December 18, 2024 • 31 mins
Wellington mayor Tory Whanau says she would rate her performance as the capital's mayor over 2024 as a "seven or eight".
"I think it's gone up and down. Mid-year was probably around five, and if I would do things differently on certain things I would."
It's been a difficult year for Whanau who has struggled to find a win.
The deal to redevelop Reading Cinema collapsed, she failed to gain the support of councillors to sell the council's stake in Wellington Airport, and the government appointed a Crown observer.
She ends the year with more controversial decisions made around her council table, including the decision to demolish Begonia House and the City to Sea bridge.
Whanau joined Nick Mills for her final interview of 2024.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk sed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Join us for the final time this year, is willing
to Mayor Tori Fano. Good morning, toy, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I'm great. Took me through the last couple of weeks hectic, crazy,
Are you ready for a break?
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Intense but good.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
So.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
We've had our final LTP meetings and council and probably
the two major decisions that we made this week were
a council decision on opposing the Treaty Principles bill had
a really strong majority, and of course our LTIP amendment,
which only two councilors voted against. So I think that's
quite a big one.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I want to get into that treaty stuff a little
bit later in the show, but I want to start
by us reflecting the year. You ready, Yes, on a
scale of one to ten. I love doing this and
I know that it annoys a lot of people. But
on a scale of one to ten, how would you
rate your own performance this year? January to December?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Okay, So I think probably around mid year, Like I
think it's gone up and down, right, So midyear was
probably around the five and you know, if I were
to do things differently on certain things, I.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Would tell me what those would be.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Ah, I think, you know, how the whole reading thing
was handled, how the airport was handled, I feel like
I could have read the room a little better perhaps.
So that's actually what I focused on with the LTP amendment,
is reading the room, working more as a collective. And
actually I feel like I've not EVENE will agree. A
(01:41):
lot of people won't agree, but I feel like I've
ended on a seven or eight.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Okay, So let's talk about reading the room. Because if
there is some criticism of you, it's that you read
the green room but the other colors don't count.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
That's no, I think, if anything, it's been the opposite
of that. And that's perhaps where I've fallen down. So,
you know, me been quite you know, publicly supporting you know,
reading in the airport's sale. That's actually that that upset
my base. And so with the LTIP amendment, I actually
(02:16):
what I did was actually just come back to why
what I stood for when I what the issues I
was standing for as mayor, what I was elected to do,
and that was what I've focused on developing this LTP.
Those those some of those projects earlier this year were
actually not in line with what I promised I would do,
(02:36):
and that's when I think things didn't go so well.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
So you talked about changing, How have you changed?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I think again, it's the reading the room thing. It's
remembering why.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
It's kind of just interrupt there, because the reading of
the room thing is that people don't want you to
be quite as green. They don't want the cycle ways,
they don't want all the green, and I don't.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Think that's true at all, because you know, I think
where my performance started to shake a bit was when
I wasn't being green, and that's when all the negative
articles came out. So I've come back to what I
promised to do, and actually the media has been really great.
I know there's a very loud group of people who
don't want cycle ways, but when I was elected, I
(03:19):
made a promise that I would deliver that and more.
I have to stick to what I promise, and that's
what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
You also promise to sort out reading.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Not as an election promise.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
No, but you did promise that you were going to
sort that out early on the piece I.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Did, Yeah, and it didn't go through.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
They tell me that it's close to a sale. Is
that true or not?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I have no idea. So council, Yeah, council is like,
so we went in, we did our bit, it didn't work,
so we've we've had to back out because it's not
our property. And I I mean, if it's near a
sal oh goodness, I hope it is.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
And that and you've heard nothing nothing? Okay, right, you
say a seven? You right now you're sitting in a
seven out again? Okay, Well you know, Okay, that's your
thoughts and that's what I'm asking you. What about the
council if we put the council out of ten as
a whole, not just your mates you're Rebecca Matthews and
your buddies, but the whole council.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I think, as of this week also a seven. Like
if you go through our meetings, if you go through
what we've decided, you know, deciding not to sell the
airport and then come together to develop an amendment that
cut you know, three approximately three hundred million dollars off
the books, I think is an incredible feat and we've
done that in a matter of weeks.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
How was the meeting the other day? Because I heard
it was very hostile and jeering from the crowd and
arguments and you know, race calling and the name court.
It was back to the old days.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
No, but no, I think it was really debating and loud.
It's it's the sort of stuff you would see in
the House at Parliament. And what I said at the
end is yes there was some heated debate. This is politics.
This is what happens at council. So yes there were
(05:09):
some heated discussions. But this is Wellington City Council. We're
in a political city where we're right next door to government.
I see nothing wrong with that.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Okay. If you were sitting down with a group of
people and they said to me, said to you, Tory,
what have been the wins for the Tori Faro mayoralship
this year? What were your What are the wins that
you can accredit to yourself.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I think our council has invested the most ever into
water infrastructure one point eight billion dollars, and we've passed
the resolution to move forward with the regional model that
has been led by a Kirey Prendergast. We've delivered more
cycle ways, which is what I promised. I've retained the
(05:54):
Golden Mile my key project, even given the opposition from
the government. We've invested half a billion dollars into social housing.
Housing is a huge priority for me, and we passed
a district plan which was a very complicated piece of work.
Those are things that I'm deeply proud of.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
What impact. No, I'll ask you to somebody else. You know,
your your regrets, What did what? What did you get
wrong that you could have changed?
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I think, if I'm honest, like the thing with reading right,
I was, I was probably too focused on the outcome.
Is that you know, I wanted development there. I wanted
spades in the ground this year, and that that's what
I was focused on, probably too much of the outcome
and didn't listen enough to other counselors about what their
(06:44):
concerns were. I probably would have approached that quite differently,
and you maybe listened a bit more.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Keep saying that you maybe listened a bit more. Yeah,
but that's the thing that I hear in the streets,
as you know, as a businessman and as a person
connected to Wellington, is that you're not listening. You didn't listen,
and thorned you didn't listen. With the Golden Mile, you
didn't listen with the reading. You don't listen, that's the
(07:12):
that's the no, that's the question.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
No, no, no, I think let's let's be upfront here.
