restaurants that might not have got a
star but got the other recommendations from Michelin, that's pretty
good stuff too. So there were restaurants or Hummingburg got that.
(01:45):
So this is all good stuff that just raises the
profile of hospitality in Willington.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
And can I say that for like I mean, I'm
personally that for us to get that award was like
us winning an Oscar. I mean it was a pretty
big thing because we wanted to be a lot of
restaurants don't actually want the stars and don't want to
be fine Dincy, fine dining or fancy, just want to
be good restaurants. We're good places to go. So they
were rewarded in the michellands, weren't they.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
And that's got yeah, and there's got You're right, people
Michelin star. They orderatedly think well that's going to be
expensive week, and we go. We just want to, you know,
a reason to cross meal and a nice place to go.
So for those that got the the good morns, I
think they call.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
It is that's good.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
That's that's an amazing achievement too, and it's a recommendation
for those places.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
So I think I think Willington's done well right.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Does bring our funk back a little bit.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
There's a lot that's helping to bring our funk back.
I think we are getting we're climbing our way out
of the funk.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Okay, let's get onto some serious stuff. Last week and
someone would have reported to you back to you that
I was pretty upset about the council decision to go
against the government and oppose the new laws or the
new ideas of moving people on that are living on
the streets. Now you know, I'm going to say it
(03:00):
to your face, not behind your back. I mean that
disappoints me because we've we've got rid of the Golden Isle,
and we've got a plan to get everything cleaned up
and tidied up. The major problem that we have of
that as people on the streets, and you are basically
saying snubbing your nose at the government and saying, no,
that's all right, you stay there.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
No, I'm not saying that at all, and the opposite
is true. That's why we've had a city safety team
in place for the best part of a year. The
previous council set that up. It works with the likes
of Downtown City Ministry and the Wilton City Mission because
a lot of these people they there's a reason why
they're there. The lives have collapse, they've got other issues
going on, and actually what they if we're going to
(03:39):
get them off the street, they've got to have somewhere
to go, and most of them need.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
A bit of help.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
So the councilors putting in place strategies and services to
do that. It's an uphill battle, I'll give you that.
Move on orders don't do any of that. Move on
orders are a simple solution. It gives the person a notice,
tells them don't come back here again, or you're committing
a criminal offense. But what do they do, where do
they go? How do they you know, where do they
(04:04):
meant to go to? Where they meant to move on to.
That's the inadequacy of that policy. So it's not about
not addressing the problem of rough sleepers and the homeless.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
We're doing our back.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
But the worst thing is not just the move on orders,
and the point we were making at the council meeting
a couple of weeks ago is the government's also proposing
a law change to define course services for counsels, one
of which would not include the work we're trying to
do to deal with rough sleepers and the homeless. So
we're kind of got a double bind. Under the law
they want to pass, we won't be able to do anything.
(04:36):
And then the only result you got has left the
police to give a notice to somebody sleeping on a
park bench, but with no solution to the problem that
it actually exists.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
This is the problem.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
We're going to answer me this question Friday, last Friday.
You will remember, because you'll probably be sitting in your
office by the red button, about to push the emergency
button and close everything off again because pretty damn stormy
nine meter waves, pretty horrible around town. I had to
walk through town at three o'clock on that particular Friday,
not one person on the street. So that tells me
(05:07):
they have got somewhere else to live. Isn't this the issue?
Speaker 3 (05:11):
I think they find places to shelter. It is true,
and there are places that people can go, you know,
to get a meal and those sorts of things, and
they will go there, you know, wanting to see the
mission's got their cafe. There's other there's other kind of
places where where people can get a meal or a
cheap meal and get that sort of help. So yep,
they don't come out. They don't. They won't.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
They won't the rain, but they will find places to shelter.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Okay, surely, then the moving on law change would be, Look,
it's a it's a nice night, we still don't want
you loitering on the city. Move on. They've got somewhere
else to go, because clearly when it rains, they've got
somewhere else to go. So you're not doing them any disservice.
You're helping them where they've got to go.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
I mean the places where people shelter will be places
where they can get cover. I mean still will still
be kind of open air in a sense, they won't
be rained on, they'll be I mean that's the point.
It doesn't fix the fundamental problem. So most of the people,
if they want a house, but they've got to have
other things as well, if they've got addiction problems, mental
(06:16):
health problems, other health issues. And I remember dealing with
a guy who was a rough sleeper. It was a
young guy. He was he had been a construction worker,
had an accident at work, couldn't work, acc cut him off.
He didn't know how to deal it. He just didn't
know how to deal with it. He lost his flat,
he found himself on the street. He was twenty one
years old. He just didn't know how to deal with
(06:36):
the problem. Now we've got somebody to work alongside him.
God is acc beck. He got some accommodation back, got
his health issues sorted out, and he was back on
the straight and narrow. It's that sort of stuff that happens.
These people need help, not told go somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I don't think there's anyone in New Zealand that doesn't
love that story and doesn't agree with you that's the
way to do it. But are you going to do
anything to prevent what's going on now, because it's not
going to get better by having these meetings and having
these discussions. What's going to help? How are you going
to help those other people?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
It's not doing meetings. What we did so we fund
the Downtown City Ministry. They had people who go out
every day making personal contact with the people in the street.
So what is you know, what are your plans, what
are you doing?
Speaker 4 (07:19):
What do you need? What help do you need? Now?
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Slowly those people pick up that help. Slowly they get
the help that they need, and we find and they
and the city council staff who are involved in as
well try to find them housing.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
So that is the work.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
But no, you know, you deal with one sort of
cohort people over a period of sort of a few months,
and others come to take their place. I have to
tell you what I'm told is Wellington's got a reputation
of if you need if you've got problems and you
don't have a roof of your head, go to Wellington
because eventually that's where you'll get the help because the
government services aren't there. They're not getting it from the government.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Because we've also got five thousand million social houses in
the government Wellington City Council. Then you've got that. We've
got it. Well, we've got more than anywhere else. Population
take a short break and be back Willington Me Andrew Little,
he will take your core. Trevor, Good morning, how Andrew?
Speaker 4 (08:10):
Yeah, good morning Trevor.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (08:12):
Mate. I've got to I like your style of coming
on the radio and answering questions. It's the style that
I respect.
Speaker 7 (08:20):
I hope you keep it up.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
A couple of things. I've got a couple of things
that's worth billions of dollars to our city. Just touched
on it. Why is Wellington And you can correct me
if I'm wrong. I don't know all the integrity about
things and that, but why is Wellington in the next
ten years going to spend a billion dollars on social
housing when cities like christ Church and Auckland don't. And
(08:43):
the other thing really annoys me is why don't government
buildings pay rates? I mean, are they going to get
the water free? You know, all of us people and
Welled are freaking out about how we're paying for water.
Are government buildings that use water?
Speaker 7 (08:57):
Are they going to pay any money?