I listen and what happens is I don't agree, and
then I get accused of not listening. The thing is,
I don't just represent people like yourself, Nick, I represent students.
I represent diverse communities. And as we heard through submissions
and consultation, over half of the people have participated want
(07:38):
the Golden Mile. So yes, I listened. I heard we
would make some Do you think.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
That the people that do you think the people that
wanted the Thornton and I'm not you know, I've obviously
involved in the Golden Miles, so I'm putting Thornton in
there as well, and the cycle ways to Carrori and
the cycle ways around. Do you think the people that
wanted them are the people that are going to make
Wellington better? I mean, I know that they are a
very important part of Wellington. But you know, if you
perhaps we're more rad to look after the movers and
(08:08):
shakers that make Wellington better, those people will be able
to get more jobs, they will be able to do
more because we'll have more in our economy going.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
So there are yep, so I listened to movers and shakers,
but there are again, there are also other movers and
shakers that might not be in your circle. I'm talking
about younger business owners, tech, screen, retail, fashion who want
these projects to go ahead. They want a city that
is safe to walk, is efficient with public transport, and
(08:38):
perhaps doesn't rely on cars as much. That is what
they want. This is why they elected me, Okay.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
I mean I won't argue with that. What impact is
the Crown observer?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
I think it's actually had a really positive impact. So
you know, as you would have seen, we welcomed Lindsay
with open arms. He's a really decent guy. He's very knowledgeable,
very friendly. He really does kind of just stand back
and observe, and if we ask him for advice on
allege sort of matter around at LTP, he'll give it
like an independent view. I think his presence has helped
(09:15):
us as a team work collaboratively a bit more, knowing
that there is a pair of eyes there. I think
it's been good.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
How do you think, because I mean I wasn't there,
and I've only seen little bits and pieces of it,
and I've heard from some people that were there for
the last council meeting he looked a little bit agitated
by the end of it and was talking to you
at the end of that meeting. What did he say
to you at the end of that meeting?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
He said, well done, you know, because he he's you know,
we successfully passed the LTIP amendment.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Right. What do you think he would have written to
Simeon Brown on his on his notepad. What do you
think he would have said to him? Because it was
you know, it was reasonably hostile, wasn't it. Let's call
it what it was.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
No, I'm not I'm not going to agree with that.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
You don't think it was reasonable? I think, okay, someone
calls a councilor calls another counselor a racist.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
She didn't call it, didn't she didn't directly call you know.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
But the race card was paid, was it or not?
Speaker 3 (10:09):
I mean it was. But if you were to pull
back from the wider issue and that we were talking
about the Treaty Principal's Bill, which I know that you
opposed as well, and you were supportive of the march,
let's kind of take it back there and think about
the serious issue. A lot of tongue that Defina are
very hurt, very hurt by that bill, and I appalled
her for standing up for us.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
She called one of the follow counts. Now she didn't,
she didn't, she didn't. Why are they taking legal action?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
You left to talk to them about it.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
You don't believe there was any racial connotations in that.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Council connotations, yes, but she did not call someone a
racist directly. It was just part of the general debate,
as people are entitled to do. She feels very passionate
about this topic, and again I thank her as an ally.
But let's let's not get bogged down by two people
(10:58):
talking at each other. Let's talk about the wider issue
that this bill is causing.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Okay, I want to get onto the bill as a
separate issue. As we go on during the hour, Maciro,
Does she finish up tomorrow?
Speaker 3 (11:08):
No, she is here until the end of January.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Okay, good to see her go.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
No, I'm sad to see her go. I think she's
been an incredible CEE. But you know, this is her decision,
and she's drew a well earned rest.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
What are your thoughts going forward?
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Again? She so She's built a really fantastic team who
really trust and love her, and I think she will
be handing over a fantastic organization to the new CE.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Right. Have you met him personally? Yes, I have your thoughts.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
He is great.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Will he make a difference?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah? I mean what's your well?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Will you get Wellington great again? I mean, you know
we've been in the doldrums, We've had few issues. So
will he be the god help? Rabs you and says,
come on, Tori, let's go. We're going to make money.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Rating Like Barbara, He'll be part of the solution. But again,
we have to you can't just kind of like put
it all on the council. We have to work together.
He'll be part of that, right.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Joining us in the studio for the final time this
year as Willington Mayor Torri Fouano, Tory Prime Minister Christopher
Luxan and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown announced on Monday
they want councils to focus on more of the basics.
There will be a new annual report on council's performance,
and next year there'll be legislation. Brown says, we'll keep
rates down. You hit out at his announcement telling the
(12:30):
government to stick to their lane. What do you mean
by that?
Speaker 3 (12:35):
So, I mean the announcement wasn't a surprise because they
basically hinted at this at the Local government conference earlier
this year. And if we remember, much of the local
government industry did not take to that very kindly because
we've had you know, the National Party during their election
campaign promised localism and giving local authorities the ability to
(12:59):
lead their towns and cities. This goes completely against that.
So they're expecting us to you know, take care of
things of infrastructure and so forth, which is what we're doing,
but without their help. So when you take water infrastructure
in particular, you know, transferring over it all water entity
(13:19):
is actually creating a challenge for Wellington City Council and
could put a several one hundred million dollar burden on us.
And because of the way that we fund depreciation and
so forth, the previous government promised no worse off funding
which would have helped with that. This one doesn't. So
it puts Wellington with the Wellington Regional in a bit
(13:42):
of a bind. And so what I'm saying is, you know,
I'm not down with them instructing us on what to
do when they're not necessarily providing us the assistance to
deal with the really big issues like infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
The idea of an annual report the safety makes perfect sense,
so doesn't it. So we layman can just pick up
this report and know exactly where we're going, rather than
get into the weeds and try and read the annual
stuff that the council go out.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
I mean, sure, that's fine, but their KPIs may not
align with what actually the city wants. And what I've
reminded them of is Wellington City elected particular people because
they believe in what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Is they what they went green?
Speaker 3 (14:25):
They went green and read and so that kind of
gives us a mandate to deliver on things like climate action, housing,
transport and cycle lanes. This government doesn't agree with that,
so we have to figure out how we kind of
marry that up.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Which I have always agreed with. I've always agreed that
we voted you in, we voted for what you represent.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
We've got what we wanted as well as our electorate MPs.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Absolutely, do you reckon if there was an election tomorrow,
status quo would be there.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Yes, that's where we disagree, and that's right, that's okay.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, what would this new legislation look like? Have you seen?
Have you heard?
Speaker 3 (15:07):
No, I haven't seen anything yet.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Okay, so you're not worried about it, not concerned about it?
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Ah, well, not until I see it, I suppose.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Okay, I want to talk about the dreaded rates. I
just got my rates bill the other day. I can't
afford to pay it. I cannot afford to pay it.
I look at it and I went, this is now
out of control for me, and I'll have to sell something.
There'll be a lot of people like me around Wellington.
Do you really care?
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Of course I do. But again we're put into the
position of having to upgrade our infrastructure, which is like
a huge chunk of that rates increase, paying for transport
and investing in the city that previous councils have not done.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
But a huge chunk of it's going to be things
like toilet blocks it cost too much, bike racks it
cost too much, cycle lanes that costs too much, Golden
mile that cost too much. Surely, if you really cared,
you'd say, yep, I understand how my people are. I
understand they can't have for these rates. Let's stop doing
something for a while.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
I do care, but this is what Wellingtonian's have asked for,
you know, it's what I promised. I've been very upfront
about the cost and the impact that could have on rates.
If we don't invest in it now, it'll only become
much more expensive and this our city will literally crumble away.
This is unfortunately the downside of living in an earthquake
prone city that hasn't had its infrastructure sufficiently funded.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
And well, you know, well some would say that it's
that it's previous to you. I'm not blaming you for this,
but previous to you that we have been having counsels
that want to keep spending and do things like the
Keena and spend money that we don't have.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
I mean, do you do you disagree with takena personally?
Speaker 2 (16:51):
I don't, but I could understand, you know, when people
get their rates bill that they would And it's been
not as successful as what me and you both wanted.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
To meet, but that's because of the general economic downturn.
Any convention center is going through that difficulty. But again,
you know, some thing like Takina was intended to drive
our local economy and drive people to other parts of
the city. Yes, we've had COVID and the economy is
not great and that has reflected on Tarkina at that time.
(17:20):
I mean it was solded a couple of terms ago.
You know, I would have too voted for it. The
national government of that time also supported it. They didn't
provide any funding towards it, like they have other convention centers.
We fronted it ourselves. I'm glad that we did. It
will when things start to come back, it will have
a massive impact. In fact, it's injecting more activity into
(17:41):
our local economy. You know, if that wasn't there would
be worse off.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Okay, is there anything you can cut? Is there anything
you can I mean fifteen point nine is the latest prediction. Right,
it's honestly Tory and I'm not over emphasizing this. It's
too tough, it's too hard.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
So what we've done for the last five weeks is
cut about you know, the costing will come back in February,
but between three to four hundred million dollars, so we
have made cuts already. We may need to make more
next next year. But what we've come to is a
collective of you know, or a budget that people have
(18:19):
asked for and that all of our counselors have had
input into, but we have made cuts.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
What do you say to the people of Anita Baker
was on the show yesterday and they were their their rate,
we're likely rates increased for likely to be ten percent,
but they kept it down. They went hard, cut staff
did a whole lot of things and they got up
to six percent. I mean, that's just like a dream
to Warringtonian's what do you say to the people of
Poro Roo. They're lucky enough to live out there.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Well, and that's great for putting on. We're the capital city.
We have different requirements. We have the town Hall, convention Center,
we have you know that there's a lot more expectation
from our city compared to put it on.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
But we have fifteen point nine percent rate increases.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
It will be down to twelve point eight percent.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
And I don't and you promise, can you promise that?
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Promise that I promise that. So it's quite normal for
the initial draft rate because from a legislative perspective, we
have to announce it and say this is where it's
come to. It's always that high at the beginning of
the annual planned year and it's and then we bring it,
we look at other ways to bring it down, and
that will that will certainly happen, But we have to
(19:32):
remember again we are the capital city. The same people
who complain about it dying and looking ugly are the
same people who don't want to invest in it. It's
it's kind of like this is where we're at. I
wish previous councils had fronted up then when it would
have been much lower costs. They didn't because they wanted
to keep rates lower. I'm taking it on the chin
(19:56):
and I will do it.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Can I quickly just tell you the story, and I
want to get your reaction really quickly because we've got
to go to the news break. But a certain building
in Courtney Place was for sale three and a half
four years ago for three million. They had offers of
over two but decided not to sell it. Last week
(20:17):
it sold for nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Now
that's because people can't afford the rates. People can't afford
what to pay the rents anymore. They don't have any
idea what's going to happen in Courtney Place in the future.
So does that sort of stuff, those stories concern you
of this capital city that we're all saying, so great,
(20:38):
nine hundred and fifty thousand for a building on Courtney
Place never heard of?
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Well, I mean, I've never heard of that. I haven't
heard that story. I don't know anything about that building.
It could be, as we know, there are a lot
of earthquake prone buildings in the area and their value
has dropped significantly because of that. I'm making assumptions that
as the case.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Well still earth If it was, it would have still
been three years ago.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
But if you I would ask you, Nick, would you
prefer to keep Courtney Place as it is now?
Speaker 2 (21:06):
And you know what, if you ask asking me that question,
not as a talkback host, but as a person, I
would say, for the next three years, one hundred percent,
really one hundred percent, because there's going to be, like
we heard a caller the other day, there's going to
be forty two businesses go broke over the next two years.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
And so you're I suppose you're answering as a business owner.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I am, and I am saying that I did make
maccare I want to talk to you about the business
advisory group two members have resigned. Bigwig developer Mark McGinnis
and bar owner Justin McKenzie are gone. Mackenzie said that
he wants to rather than sitting in a room with
a cup of tea, he wants action and he wasn't
(21:48):
sort of getting those actions. Mark McGinnis wouldn't go to them,
wouldn't talk to the media, but has resigned. This his
This advisory group work for you as it helped you.