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
So on your second question, Trevor. Yes, they will. On
the rates issue. That's a question that actually the Council
has given me and mandate to lobby governed about because
I think they should do. On your first question, the
budget for their social housing upgrade is about five hundred
million dollars over a ten year period because we have
got a whole lot of social housing they need upgrading.
This was a deal done back in two thousand and
(09:21):
seven or two thousand and eight and we just haven't
properly honored it and we have to. Christ just does have.
Christrich has more social housing than we do. One of
the things we're arguing for government for us to get
what these they call these IRS places, income related rent
subsidy places.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Christich has way more than we do.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
We want some more because that helps pay the cost
of that and reduces the amount that you know, rate
payers have to pay to maintain those houses.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
So we are.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Working on that problem, but it is going to take
a bit of time.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
To get there.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yeah, it's on population though, based and on population we
have more, yes, yes, possibly yes. The research differently is yes.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Well historically because Wellington we've had social housing for decades
and decads.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Deal run out with the government. I mean, it's twenty
thirty four.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
I think, oh.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Still got a long hand. I mean, is it have
you contemplated sitting down with the government and trying to
do a deal. Why wouldn't it make just I mean,
I know this is off topics slightly, but it infuriates
me that we have kind of aura and well into
social housing. Why wouldn't we just have one group looking
after those And everybody knows we need to have them.
No one's trying to debate that, but why do the
(10:32):
rate payers have to pay for it?
Speaker 3 (10:34):
So yeah, so the we have them and we've got
to look after it, We've got to fix them. I
think the government assumes that because Wellington we're gonna have
some so kind of order. Doesn't have as many houses
in Wellington as there might in other places.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I've got a quick answer that we just sell on
the ones we've.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Got, but they don't want them. This is the whole thing.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
But that's what I'm saying, is that a negotiation, if
you had.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
To go back to point we have There's been various
variations done to the deal that was done back in
those two thousand and seven or two thousand and eight
whenever it was, and that's why it's been pushed out
and pushed out. But we are also working about how
we can get it done more cost effectively. I think
the changes in the earthquake strengthening rules will make a difference.
But actually there's a project management issue and we've got
(11:15):
some great counselors on board now. Counselor Andrew Corompton is
excellent on this stuff and she's going to work with
officers to make sure we've got good project management because
we think we can dry some cost out of that
budget to get those houses fixed up.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
I think everybody knows you could, because if it's welling
from city council ringing to get something fixed, it's going
to be double the.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Price, isn't it. You might know something that I don't,
but it feels like it sometimes.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Well, I mean I've worked with big organizations in leasing
little areas and can you fix this glass up? Who's
it for?
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Well?
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Into the airport?
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (11:46):
You know?
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Seven thousand dollars for me personally my little business, you know,
three thy five hundred. I mean we know how it works.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
Yeah, I think that's right.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Well, it seems to me that that's what happened because
that's what I see.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Right, Can we do anything about that?
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Well, funny, We've in the process of negotiating some requirements
for the chief executive and one of them is that
every staff member who holds a budget or negotiates a
contract is going to have training and cost management, cost
control and good negotiating to get a good deal.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Well, we've seen that with a couple of things, haven't
we The opening of the library and the website. Hopefully
it's all changing, Martin.
Speaker 8 (12:23):
You've got a question for one good morning, Andrew and
a lot over the last year, Wells said zero population
growth now and Wellmon had the largest net migration loss
in the country. Organ had a growth and question sad one,
what are your plans to reverse this?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So, yeah, this goes to the heart of the question.
So making the city more affordable. That's why we've got
to get rates under control. That's why we've now got
the last rates increase we've had in about six years.
But it's also the other stuff. Even at a time
of public service cuts, we've got a whole bunch of
other industries that are really strong. Our tech industry is
really good, creative sector is really good. So we're talking
those sorts of things up. That's why we've got those
(13:04):
business advisory groups now set out that's going to help
the council put together some strategies on that. We've been
very clear about what the taskers get there and put
into a five year plan that's going to help us
grow the population, grow the economy, and do that stuff
that makes a difference, but also making this city more
appealing and attractive. So that's why getting the Golden mar
project put aside and doing stuff that is achievable and
(13:27):
doable and practical, like fixing up Courtney Place, that's the
sort of stuff that makes the city more attractive and
attracts people here.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Unfortunately, no matter what you do with Courtney Place, until
you get the street people off that street, it's not
going to improve.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Understand you.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
You know that as well as I do.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
I don't know, and look, I'm happy to say it's
several more times. But that's why we have our SETI
Safety Group, whose job it is to make sure that
we're addressing that issue and we're continuing to do that.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Before the election, when we had a chat, I asked
you whether you were going to have some advisory groups
set up when you take over.
Speaker 7 (14:01):
I E.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
What how Torri far Noh, your predecessor did you said
to me, No, I'm the person that if I've got
an issue or I've got something to do, I'm going
to pick up the phone and I'm going to ring
the person and get their advice. I'm going to be
hands on. Hasn't taken you long to go to revert
back to Tory's plan of a business advisory panel? Why?
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
So that's after talking to a lot of people and
also having you know, Carl Tiefenbaker counselor Carl tiffen Barker,
who's you know. I gave him the job of cheering
our Economic Development subcommittee. The word we got from a
whole bunch of organizations and interests was actually, people do
want to have it and put they want to have
a way to engage with the mayor and.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Counselors and council offices.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
And actually the best way to do that is through
advisory groups. But what is different as we've we've defined
what the task is and we've broken it down into
three sort of core sectors or arrange of sectors, so
it's not one group trying to advise on all sorts
of things, which I think was the problem last time.
And then they're job is to contribute to help put
(15:07):
together a five year plan to get things moving, to
get things going, so it's quite well defined task that
they've got. I think that will make a difference was
what was doneing was the level of interest we had
from people who wanted to be part of those groups
and have their input. So to be up to myself
and Carl to manage and integrate and get that stuff
going and making sure that what we hear from those
(15:30):
people in those groups is making a difference to the
plans that council offices put.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
To be honest, looking at that group, they're all people
that are praising your mayoralty, your counsel. They're all sympathy,
so they want to come in and make things better.
Why would we not get some of some people that
are actually gone up against the council and argued that
there's things that could be done better. Why didn't you
look for some of those people in the groups instead
(15:55):
of people that you know when we spoke to in
Douglas yesterday the day before, I mean very very praising
of your your Mayoralty and the council all praising about
Willington and that's fantastic. He's a very respected, very respected
Warmington businessman. But why have we not got some of
the anti stuff?
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Well, the Carl was chiefly responsible for putting the thing
to it.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
I left him to do it.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
We agreed we should have the group advisory groups, we
should break it down to the three categories. I left
him to run the process with council offices. He basically
came to me literally, you know, last week before, you know,
as we're putting the announcement together, I'd cast my eye
of the list. I think I changed one one thing and.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
That was it.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Did you get to find a low k on all them?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I just said there was one person I thought should
be editing, and that that person was editing, and that
was it. Because actually Karl is probably going to work
with them the most and the closest.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
I'll come out.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
I'll be involved in meetings, and for me, it's about offense.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Someone my name was put there, would you say, oh, no,
he's asking the wrong questions. He's not the right guy
to be on that sort of pat well, because there's
no one there that I've seen actually stand up to
Wellington City gain not this is nothing again your counsel,
but have actually stood up to the council and said,
you know what we need to do this, we need
to do that. They are all people from what I
(17:20):
understand and see, and the ones that I know that
are all doing social media with you, being seen in
social media with you, Miles will be holding hands with you.
They're your people.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
OK, I wouldn't describe them as that. I don't think
they would describe them as it. And as I say,
my role in the recruitment of them was pretty minimal.
It was pretty much at the very end of the
process and the only contribution I made was to suggest
one more person be added to one of the committees
or the advisory groups and that was it.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
So, yeah, how will you measure the success of this group?
Speaker 3 (17:54):
I think that, you know, after the first a couple
of meetings, we actually got some substantial ideas that we're
weaving into a plan. I think probably within six months
we start to shape up what the plans look like.
They're going to be five year plans, but very you know,
very clear, measurable, specific things that we that they want
us to do, that they will support us to do
(18:14):
and that we will get on and do so meetings already.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Has there been meetings already?
Speaker 4 (18:19):
No, they'll start through shortly.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Okay, So when I come when in our six months
check up after this, you'll be able to say, well,
this group suggested we did this, and I think when.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
We're talking around in our pre Christmas session, I'll have
something material to report.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Fabulous, Thank you, Wellington Mayor Andrew Little with us in
the studio. Someone say, just texting Andrew and asked, Wellington
needs to have a real international airport. Christ Church and
Auckland are growing, Wellington is not. The city's geography will
always inhabit its growth unless we have some sort of
you know, increase in that an airport north of the
city will cause population and business growth in the greater
(18:58):
Wellington area. What are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Yeah, I suggesting we're sure to having another airport somewhere else.
Not quite sure what went into the airport has done recently.
They've installed this new technology ems technology. I don't notice
what the econom stands for, but what it means is
that larger aircraft can now land safely at Winnington and
so the airport is actively recruiting airlines from Asia.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
The aim is to get you know, direct link.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Are we're getting anywhere that you're on that board, so
you're in discussions all the time, get anyway that's only
actively involved.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
I mean, when the company's got something to say, they
have to announce it through the stock exchange and all
that sort of stuff. But there's definitely actively engaged in
trying to get airlines to come here. As I understand it,
there's a reasonable degree of interest. So I'm confident they
will pull something together and the corresponds right. That sort
of thing will make a huge difference the rumors. I'm
hearing the rumors, and I know you've got to be
(19:54):
very careful on this. And I was told many years
ago after Singapore Airlines left that they had an arrangement
to come back when things were right. The new stuff
on the runway would enable a flight to land to
fly from Wellington to Singapore non stop. Is that am
I am? I know that that's that's correct? Absolutely yes.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
So is that one that the negotiating with.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Yeah, I think there's a range of uh, there's a
range of ports that began to have links.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
With and specifically Singapore. The direct flights Wellington Singapore. Is
that something that's going to be announced shortly.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I don't think it's going to be announced shortly. It
is they're actively talking to airlines about those sorts of links,
and that will include link with Singapore as well.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Right, that's pretty exciting if that happens.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
Oh yeah, huge difference.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Yes, a potential to change our city significantly. Yeah yeah, yeah,
so that must excite you.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Absolutely, anything like that, anything like that is just gives
me course, I hope.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Okay, John, you've got a question for one into Meandrew.
Speaker 7 (20:55):
Little, Hi, good morning. I've got an observation and a question.
The first observation is I noticed when I drive through
town quite often now that there are people scraping off
residue stickers and posters and generally trying to clean up
Wellington CBD. So just to say that, I really like
(21:17):
to see that. It's good because there's nothing worse than
having a messy city with all these stickers and posters
and goodness knows what. So whoever's made that conscious decision,
it's a really good decision.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
Thanks.
Speaker 7 (21:29):
The second one is that you know, there's a lot
of talk about using Mari language or naming buildings with
Mari and English. I just wonder, you know, with the
parking meters there's an English option and Mari option. Are
you monitoring the percentage of people using Mari versus English?
(21:55):
And would that not be quite compelling to say, hey,
look we've got the right decition to use Mari names
versus English. Now, I just wonder if anyone's collating that
and being able to use that in a useful manner
to stop all the chit chatter around it.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
That's a good point. Actually, I'm not sure, but I
can certainly find out for you. It's a good It's
a good point to raise, because yeah, there are those
two options there.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
So let me look.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Let me take that away and see if I can
get some information back, at least to Nick.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Is it is it the first now? And I don't
know this, but I do get a lot of stuff
on the on the text machine about it is the
first option in today and then it goes to English?
Is that right? Or is it could be either? I mean,
I'm not sure. I just wanted to it can be either.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
I mean, I think the council past a strategy A
couple of years or a few years ago about increasing
the use of todomari and names and all that sort
of stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
It's got to be right.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
But preference is your preference English first, today, oh second,
or Today first, English second.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
I'm mainly an English speaker, so I look, and it's
easier to remember English names, so I tend to go
for that. But I think it's helpful to have to
the names and stuff. I think, you know, go to
go to you go to Wales, and it's all it's
all bilingual.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
You know.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
You see the signs that Welsh Gaelic. I can't read it,
can't pronounce it, so I go to the English name,
and I imagine for a lot of people that might
be the same with today.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Mind, I don't think that many people would argue with you.
I think if we had a council stance that it's
English first, today, oh second. I've walked past your new
office a couple of times, and all of your signage
and all of your stuff, and today I wouldn't know
where what's what, and it's no English under it.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
Yeah, and and the.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Other thing that's that we know that you know, as
younger generations are coming through, more new Zealanders of all
sorts of.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Origins are are.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Speaking to the increasingly. So it's about reflecting that that
that says the indigenous language of the country and we
should be comfortable with it.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Once again, no question that it should be involved. But
it's whether we can people that don't understand today I
can see that that's a toilet, or that's a meeting room,
or that's where you get to see the mayor.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Yeah, but I think, you know, increasingly we are weaving
to the words cooper into our wild. You know, we
talk about Father Pacu. Now we talk about cord Or,
we talk about who he You know, those words commonly
used words are creeping their way into just normal usage
for all language.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
What's your today?
Speaker 3 (24:18):
I like it's limited. I mean I get exposed to
a lot and so I pick up words. I can
hear a lot more than I can speak, that's for sure.
Good on you, Yeah, good on you for trying. Yeah,
mine's terrible.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
I'm at that. Good morning, Peter.
Speaker 5 (24:32):
Good morning. I have two quick questions. One is the
more treatment plant supposedly to be in good working condition
before it's turned over to the New Water entity. So
my question there is why is it being turned over.