Has it do anything for you personally?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
It has, so we've gotten some good things out of it,
Like you know, one thing that this group asked for
was a creative market to be hot and Wellington where
we could showcase our artists, fashion people and so forth.
So we're currently in negotiations with pans to perhaps come
here in twenty twenty six. So it's kind of like
(22:21):
about generating ideas like that that, given it's such a
tough time for the economy, what are some innovative ways
we can still activate the city in the meantime. It's
not necessarily going to work for everyone, and that's okay.
They might prefer to go to other types of groups.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
What did I'm going to say to you? When he
resigned did he talk call you and say hey, it's
Mark mcginna's hear from willis BYLD.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
So we've had a chat about it and we're still friendly.
He still gives me his views on certain things and
we fundamentally disagree on some big things, but we do
so respectfully.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
You know, he couldn't make the changes that he thought
were what he would like to see in the city.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Yeah, no, like I think that, you know, the feedback
from some people is going to be canceled. The goal
a mile that's.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Not the moslwys his view on the v accounts.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
He would preferred that it would have been held off.
But I'd rather not speak for him. Actually, I probably
shouldn't have said that, and I was very open about
not doing that. The rest of the group wanted to go.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Was that why he left?
Speaker 3 (23:21):
You'd have to ask him.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Okay, So he was against the Golden Mile, one of
the biggest proper developers with you.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Have to ask you said, no, no, no, But again
I also I don't want to speak for him, and
I might be speaking.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
He's got a very major holding in that area, so
he's got tenants to look after a major holding, and
he said that he didn't want that to go ahead.
And still no one's listening.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
No, Like I said before, Nick, I am listening to everyone.
There's a there are a lot of residents again that
the future of our city want the STUG to go ahead.
The majority of submissions want this to go ahead.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
So Mark, you said, not me. I'm not sorry you
said that. You said Mark mcgist didn't.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Want to I'm not listening to you. I'm not listening
to anyone. That's not true. I represent the entire city.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
No, no, no, no, I didn't say that. I just said
Mark McGinnis told you that he didn't want you.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
We said earlier, I'm not listening to anyone, And and what
I'm telling you is, I do listen to everybody.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
You've got an advisory group, and you've got a very
powerful businessman who's done a lot of wonderful things his family.
If this city wouldn't be the city it is without
the things that his family's done. And he's saying, don't
go ahead with a golden mile, and then he's quitting.
Now that tells me something. If it doesn't tell you something,
it says a red light to me.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
It does tell me something. But again, I also represent
a large sect of Wellington that want this project to
go ahead. I believe in it. I stood on this
project I was elected.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Okay, all right, So what's the point of having that
advisory group if you don't want to listen to them?
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Because I welcome conflicting views and I think that's actually
really useful. And we have gone to the Golden mile
and seeing where we can tweak the design to make
it work for other people. But again, you know, it's okay.
If people don't agree with a particular project, that doesn't
mean cancel it. It just means this is democracy. I
vieus a heard, then we decide and put it through.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
It's also how mistakes can be made, not just I agree, toy.
Let's talk about the Begonia House and City to the Bridge. Yes,
I mean, I mean I know that you won't you
personally wouldn't like to see them both go. But is
it just the financial Oh I'm actually putting words in
your mouth. You might want to see them both go. Sorry,
(25:30):
I am putting words in your mouth. Do you want
to see Bigonia House and the City to Bridge dropped?
Speaker 3 (25:37):
I mean, in an ideal world, no, because I do
love them both that the problem with the City to
see Bridge is that it is earthquake prome and to
upgrade it would cost at least fifty million dollars. For
full upgrade over eighty million dollars. What we've learned from
the town hall is that it's such a risky upgrade.
(25:58):
So to demolish it is about thirty million dollars. So
it's a cost thing as well as and for those
who have said just keep it up a bit longer,
I mean the risk of it collapsing, even if it
was small that I'm not comfortable with that.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Right, There is no risk of it falling there really
is there an earthquake there is, Yeah, there's I mean,
we could be here in an earthquake and it's going
to fall and we'll be saying goodbye together. I mean,
we don't know, it's likely. Yeah, we don't know.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
We don't know.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
But couldn't these sort of things just wait a little
bit longer, can we? I know that you're trying to
do these things, and I know you're trying to be proactive,
but going to your house is part of our history.
City to Bridge. Some people might love it and some
people might hate I'm not a fan of it myself. Yeah,
I mean I don't. I don't dig it. I don't
think it looks as funky as what everybody else does. Yes,
and I don't think it needs to be there, but
(26:47):
I don't want to see it come down.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Well neither do I. But again for me, like it's
quite simple for me, the risk to life or nostalgia
that that's how you know, that's what I've got.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Realistically, if that bridge comes down, me and you both know,
there's probably going to be one person, if we're lucky,
well two people. There's never anyone. I'm the damn thing.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Any So, let's just say it was five thirty pm
on a Thursday afternoon, there'd probably be like a whole
bunch of cars under it.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Okay, yeah, gone, you know, is it really that bad?