Check in question is with all the council rates and
(24:53):
the water reads, what happens for the people looking at afford.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
So on the first question about my point, Peter, a
special deal was done, but that that plant would transfer
on it as as were as basis. But it's okay
because the agreement also includes the agreement about the remediation plan,
which is well underway and the money for that, which
Wellington Water already had because they'd underspent money that Wellington
(25:18):
City Council had given them previously. For my point, that
will just transfer to Tiaki Pi, so that work will
carry on and we're on target to get that fixed
and back up and running as quickly as possible. On
the question about rates and water rates and affordability, look
that as a big that as a big question for
a lot of people and that's why we're doing our
best to keep the council rates down and we've got
(25:40):
still work to do and we're carrying on doing that.
Water rates, I know Tiaki Way have said that in
ten years time there'd be quite a significant increase in
water costs. It's my job, along with counselors right around
the region, to keep the pressure on Tiaqui why to
make sure that whatever water charges they impose are reasonable,
and we'll do that. It's why I'm also very keen
for the Commers Commission to get the power to regulate
(26:02):
those prices, because that's probably going to be the most
effective way to do that. But look, I get the
point you're making, and it's the job of all of
us to make sure that, you know, we make the
city and the region affordable.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Thanks Peter for that question, because it was my next
question on my list. How things changed? I mean, you've
had one day now with no Tiaki. Why how things
changed and how do you feel?
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Yeah, look, the sort of handover happened, not many people
would have noticed it. We're still I mean, one of
the transitional thing is, you know, people got problems with
their water. Those queries are still coming into council. It's
probably the right thing to do at this point, but
there'll be a slow you know, we've now got people
within Tiaki. Why we can refer queer as too from
people who have got problems with their water or the
(26:45):
waste water or whatever. But look, they are taking over.
We've got our Partners Committee, which is the committee representing
all the councils who are owners of Tiaki Why, will
continue to use that as our basis to influence the
way Tiaki Why operates and give them feedback. I mean,
so it's good to give counselors. You know, your experience
(27:07):
is about Tiaki Why, so we can relate that back
to the directors and the and the senior managers. But
that's now all underway. So it's Tiaki Why is in
charge of water now.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
A couple of people that I respect, that of Wellington.
You know, Wellingtonians have said to me, why doesn't Andrew
Little want to agree to an independent commissioner, independent monitor
or watchdog? And the perfect person that these two people
told me was obviously Tim Brown with his infraterrail background,
and he wants to do it, and he's passionate about it.
(27:39):
Why wouldn't the council back something like that.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Well, the last council back.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
They agreed that the council should support this consumer advocacy group,
they just didn't approve any money for it. Tim tells
me it needs one and a half million dollars. So
a couple of things that consumer advocacy group, you know,
I would play an important role. It'll be a voice,
but that's all it would do. And actually what we
need is somebody with a bit of grunt and a
bit of power to exercise some regulation and control.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Surely, that's surely, that's exactly sorry they're interrupted, that's I'm passionate,
you know. Surely that's exactly what we need is just
somebody to get in underneath their skin and say, how
can you be charging that for water meters when I
know I can get water meters cheap. Surely we just
want to have that advocacy group out there pushing for
us the rate pays, and.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
So that's why we've got the partners Committee. But actually
what in one Inton City Council we've set up as
a subgroup of counselors who are passionate about it, equally
as passionate as you to do it, to provide exactly
that scrutiny and to be a channel for water users,
residents and rate paths to channel their issues and so
on through as well. The other thing too is what
(28:47):
sits on the horizon is the possibility. Now I suspect
the probability of amalgamation. So if the councilors who are
owners of tiaqua all come together. Actually, well then will
actually control Chiaquay. So the dynamic changes completely. So whereas
nobody's got any controlling interest or Vito right, that changes
in amalgamation. So we have an opportunity then, I think
(29:11):
to exercise much greater scrutiny and actually have a bit
of control, particularly over pricing things as that changes.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Someone's just texting and I've got the stats in front
of me. Figures supplied by TIAQII show Wellington City Council
charged itself And this is a text question. Twelve million
dollars for in water asset rates in the last financial year,
thirty point nine million this year, then thirty one point
eight million from July, the first one hundred and sixty
(29:38):
five percent increase over two years. How do you even
be able to stay with a straight face when your
sea figures like that.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
Yeah, I'm not quite sure what those figures relate to.
It is true that Tiaki Way will pay rates for
the for land that they occupy that they're running water
services from. Look, I don't have that information to.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Huge article on paper. We've talked about it. I mean
it's there, it's not you know.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
Yeah, look, I don't have any other comment to say that.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
I acknowledge it. Tiaku Why will be paying rates, but.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
I mean we're not so concerned about the rates. I
mean yours went from twelve million when you're looking after it,
to thirty million to thirty one million. Thirty one point
eight million. I mean that's a hell of a big increase.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Yeah, yes it is. And you know what what Wellington
City Council has contributed to Tiaku Why is all of
its revenue, all of its air sets and so on
as well. So then so Tiaku Why becomes another commercial
operator that has got to pay rates like everybody else.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
We're not yes, we understand that, but it's the rate
of increase that you've decided to put on well into
me Andrew little one quick question to finish some thanks
for coming in All black tests. Not selling still four
thousand tickets a little bit disappointing.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Yeah, I mean you.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Think in all X test typically sells out. This is
the game against Italy. It'll not saying it's the necessarily
one of the big contenders. I mean, and it's a
thirty five thousand seat stadium, so if they sold thirty
one thousand seats four thousand left to go. I'm confident
they will. But you know we can. We can fill
that stadium when we need to, as we did with
the Super fifteen Final, which was great. But look, I'm
(31:24):
confident the Warriors and the Worries too. Yeah, so we
can't be blind. We as a city can't be blake.
People love, people love coming, people love going to that stadium.
It's interesting the feedback after the Super fifteen game of
people talk about that stadium, they love going there.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Yeah, so you reckon it'll be a sellout. I'm confident
they will. I'll pull you up on that next week. Thanks,
thanks very much, really appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
Now.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Wanting to Meandrew Little, Really appreciate him taking time out
of his very busy schedule to come here and get
questioned by you and great question by me.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
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.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I just want to sit there and listen to that music.
So thats one into me and Andrew Little. He was
not in his head. He's like that nice bit of Beges.
It takes your back, takes us all back to a
bit of Bege's. Who doesn't love a little bit of Beeches.
Let's start with good morning and welcome by the way,
how are you doing. I'm good, thanks Nick you yeah, yeah,
I'm good now apart from turning the wrong mic on,
I'm really good. Ah gosh. Let's start with some good
(00:38):
news with well into me and Andrew Little. Let's start
with Mitchellan Stars. I'm probably saying that wrong. Some of
our residants three were warded stars. A whole lot more
awarded Good Mornings.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah yeah, what are your thoughts? I know, great, it's
fantastic and it does in the highlights. I think, what
what does the real strength of Wellington, which is our
hospitality sector. And of the three restaurants that got them,
I've been to one of them, Logan Brown. I haven't
been to Ortaga for Shek and I haven't been to Jano.
But you know, we're also the home of the Look
calld On Blue Cooking School, so we've got a real
(01:14):
sort of network here of producing good food and the
talent that produces good food as well. So I think
it was great. I think it was a great thing
for willing.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
To Will it make any difference?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
I think it is because you know, people people coming
from out of town, particularly if they come up of
conferences and all that sort of stuff, they want good
places to go and eat. So here's now some solid
recommendations and for restaurants that might not have got a
star but got the other recommendations from Michelin, that's pretty
good stuff too. So there were restaurants or Hummingburg got that.
(01:45):
So this is all good stuff that just raises the
profile of hospitality in Willington.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
And can I say that for like I mean, I'm
personally that for us to get that award was like
us winning an Oscar. I mean it was a pretty
big thing because we wanted to be a lot of
restaurants don't actually want the stars and don't want to
be fine Dincy, fine dining or fancy, just want to
be good restaurants. We're good places to go. So they
were rewarded in the michellands, weren't they.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
And that's got yeah, and there's got You're right, people
Michelin star. They orderatedly think well that's going to be
expensive week, and we go. We just want to, you know,
a reason to cross meal and a nice place to go.
So for those that got the the good morns, I
think they call.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
It is that's good.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
That's that's an amazing achievement too, and it's a recommendation
for those places.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
So I think I think Willington's done well right.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Does bring our funk back a little bit.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
There's a lot that's helping to bring our funk back.
I think we are getting we're climbing our way out
of the funk.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Okay, let's get onto some serious stuff. Last week and
someone would have reported to you back to you that
I was pretty upset about the council decision to go
against the government and oppose the new laws or the
new ideas of moving people on that are living on
the streets. Now you know, I'm going to say it
(03:00):
to your face, not behind your back. I mean that
disappoints me because we've we've got rid of the Golden Isle,
and we've got a plan to get everything cleaned up
and tidied up. The major problem that we have of
that as people on the streets, and you are basically
saying snubbing your nose at the government and saying, no,
that's all right, you stay there.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
No, I'm not saying that at all, and the opposite
is true. That's why we've had a city safety team
in place for the best part of a year. The
previous council set that up. It works with the likes
of Downtown City Ministry and the Wilton City Mission because
a lot of these people they there's a reason why
they're there. The lives have collapse, they've got other issues
going on, and actually what they if we're going to
(03:39):
get them off the street, they've got to have somewhere
to go, and most of them need.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
A bit of help.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
So the councilors putting in place strategies and services to
do that. It's an uphill battle, I'll give you that.
Move on orders don't do any of that. Move on
orders are a simple solution. It gives the person a notice,
tells them don't come back here again, or you're committing
a criminal offense. But what do they do, where do
they go? How do they you know, where do they
(04:04):
meant to go to? Where they meant to move on to.
That's the inadequacy of that policy. So it's not about
not addressing the problem of rough sleepers and the homeless.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
We're doing our back.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
But the worst thing is not just the move on orders,
and the point we were making at the council meeting
a couple of weeks ago is the government's also proposing
a law change to define course services for counsels, one
of which would not include the work we're trying to
do to deal with rough sleepers and the homeless. So
we're kind of got a double bind. Under the law
they want to pass, we won't be able to do anything.
(04:36):
And then the only result you got has left the
police to give a notice to somebody sleeping on a
park bench, but with no solution to the problem that
it actually exists.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
This is the problem.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
We're going to answer me this question Friday, last Friday.
You will remember, because you'll probably be sitting in your
office by the red button, about to push the emergency
button and close everything off again because pretty damn stormy
nine meter waves, pretty horrible around town. I had to
walk through town at three o'clock on that particular Friday,
not one person on the street. So that tells me
(05:07):
they have got somewhere else to live. Isn't this the issue?
Speaker 3 (05:11):
I think they find places to shelter. It is true,
and there are places that people can go, you know,
to get a meal and those sorts of things, and
they will go there, you know, wanting to see the
mission's got their cafe. There's other there's other kind of
places where where people can get a meal or a
cheap meal and get that sort of help. So yep,
they don't come out. They don't. They won't.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
They won't the rain, but they will find places to shelter.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Okay, surely, then the moving on law change would be, Look,
it's a it's a nice night, we still don't want
you loitering on the city. Move on. They've got somewhere
else to go, because clearly when it rains, they've got
somewhere else to go. So you're not doing them any disservice.
You're helping them where they've got to go.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
I mean the places where people shelter will be places
where they can get cover. I mean still will still
be kind of open air in a sense, they won't
be rained on, they'll be I mean that's the point.
It doesn't fix the fundamental problem. So most of the people,
if they want a house, but they've got to have
other things as well, if they've got addiction problems, mental
(06:16):
health problems, other health issues. And I remember dealing with
a guy who was a rough sleeper. It was a
young guy. He was he had been a construction worker,
had an accident at work, couldn't work, acc cut him off.
He didn't know how to deal it. He just didn't
know how to deal with it. He lost his flat,
he found himself on the street. He was twenty one
years old. He just didn't know how to deal with
(06:36):
the problem. Now we've got somebody to work alongside him.
God is acc beck. He got some accommodation back, got
his health issues sorted out, and he was back on
the straight and narrow. It's that sort of stuff that happens.
These people need help, not told go somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I don't think there's anyone in New Zealand that doesn't
love that story and doesn't agree with you that's the
way to do it. But are you going to do
anything to prevent what's going on now, because it's not
going to get better by having these meetings and having
these discussions. What's going to help? How are you going
to help those other people?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
It's not doing meetings. What we did so we fund
the Downtown City Ministry. They had people who go out
every day making personal contact with the people in the street.
So what is you know, what are your plans, what
are you doing?
Speaker 4 (07:19):
What do you need? What help do you need? Now?
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Slowly those people pick up that help. Slowly they get
the help that they need, and we find and they
and the city council staff who are involved in as
well try to find them housing.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
So that is the work.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
But no, you know, you deal with one sort of
cohort people over a period of sort of a few months,
and others come to take their place. I have to
tell you what I'm told is Wellington's got a reputation
of if you need if you've got problems and you
don't have a roof of your head, go to Wellington
because eventually that's where you'll get the help because the
government services aren't there. They're not getting it from the government.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Because we've also got five thousand million social houses in
the government Wellington City Council. Then you've got that. We've
got it. Well, we've got more than anywhere else. Population
take a short break and be back Willington Me Andrew Little,
he will take your core. Trevor, Good morning, how Andrew?
Speaker 4 (08:10):
Yeah, good morning Trevor.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (08:12):
Mate. I've got to I like your style of coming
on the radio and answering questions. It's the style that
I respect.