You really think it's bad because the engineers are calling
the show the whole damn time and telling us it's
not that bad. And you can get another report to
say we had the same thing at Freiburg. Remember we
all thought that in another engineer came in and said,
it's fine.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Yes we've had but we've had so many reports done
and at some point we as governors just have to go, Okay,
this is the information we've received. We're going to make
this decision what we have. Other people who generally disagree
with it. There's been a little bit of misinformation out
there as well, but it's quite simple. It's again, if
(27:50):
it collapses versus holding onto something we love, we're going
to repurpose a lot of the art that's put there,
a lot of the storytelling, and put it into something
new and safe. You know, back back in the day
when council decided on upgrading the town hall, when that
was quite prode the original quote was something like fifty
million dollars. It's now over three hundred million. Again, loss
(28:13):
of life or cost escalation. I'm not willing to take
that risk.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Okay, but going to your house that couldn't that's not
earthquake risk. It's just old and caddy and needs to
be loved.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Yeah, it's old and taddy, and there was a massive
storm a few months ago that has basically made it
a bit unsafe. However, that one's a little bit easier
to deal with. So we have asked officers to bring
back options in the new year.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
So that's the chance that we could save that maybe, but.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
We've also had people offer to help co fund it,
so we will look at that. Legitimately, it's just that
the initial quote of upgrading it for twenty four million dollars,
which is we can't afford that on our own, so
we'll look at options.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
We haven't got much time left, but Tori a couple
of questions I've got to finish with Vision Wellington, Concern
or non concern. Have they had any contact that they said, Hey,
we're the Vision of Wellington. Can we have a cup
of tea with you and help you?
Speaker 3 (29:02):
So I actually did have a sit down with Kerrie
last Friday. Yeah, it was a good chat. And look,
I know there have been things said in the public
because I didn't like the way it landed and seeing
the text messages to government around the time of our
government and fiction that didn't sit well with me. But
I did speak to Kerry and I've seen the news
about James Cameron speaking and well you know that messaging
(29:25):
like you know that that sounds great think tank. What
I would say to them is, you know, I still
don't think it's overly representative of Wellington. My mayoral group,
including some new members. I would say, represent the next
generation of Wellington. And it's also very diverse. You know,
(29:45):
if you, if you, if you want a wide range
of views. Hey, no my height am I let's have
a chat.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Last one yes or no.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
To what?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Well? You know what I mean? Yes, are going to stand? Yes,
one hundred percent confirmed right here, right now. Yes on
News Talk Sea Beat Wellington Mornings. Yes you've got a
campaign manager, it answers No, I'm too busy.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Yeah, yeah, too busy, Like this is why I'm looking
forward to the sun.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
I said, I'm too busy. If you're gonna ask me.
Speaker 3 (30:19):
It wouldn't be my manager, would you.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
No, I'm gonna do all that sort of you know,
campaign political thinking over the over the break.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
But it's one hundred percent yes, one hundred percent yes.
Good on you, Good on you for making that comment.
Good on you for making that stand.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
I think people deserve it. I think you deserve it.
I think it's great for the city that they know
that you are going to stand and they can do
what they want. They can't vote whatever they want, but
people can speak how they want. You're you're a yes, and.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
I respect that. I respect democracy. I think the city
needs continuity. And yes, well I've been a controversial figure
over the last couple of years. I've worked really hard,
our counselors worked really hard. I do love this city.
I think we need to work together a lot more.
My call to Vision Wellington, Vision Wellington is let's work together.
You know, it's tuning into a generational thing. That's not
(31:10):
what I want.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Okay, Merry Merry Christmas. I know it's been a tough year.
It's been a tough year for a lot of people
in Wellington, and it's been a tough year for you.
Thank you for always coming and making yourself available to
the show and really good luck. Thank you. I have
a great summer break, relax, kick back, go back to
the Naki I will. I'm going near as well, so
enjoy and we'll catch you next year.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Nick. 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 sed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Join us for the final time this year, is willing
to Mayor Tori Fano. Good morning, toy, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I'm great. Took me through the last couple of weeks hectic, crazy,
Are you ready for a break?
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Intense but good.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
So.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
We've had our final LTP meetings and council and probably
the two major decisions that we made this week were
a council decision on opposing the Treaty Principles bill had
a really strong majority, and of course our LTIP amendment,
which only two councilors voted against. So I think that's
quite a big one.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I want to get into that treaty stuff a little
bit later in the show, but I want to start
by us reflecting the year. You ready, Yes, on a
scale of one to ten. I love doing this and
I know that it annoys a lot of people. But
on a scale of one to ten, how would you
rate your own performance this year? January to December?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Okay, So I think probably around mid year, Like I
think it's gone up and down, right, So midyear was
probably around the five and you know, if I were
to do things differently on certain things, I.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Would tell me what those would be.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Ah, I think, you know, how the whole reading thing
was handled, how the airport was handled, I feel like
I could have read the room a little better perhaps.
So that's actually what I focused on with the LTP amendment,
is reading the room, working more as a collective. And
actually I feel like I've not EVENE will agree. A
(01:41):
lot of people won't agree, but I feel like I've
ended on a seven or eight.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Okay, So let's talk about reading the room. Because if
there is some criticism of you, it's that you read
the green room but the other colors don't count.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
That's no, I think, if anything, it's been the opposite
of that. And that's perhaps where I've fallen down. So,
you know, me been quite you know, publicly supporting you know,
reading in the airport's sale. That's actually that that upset
my base. And so with the LTIP amendment, I actually
(02:16):
what I did was actually just come back to why
what I stood for when I what the issues I
was standing for as mayor, what I was elected to do,
and that was what I've focused on developing this LTP.
Those those some of those projects earlier this year were
actually not in line with what I promised I would do,
(02:36):
and that's when I think things didn't go so well.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
So you talked about changing, How have you changed?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I think again, it's the reading the room thing. It's
remembering why.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
It's kind of just interrupt there, because the reading of
the room thing is that people don't want you to
be quite as green. They don't want the cycle ways,
they don't want all the green, and I don't.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Think that's true at all, because you know, I think
where my performance started to shake a bit was when
I wasn't being green, and that's when all the negative
articles came out. So I've come back to what I
promised to do, and actually the media has been really great.
I know there's a very loud group of people who
don't want cycle ways, but when I was elected, I
(03:19):
made a promise that I would deliver that and more.