Speaker 7 (08:20):
I hope you keep it up.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
A couple of things. I've got a couple of things
that's worth billions of dollars to our city. Just touched
on it. Why is Wellington And you can correct me
if I'm wrong. I don't know all the integrity about
things and that, but why is Wellington in the next
ten years going to spend a billion dollars on social
housing when cities like christ Church and Auckland don't. And
(08:43):
the other thing really annoys me is why don't government
buildings pay rates? I mean, are they going to get
the water free? You know, all of us people and
Welled are freaking out about how we're paying for water.
Are government buildings that use water?
Speaker 7 (08:57):
Are they going to pay any money?
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
So on your second question, Trevor. Yes, they will. On
the rates issue. That's a question that actually the Council
has given me and mandate to lobby governed about because
I think they should do. On your first question, the
budget for their social housing upgrade is about five hundred
million dollars over a ten year period because we have
got a whole lot of social housing they need upgrading.
This was a deal done back in two thousand and
(09:21):
seven or two thousand and eight and we just haven't
properly honored it and we have to. Christ just does have.
Christrich has more social housing than we do. One of
the things we're arguing for government for us to get
what these they call these IRS places, income related rent
subsidy places.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Christich has way more than we do.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
We want some more because that helps pay the cost
of that and reduces the amount that you know, rate
payers have to pay to maintain those houses.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
So we are.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Working on that problem, but it is going to take
a bit of time.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
To get there.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yeah, it's on population though, based and on population we
have more, yes, yes, possibly yes. The research differently is yes.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Well historically because Wellington we've had social housing for decades
and decads.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Deal run out with the government. I mean, it's twenty
thirty four.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
I think, oh.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Still got a long hand. I mean, is it have
you contemplated sitting down with the government and trying to
do a deal. Why wouldn't it make just I mean,
I know this is off topics slightly, but it infuriates
me that we have kind of aura and well into
social housing. Why wouldn't we just have one group looking
after those And everybody knows we need to have them.
No one's trying to debate that, but why do the
(10:32):
rate payers have to pay for it?
Speaker 3 (10:34):
So yeah, so the we have them and we've got
to look after it, We've got to fix them. I
think the government assumes that because Wellington we're gonna have
some so kind of order. Doesn't have as many houses
in Wellington as there might in other places.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I've got a quick answer that we just sell on
the ones we've.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Got, but they don't want them. This is the whole thing.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
But that's what I'm saying, is that a negotiation, if
you had.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
To go back to point we have There's been various
variations done to the deal that was done back in
those two thousand and seven or two thousand and eight
whenever it was, and that's why it's been pushed out
and pushed out. But we are also working about how
we can get it done more cost effectively. I think
the changes in the earthquake strengthening rules will make a difference.
But actually there's a project management issue and we've got
(11:15):
some great counselors on board now. Counselor Andrew Corompton is
excellent on this stuff and she's going to work with
officers to make sure we've got good project management because
we think we can dry some cost out of that
budget to get those houses fixed up.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
I think everybody knows you could, because if it's welling
from city council ringing to get something fixed, it's going
to be double the.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Price, isn't it. You might know something that I don't,
but it feels like it sometimes.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Well, I mean I've worked with big organizations in leasing
little areas and can you fix this glass up? Who's
it for?
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Well?
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Into the airport?
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (11:46):
You know?
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Seven thousand dollars for me personally my little business, you know,
three thy five hundred. I mean we know how it works.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
Yeah, I think that's right.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Well, it seems to me that that's what happened because
that's what I see.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Right, Can we do anything about that?
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Well, funny, We've in the process of negotiating some requirements
for the chief executive and one of them is that
every staff member who holds a budget or negotiates a
contract is going to have training and cost management, cost
control and good negotiating to get a good deal.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Well, we've seen that with a couple of things, haven't
we The opening of the library and the website. Hopefully
it's all changing, Martin.
Speaker 8 (12:23):
You've got a question for one good morning, Andrew and
a lot over the last year, Wells said zero population
growth now and Wellmon had the largest net migration loss
in the country. Organ had a growth and question sad one,
what are your plans to reverse this?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So, yeah, this goes to the heart of the question.
So making the city more affordable. That's why we've got
to get rates under control. That's why we've now got
the last rates increase we've had in about six years.
But it's also the other stuff. Even at a time
of public service cuts, we've got a whole bunch of
other industries that are really strong. Our tech industry is
really good, creative sector is really good. So we're talking
those sorts of things up. That's why we've got those
(13:04):
business advisory groups now set out that's going to help
the council put together some strategies on that. We've been
very clear about what the taskers get there and put
into a five year plan that's going to help us
grow the population, grow the economy, and do that stuff
that makes a difference, but also making this city more
appealing and attractive. So that's why getting the Golden mar
project put aside and doing stuff that is achievable and
(13:27):
doable and practical, like fixing up Courtney Place, that's the
sort of stuff that makes the city more attractive and
attracts people here.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Unfortunately, no matter what you do with Courtney Place, until
you get the street people off that street, it's not
going to improve.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Understand you.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
You know that as well as I do.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
I don't know, and look, I'm happy to say it's
several more times. But that's why we have our SETI
Safety Group, whose job it is to make sure that
we're addressing that issue and we're continuing to do that.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Before the election, when we had a chat, I asked
you whether you were going to have some advisory groups
set up when you take over.
Speaker 7 (14:01):
I E.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
What how Torri far Noh, your predecessor did you said
to me, No, I'm the person that if I've got
an issue or I've got something to do, I'm going
to pick up the phone and I'm going to ring
the person and get their advice. I'm going to be
hands on. Hasn't taken you long to go to revert
back to Tory's plan of a business advisory panel? Why?
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
So that's after talking to a lot of people and
also having you know, Carl Tiefenbaker counselor Carl tiffen Barker,
who's you know. I gave him the job of cheering
our Economic Development subcommittee. The word we got from a
whole bunch of organizations and interests was actually, people do
want to have it and put they want to have
a way to engage with the mayor and.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Counselors and council offices.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
And actually the best way to do that is through
advisory groups. But what is different as we've we've defined
what the task is and we've broken it down into
three sort of core sectors or arrange of sectors, so
it's not one group trying to advise on all sorts
of things, which I think was the problem last time.
And then they're job is to contribute to help put
(15:07):
together a five year plan to get things moving, to
get things going, so it's quite well defined task that
they've got. I think that will make a difference was
what was doneing was the level of interest we had
from people who wanted to be part of those groups
and have their input. So to be up to myself
and Carl to manage and integrate and get that stuff
going and making sure that what we hear from those
(15:30):
people in those groups is making a difference to the
plans that council offices put.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
To be honest, looking at that group, they're all people
that are praising your mayoralty, your counsel. They're all sympathy,
so they want to come in and make things better.
Why would we not get some of some people that
are actually gone up against the council and argued that
there's things that could be done better. Why didn't you
look for some of those people in the groups instead
(15:55):
of people that you know when we spoke to in
Douglas yesterday the day before, I mean very very praising
of your your Mayoralty and the council all praising about
Willington and that's fantastic. He's a very respected, very respected
Warmington businessman. But why have we not got some of
the anti stuff?
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Well, the Carl was chiefly responsible for putting the thing
to it.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
I left him to do it.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
We agreed we should have the group advisory groups, we
should break it down to the three categories. I left
him to run the process with council offices. He basically
came to me literally, you know, last week before, you know,
as we're putting the announcement together, I'd cast my eye
of the list. I think I changed one one thing and.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
That was it.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Did you get to find a low k on all them?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I just said there was one person I thought should
be editing, and that that person was editing, and that
was it. Because actually Karl is probably going to work
with them the most and the closest.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
I'll come out.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
I'll be involved in meetings, and for me, it's about offense.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Someone my name was put there, would you say, oh, no,
he's asking the wrong questions. He's not the right guy
to be on that sort of pat well, because there's
no one there that I've seen actually stand up to
Wellington City gain not this is nothing again your counsel,
but have actually stood up to the council and said,
you know what we need to do this, we need
to do that. They are all people from what I
(17:20):
understand and see, and the ones that I know that
are all doing social media with you, being seen in
social media with you, Miles will be holding hands with you.
They're your people.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
OK, I wouldn't describe them as that. I don't think
they would describe them as it. And as I say,
my role in the recruitment of them was pretty minimal.
It was pretty much at the very end of the
process and the only contribution I made was to suggest
one more person be added to one of the committees
or the advisory groups and that was it.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
So, yeah, how will you measure the success of this group?
Speaker 3 (17:54):
I think that, you know, after the first a couple
of meetings, we actually got some substantial ideas that we're
weaving into a plan. I think probably within six months
we start to shape up what the plans look like.
They're going to be five year plans, but very you know,
very clear, measurable, specific things that we that they want
us to do, that they will support us to do
(18:14):
and that we will get on and do so meetings already.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Has there been meetings already?
Speaker 4 (18:19):
No, they'll start through shortly.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Okay, So when I come when in our six months
check up after this, you'll be able to say, well,
this group suggested we did this, and I think when.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
We're talking around in our pre Christmas session, I'll have
something material to report.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Fabulous, Thank you, Wellington Mayor Andrew Little with us in
the studio. Someone say, just texting Andrew and asked, Wellington
needs to have a real international airport. Christ Church and
Auckland are growing, Wellington is not. The city's geography will
always inhabit its growth unless we have some sort of
you know, increase in that an airport north of the
city will cause population and business growth in the greater
(18:58):
Wellington area. What are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Yeah, I suggesting we're sure to having another airport somewhere else.
Not quite sure what went into the airport has done recently.
They've installed this new technology ems technology. I don't notice
what the econom stands for, but what it means is
that larger aircraft can now land safely at Winnington and
so the airport is actively recruiting airlines from Asia.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
The aim is to get you know, direct link.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Are we're getting anywhere that you're on that board, so
you're in discussions all the time, get anyway that's only
actively involved.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
I mean, when the company's got something to say, they
have to announce it through the stock exchange and all
that sort of stuff. But there's definitely actively engaged in
trying to get airlines to come here. As I understand it,
there's a reasonable degree of interest. So I'm confident they
will pull something together and the corresponds right. That sort
of thing will make a huge difference the rumors. I'm
hearing the rumors, and I know you've got to be
(19:54):
very careful on this. And I was told many years
ago after Singapore Airlines left that they had an arrangement
to come back when things were right. The new stuff
on the runway would enable a flight to land to
fly from Wellington to Singapore non stop. Is that am
I am? I know that that's that's correct? Absolutely yes.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
So is that one that the negotiating with.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Yeah, I think there's a range of uh, there's a
range of ports that began to have links.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
With and specifically Singapore. The direct flights Wellington Singapore. Is
that something that's going to be announced shortly.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I don't think it's going to be announced shortly. It
is they're actively talking to airlines about those sorts of links,
and that will include link with Singapore as well.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Right, that's pretty exciting if that happens.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
Oh yeah, huge difference.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Yes, a potential to change our city significantly. Yeah yeah, yeah,
so that must excite you.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Absolutely, anything like that, anything like that is just gives
me course, I hope.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Okay, John, you've got a question for one into Meandrew.
Speaker 7 (20:55):
Little, Hi, good morning. I've got an observation and a question.
The first observation is I noticed when I drive through
town quite often now that there are people scraping off
residue stickers and posters and generally trying to clean up
Wellington CBD. So just to say that, I really like
(21:17):
to see that. It's good because there's nothing worse than
having a messy city with all these stickers and posters
and goodness knows what. So whoever's made that conscious decision,
it's a really good decision.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
Thanks.
Speaker 7 (21:29):
The second one is that you know, there's a lot
of talk about using Mari language or naming buildings with
Mari and English. I just wonder, you know, with the
parking meters there's an English option and Mari option. Are
you monitoring the percentage of people using Mari versus English?
(21:55):
And would that not be quite compelling to say, hey,
look we've got the right decition to use Mari names
versus English. Now, I just wonder if anyone's collating that
and being able to use that in a useful manner
to stop all the chit chatter around it.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
That's a good point. Actually, I'm not sure, but I
can certainly find out for you. It's a good It's
a good point to raise, because yeah, there are those
two options there.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
So let me look.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Let me take that away and see if I can
get some information back, at least to Nick.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Is it is it the first now? And I don't
know this, but I do get a lot of stuff
on the on the text machine about it is the
first option in today and then it goes to English?
Is that right? Or is it could be either? I mean,
I'm not sure. I just wanted to it can be either.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
I mean, I think the council past a strategy A
couple of years or a few years ago about increasing
the use of todomari and names and all that sort
of stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
It's got to be right.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
But preference is your preference English first, today, oh second,
or Today first, English second.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
I'm mainly an English speaker, so I look, and it's
easier to remember English names, so I tend to go
for that. But I think it's helpful to have to
the names and stuff. I think, you know, go to
go to you go to Wales, and it's all it's
all bilingual.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
You know.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
You see the signs that Welsh Gaelic. I can't read it,
can't pronounce it, so I go to the English name,
and I imagine for a lot of people that might
be the same with today.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Mind, I don't think that many people would argue with you.
I think if we had a council stance that it's
English first, today, oh second. I've walked past your new
office a couple of times, and all of your signage
and all of your stuff, and today I wouldn't know
where what's what, and it's no English under it.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
Yeah, and and the.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Other thing that's that we know that you know, as
younger generations are coming through, more new Zealanders of all
sorts of.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Origins are are.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Speaking to the increasingly. So it's about reflecting that that
that says the indigenous language of the country and we
should be comfortable with it.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Once again, no question that it should be involved. But
it's whether we can people that don't understand today I
can see that that's a toilet, or that's a meeting room,
or that's where you get to see the mayor.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Yeah, but I think, you know, increasingly we are weaving
to the words cooper into our wild. You know, we
talk about Father Pacu. Now we talk about cord Or,
we talk about who he You know, those words commonly
used words are creeping their way into just normal usage
for all language.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
What's your today?