I have to stick to what I promise, and that's
what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
You also promise to sort out reading.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Not as an election promise.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
No, but you did promise that you were going to
sort that out early on the piece I.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Did, Yeah, and it didn't go through.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
They tell me that it's close to a sale. Is
that true or not?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I have no idea. So council, Yeah, council is like,
so we went in, we did our bit, it didn't work,
so we've we've had to back out because it's not
our property. And I I mean, if it's near a
sal oh goodness, I hope it is.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
And that and you've heard nothing nothing? Okay, right, you
say a seven? You right now you're sitting in a
seven out again? Okay, Well you know, Okay, that's your
thoughts and that's what I'm asking you. What about the
council if we put the council out of ten as
a whole, not just your mates you're Rebecca Matthews and
your buddies, but the whole council.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I think, as of this week also a seven. Like
if you go through our meetings, if you go through
what we've decided, you know, deciding not to sell the
airport and then come together to develop an amendment that
cut you know, three approximately three hundred million dollars off
the books, I think is an incredible feat and we've
done that in a matter of weeks.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
How was the meeting the other day? Because I heard
it was very hostile and jeering from the crowd and
arguments and you know, race calling and the name court.
It was back to the old days.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
No, but no, I think it was really debating and loud.
It's it's the sort of stuff you would see in
the House at Parliament. And what I said at the
end is yes there was some heated debate. This is politics.
This is what happens at council. So yes there were
(05:09):
some heated discussions. But this is Wellington City Council. We're
in a political city where we're right next door to government.
I see nothing wrong with that.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Okay. If you were sitting down with a group of
people and they said to me, said to you, Tory,
what have been the wins for the Tori Faro mayoralship
this year? What were your What are the wins that
you can accredit to yourself.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I think our council has invested the most ever into
water infrastructure one point eight billion dollars, and we've passed
the resolution to move forward with the regional model that
has been led by a Kirey Prendergast. We've delivered more
cycle ways, which is what I promised. I've retained the
(05:54):
Golden Mile my key project, even given the opposition from
the government. We've invested half a billion dollars into social housing.
Housing is a huge priority for me, and we passed
a district plan which was a very complicated piece of work.
Those are things that I'm deeply proud of.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
What impact. No, I'll ask you to somebody else. You know,
your your regrets, What did what? What did you get
wrong that you could have changed?
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I think, if I'm honest, like the thing with reading right,
I was, I was probably too focused on the outcome.
Is that you know, I wanted development there. I wanted
spades in the ground this year, and that that's what
I was focused on, probably too much of the outcome
and didn't listen enough to other counselors about what their
(06:44):
concerns were. I probably would have approached that quite differently,
and you maybe listened a bit more.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Keep saying that you maybe listened a bit more. Yeah,
but that's the thing that I hear in the streets,
as you know, as a businessman and as a person
connected to Wellington, is that you're not listening. You didn't listen,
and thorned you didn't listen. With the Golden Mile, you
didn't listen with the reading. You don't listen, that's the
(07:12):
that's the no, that's the question.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
No, no, no, I think let's let's be upfront here.
I listen and what happens is I don't agree, and
then I get accused of not listening. The thing is,
I don't just represent people like yourself, Nick, I represent students.
I represent diverse communities. And as we heard through submissions
and consultation, over half of the people have participated want
(07:38):
the Golden Mile. So yes, I listened. I heard we
would make some Do you think.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
That the people that do you think the people that
wanted the Thornton and I'm not you know, I've obviously
involved in the Golden Miles, so I'm putting Thornton in
there as well, and the cycle ways to Carrori and
the cycle ways around. Do you think the people that
wanted them are the people that are going to make
Wellington better? I mean, I know that they are a
very important part of Wellington. But you know, if you
perhaps we're more rad to look after the movers and
(08:08):
shakers that make Wellington better, those people will be able
to get more jobs, they will be able to do
more because we'll have more in our economy going.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
So there are yep, so I listened to movers and shakers,
but there are again, there are also other movers and
shakers that might not be in your circle. I'm talking
about younger business owners, tech, screen, retail, fashion who want
these projects to go ahead. They want a city that
is safe to walk, is efficient with public transport, and
(08:38):
perhaps doesn't rely on cars as much. That is what
they want. This is why they elected me, Okay.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
I mean I won't argue with that. What impact is
the Crown observer?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
I think it's actually had a really positive impact. So
you know, as you would have seen, we welcomed Lindsay
with open arms. He's a really decent guy. He's very knowledgeable,
very friendly. He really does kind of just stand back
and observe, and if we ask him for advice on
allege sort of matter around at LTP, he'll give it
like an independent view. I think his presence has helped
(09:15):
us as a team work collaboratively a bit more, knowing
that there is a pair of eyes there. I think
it's been good.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
How do you think, because I mean I wasn't there,
and I've only seen little bits and pieces of it,
and I've heard from some people that were there for
the last council meeting he looked a little bit agitated
by the end of it and was talking to you
at the end of that meeting. What did he say
to you at the end of that meeting?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
He said, well done, you know, because he he's you know,
we successfully passed the LTIP amendment.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Right. What do you think he would have written to
Simeon Brown on his on his notepad. What do you
think he would have said to him? Because it was
you know, it was reasonably hostile, wasn't it. Let's call
it what it was.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
No, I'm not I'm not going to agree with that.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
You don't think it was reasonable? I think, okay, someone
calls a councilor calls another counselor a racist.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
She didn't call it, didn't she didn't directly call you know.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
But the race card was paid, was it or not?
Speaker 3 (10:09):
I mean it was. But if you were to pull
back from the wider issue and that we were talking
about the Treaty Principal's Bill, which I know that you
opposed as well, and you were supportive of the march,
let's kind of take it back there and think about
the serious issue. A lot of tongue that Defina are
very hurt, very hurt by that bill, and I appalled
her for standing up for us.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
She called one of the follow counts. Now she didn't,
she didn't, she didn't. Why are they taking legal action?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
You left to talk to them about it.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
You don't believe there was any racial connotations in that.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Council connotations, yes, but she did not call someone a
racist directly. It was just part of the general debate,
as people are entitled to do. She feels very passionate
about this topic, and again I thank her as an ally.
But let's let's not get bogged down by two people
(10:58):
talking at each other. Let's talk about the wider issue
that this bill is causing.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Okay, I want to get onto the bill as a
separate issue. As we go on during the hour, Maciro,
Does she finish up tomorrow?
Speaker 3 (11:08):
No, she is here until the end of January.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Okay, good to see her go.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
No, I'm sad to see her go. I think she's
been an incredible CEE. But you know, this is her decision,
and she's drew a well earned rest.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
What are your thoughts going forward?
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Again? She so She's built a really fantastic team who
really trust and love her, and I think she will
be handing over a fantastic organization to the new CE.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Right. Have you met him personally? Yes, I have your thoughts.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
He is great.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Will he make a difference?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah? I mean what's your well?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Will you get Wellington great again? I mean, you know
we've been in the doldrums, We've had few issues. So
will he be the god help? Rabs you and says,
come on, Tori, let's go. We're going to make money.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Rating Like Barbara, He'll be part of the solution. But again,
we have to you can't just kind of like put
it all on the council. We have to work together.
He'll be part of that, right.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Joining us in the studio for the final time this
year as Willington Mayor Torri Fouano, Tory Prime Minister Christopher
Luxan and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown announced on Monday
they want councils to focus on more of the basics.
There will be a new annual report on council's performance,
and next year there'll be legislation. Brown says, we'll keep
rates down. You hit out at his announcement telling the
(12:30):
government to stick to their lane. What do you mean
by that?
Speaker 3 (12:35):
So, I mean the announcement wasn't a surprise because they
basically hinted at this at the Local government conference earlier
this year. And if we remember, much of the local
government industry did not take to that very kindly because
we've had you know, the National Party during their election
campaign promised localism and giving local authorities the ability to
(12:59):
lead their towns and cities. This goes completely against that.
So they're expecting us to you know, take care of
things of infrastructure and so forth, which is what we're doing,
but without their help. So when you take water infrastructure
in particular, you know, transferring over it all water entity
(13:19):
is actually creating a challenge for Wellington City Council and
could put a several one hundred million dollar burden on us.
And because of the way that we fund depreciation and
so forth, the previous government promised no worse off funding
which would have helped with that. This one doesn't. So
it puts Wellington with the Wellington Regional in a bit
(13:42):
of a bind. And so what I'm saying is, you know,
I'm not down with them instructing us on what to
do when they're not necessarily providing us the assistance to
deal with the really big issues like infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
The idea of an annual report the safety makes perfect sense,
so doesn't it. So we layman can just pick up
this report and know exactly where we're going, rather than
get into the weeds and try and read the annual
stuff that the council go out.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
I mean, sure, that's fine, but their KPIs may not
align with what actually the city wants. And what I've
reminded them of is Wellington City elected particular people because
they believe in what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Is they what they went green?
Speaker 3 (14:25):
They went green and read and so that kind of
gives us a mandate to deliver on things like climate action, housing,
transport and cycle lanes. This government doesn't agree with that,
so we have to figure out how we kind of
marry that up.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Which I have always agreed with. I've always agreed that
we voted you in, we voted for what you represent.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
We've got what we wanted as well as our electorate MPs.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Absolutely, do you reckon if there was an election tomorrow,
status quo would be there.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Yes, that's where we disagree, and that's right, that's okay.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, what would this new legislation look like? Have you seen?
Have you heard?
Speaker 3 (15:07):
No, I haven't seen anything yet.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Okay, so you're not worried about it, not concerned about it?
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Ah, well, not until I see it, I suppose.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Okay, I want to talk about the dreaded rates. I
just got my rates bill the other day. I can't
afford to pay it. I cannot afford to pay it.
I look at it and I went, this is now
out of control for me, and I'll have to sell something.
There'll be a lot of people like me around Wellington.
Do you really care?
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Of course I do. But again we're put into the
position of having to upgrade our infrastructure, which is like
a huge chunk of that rates increase, paying for transport
and investing in the city that previous councils have not done.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
But a huge chunk of it's going to be things
like toilet blocks it cost too much, bike racks it
cost too much, cycle lanes that costs too much, Golden
mile that cost too much. Surely, if you really cared,
you'd say, yep, I understand how my people are. I
understand they can't have for these rates. Let's stop doing
something for a while.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
I do care, but this is what Wellingtonian's have asked for,
you know, it's what I promised. I've been very upfront
about the cost and the impact that could have on rates.
If we don't invest in it now, it'll only become
much more expensive and this our city will literally crumble away.
This is unfortunately the downside of living in an earthquake
prone city that hasn't had its infrastructure sufficiently funded.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
And well, you know, well some would say that it's
that it's previous to you. I'm not blaming you for this,
but previous to you that we have been having counsels
that want to keep spending and do things like the
Keena and spend money that we don't have.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
I mean, do you do you disagree with takena personally?
Speaker 2 (16:51):
I don't, but I could understand, you know, when people
get their rates bill that they would And it's been
not as successful as what me and you both wanted.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
To meet, but that's because of the general economic downturn.
Any convention center is going through that difficulty. But again,
you know, some thing like Takina was intended to drive
our local economy and drive people to other parts of
the city. Yes, we've had COVID and the economy is
not great and that has reflected on Tarkina at that time.
(17:20):
I mean it was solded a couple of terms ago.
You know, I would have too voted for it. The
national government of that time also supported it. They didn't
provide any funding towards it, like they have other convention centers.
We fronted it ourselves. I'm glad that we did. It
will when things start to come back, it will have
a massive impact. In fact, it's injecting more activity into
(17:41):
our local economy. You know, if that wasn't there would
be worse off.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Okay, is there anything you can cut? Is there anything
you can I mean fifteen point nine is the latest prediction. Right,
it's honestly Tory and I'm not over emphasizing this. It's
too tough, it's too hard.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
So what we've done for the last five weeks is
cut about you know, the costing will come back in February,
but between three to four hundred million dollars, so we
have made cuts already. We may need to make more
next next year. But what we've come to is a
collective of you know, or a budget that people have
(18:19):
asked for and that all of our counselors have had
input into, but we have made cuts.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
What do you say to the people of Anita Baker
was on the show yesterday and they were their their rate,
we're likely rates increased for likely to be ten percent,
but they kept it down. They went hard, cut staff
did a whole lot of things and they got up
to six percent. I mean, that's just like a dream
to Warringtonian's what do you say to the people of
Poro Roo. They're lucky enough to live out there.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Well, and that's great for putting on. We're the capital city.