Speaker 3 (24:18):
I like it's limited. I mean I get exposed to
a lot and so I pick up words. I can
hear a lot more than I can speak, that's for sure.
Good on you, Yeah, good on you for trying. Yeah,
mine's terrible.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
I'm at that. Good morning, Peter.
Speaker 5 (24:32):
Good morning. I have two quick questions. One is the
more treatment plant supposedly to be in good working condition
before it's turned over to the New Water entity. So
my question there is why is it being turned over.
Check in question is with all the council rates and
(24:53):
the water reads, what happens for the people looking at afford.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
So on the first question about my point, Peter, a
special deal was done, but that that plant would transfer
on it as as were as basis. But it's okay
because the agreement also includes the agreement about the remediation plan,
which is well underway and the money for that, which
Wellington Water already had because they'd underspent money that Wellington
(25:18):
City Council had given them previously. For my point, that
will just transfer to Tiaki Pi, so that work will
carry on and we're on target to get that fixed
and back up and running as quickly as possible. On
the question about rates and water rates and affordability, look
that as a big that as a big question for
a lot of people and that's why we're doing our
best to keep the council rates down and we've got
(25:40):
still work to do and we're carrying on doing that.
Water rates, I know Tiaki Way have said that in
ten years time there'd be quite a significant increase in
water costs. It's my job, along with counselors right around
the region, to keep the pressure on Tiaqui why to
make sure that whatever water charges they impose are reasonable,
and we'll do that. It's why I'm also very keen
for the Commers Commission to get the power to regulate
(26:02):
those prices, because that's probably going to be the most
effective way to do that. But look, I get the
point you're making, and it's the job of all of
us to make sure that, you know, we make the
city and the region affordable.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Thanks Peter for that question, because it was my next
question on my list. How things changed? I mean, you've
had one day now with no Tiaki. Why how things
changed and how do you feel?
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Yeah, look, the sort of handover happened, not many people
would have noticed it. We're still I mean, one of
the transitional thing is, you know, people got problems with
their water. Those queries are still coming into council. It's
probably the right thing to do at this point, but
there'll be a slow you know, we've now got people
within Tiaki. Why we can refer queer as too from
people who have got problems with their water or the
(26:45):
waste water or whatever. But look, they are taking over.
We've got our Partners Committee, which is the committee representing
all the councils who are owners of Tiaki Why, will
continue to use that as our basis to influence the
way Tiaki Why operates and give them feedback. I mean,
so it's good to give counselors. You know, your experience
(27:07):
is about Tiaki Why, so we can relate that back
to the directors and the and the senior managers. But
that's now all underway. So it's Tiaki Why is in
charge of water now.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
A couple of people that I respect, that of Wellington.
You know, Wellingtonians have said to me, why doesn't Andrew
Little want to agree to an independent commissioner, independent monitor
or watchdog? And the perfect person that these two people
told me was obviously Tim Brown with his infraterrail background,
and he wants to do it, and he's passionate about it.
(27:39):
Why wouldn't the council back something like that.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Well, the last council back.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
They agreed that the council should support this consumer advocacy group,
they just didn't approve any money for it. Tim tells
me it needs one and a half million dollars. So
a couple of things that consumer advocacy group, you know,
I would play an important role. It'll be a voice,
but that's all it would do. And actually what we
need is somebody with a bit of grunt and a
bit of power to exercise some regulation and control.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Surely, that's surely, that's exactly sorry they're interrupted, that's I'm passionate,
you know. Surely that's exactly what we need is just
somebody to get in underneath their skin and say, how
can you be charging that for water meters when I
know I can get water meters cheap. Surely we just
want to have that advocacy group out there pushing for
us the rate pays, and.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
So that's why we've got the partners Committee. But actually
what in one Inton City Council we've set up as
a subgroup of counselors who are passionate about it, equally
as passionate as you to do it, to provide exactly
that scrutiny and to be a channel for water users,
residents and rate paths to channel their issues and so
on through as well. The other thing too is what
(28:47):
sits on the horizon is the possibility. Now I suspect
the probability of amalgamation. So if the councilors who are
owners of tiaqua all come together. Actually, well then will
actually control Chiaquay. So the dynamic changes completely. So whereas
nobody's got any controlling interest or Vito right, that changes
in amalgamation. So we have an opportunity then, I think
(29:11):
to exercise much greater scrutiny and actually have a bit
of control, particularly over pricing things as that changes.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Someone's just texting and I've got the stats in front
of me. Figures supplied by TIAQII show Wellington City Council
charged itself And this is a text question. Twelve million
dollars for in water asset rates in the last financial year,
thirty point nine million this year, then thirty one point
eight million from July, the first one hundred and sixty
(29:38):
five percent increase over two years. How do you even
be able to stay with a straight face when your
sea figures like that.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
Yeah, I'm not quite sure what those figures relate to.
It is true that Tiaki Way will pay rates for
the for land that they occupy that they're running water
services from. Look, I don't have that information to.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Huge article on paper. We've talked about it. I mean
it's there, it's not you know.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
Yeah, look, I don't have any other comment to say that.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
I acknowledge it. Tiaku Why will be paying rates, but.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
I mean we're not so concerned about the rates. I
mean yours went from twelve million when you're looking after it,
to thirty million to thirty one million. Thirty one point
eight million. I mean that's a hell of a big increase.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Yeah, yes it is. And you know what what Wellington
City Council has contributed to Tiaku Why is all of
its revenue, all of its air sets and so on
as well. So then so Tiaku Why becomes another commercial
operator that has got to pay rates like everybody else.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
We're not yes, we understand that, but it's the rate
of increase that you've decided to put on well into
me Andrew little one quick question to finish some thanks
for coming in All black tests. Not selling still four
thousand tickets a little bit disappointing.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Yeah, I mean you.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Think in all X test typically sells out. This is
the game against Italy. It'll not saying it's the necessarily
one of the big contenders. I mean, and it's a
thirty five thousand seat stadium, so if they sold thirty
one thousand seats four thousand left to go. I'm confident
they will. But you know we can. We can fill
that stadium when we need to, as we did with
the Super fifteen Final, which was great. But look, I'm
(31:24):
confident the Warriors and the Worries too. Yeah, so we
can't be blind. We as a city can't be blake.
People love, people love coming, people love going to that stadium.
It's interesting the feedback after the Super fifteen game of
people talk about that stadium, they love going there.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Yeah, so you reckon it'll be a sellout. I'm confident
they will. I'll pull you up on that next week. Thanks,
thanks very much, really appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
Now.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Wanting to Meandrew Little, Really appreciate him taking time out
of his very busy schedule to come here and get
questioned by you and great question by me.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
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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