We have different requirements. We have the town Hall, convention Center,
we have you know that there's a lot more expectation
from our city compared to put it on.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
But we have fifteen point nine percent rate increases.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
It will be down to twelve point eight percent.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
And I don't and you promise, can you promise that?
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Promise that I promise that. So it's quite normal for
the initial draft rate because from a legislative perspective, we
have to announce it and say this is where it's
come to. It's always that high at the beginning of
the annual planned year and it's and then we bring it,
we look at other ways to bring it down, and
that will that will certainly happen, But we have to
(19:32):
remember again we are the capital city. The same people
who complain about it dying and looking ugly are the
same people who don't want to invest in it. It's
it's kind of like this is where we're at. I
wish previous councils had fronted up then when it would
have been much lower costs. They didn't because they wanted
to keep rates lower. I'm taking it on the chin
(19:56):
and I will do it.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Can I quickly just tell you the story, and I
want to get your reaction really quickly because we've got
to go to the news break. But a certain building
in Courtney Place was for sale three and a half
four years ago for three million. They had offers of
over two but decided not to sell it. Last week
(20:17):
it sold for nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Now
that's because people can't afford the rates. People can't afford
what to pay the rents anymore. They don't have any
idea what's going to happen in Courtney Place in the future.
So does that sort of stuff, those stories concern you
of this capital city that we're all saying, so great,
(20:38):
nine hundred and fifty thousand for a building on Courtney
Place never heard of?
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Well, I mean, I've never heard of that. I haven't
heard that story. I don't know anything about that building.
It could be, as we know, there are a lot
of earthquake prone buildings in the area and their value
has dropped significantly because of that. I'm making assumptions that
as the case.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Well still earth If it was, it would have still
been three years ago.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
But if you I would ask you, Nick, would you
prefer to keep Courtney Place as it is now?
Speaker 2 (21:06):
And you know what, if you ask asking me that question,
not as a talkback host, but as a person, I
would say, for the next three years, one hundred percent,
really one hundred percent, because there's going to be, like
we heard a caller the other day, there's going to
be forty two businesses go broke over the next two years.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
And so you're I suppose you're answering as a business owner.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I am, and I am saying that I did make
maccare I want to talk to you about the business
advisory group two members have resigned. Bigwig developer Mark McGinnis
and bar owner Justin McKenzie are gone. Mackenzie said that
he wants to rather than sitting in a room with
a cup of tea, he wants action and he wasn't
(21:48):
sort of getting those actions. Mark McGinnis wouldn't go to them,
wouldn't talk to the media, but has resigned. This his
This advisory group work for you as it helped you.
Has it do anything for you personally?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
It has, so we've gotten some good things out of it,
Like you know, one thing that this group asked for
was a creative market to be hot and Wellington where
we could showcase our artists, fashion people and so forth.
So we're currently in negotiations with pans to perhaps come
here in twenty twenty six. So it's kind of like
(22:21):
about generating ideas like that that, given it's such a
tough time for the economy, what are some innovative ways
we can still activate the city in the meantime. It's
not necessarily going to work for everyone, and that's okay.
They might prefer to go to other types of groups.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
What did I'm going to say to you? When he
resigned did he talk call you and say hey, it's
Mark mcginna's hear from willis BYLD.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
So we've had a chat about it and we're still friendly.
He still gives me his views on certain things and
we fundamentally disagree on some big things, but we do
so respectfully.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
You know, he couldn't make the changes that he thought
were what he would like to see in the city.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Yeah, no, like I think that, you know, the feedback
from some people is going to be canceled. The goal
a mile that's.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Not the moslwys his view on the v accounts.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
He would preferred that it would have been held off.
But I'd rather not speak for him. Actually, I probably
shouldn't have said that, and I was very open about
not doing that. The rest of the group wanted to go.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Was that why he left?
Speaker 3 (23:21):
You'd have to ask him.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Okay, So he was against the Golden Mile, one of
the biggest proper developers with you.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Have to ask you said, no, no, no, But again
I also I don't want to speak for him, and
I might be speaking.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
He's got a very major holding in that area, so
he's got tenants to look after a major holding, and
he said that he didn't want that to go ahead.
And still no one's listening.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
No, Like I said before, Nick, I am listening to everyone.
There's a there are a lot of residents again that
the future of our city want the STUG to go ahead.
The majority of submissions want this to go ahead.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
So Mark, you said, not me. I'm not sorry you
said that. You said Mark mcgist didn't.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Want to I'm not listening to you. I'm not listening
to anyone. That's not true. I represent the entire city.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
No, no, no, no, I didn't say that. I just said
Mark McGinnis told you that he didn't want you.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
We said earlier, I'm not listening to anyone, And and what
I'm telling you is, I do listen to everybody.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
You've got an advisory group, and you've got a very
powerful businessman who's done a lot of wonderful things his family.
If this city wouldn't be the city it is without
the things that his family's done. And he's saying, don't
go ahead with a golden mile, and then he's quitting.
Now that tells me something. If it doesn't tell you something,
it says a red light to me.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
It does tell me something. But again, I also represent
a large sect of Wellington that want this project to
go ahead. I believe in it. I stood on this
project I was elected.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Okay, all right, So what's the point of having that
advisory group if you don't want to listen to them?
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Because I welcome conflicting views and I think that's actually
really useful. And we have gone to the Golden mile
and seeing where we can tweak the design to make
it work for other people. But again, you know, it's okay.
If people don't agree with a particular project, that doesn't
mean cancel it. It just means this is democracy. I
vieus a heard, then we decide and put it through.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
It's also how mistakes can be made, not just I agree, toy.
Let's talk about the Begonia House and City to the Bridge. Yes,
I mean, I mean I know that you won't you
personally wouldn't like to see them both go. But is
it just the financial Oh I'm actually putting words in
your mouth. You might want to see them both go. Sorry,
(25:30):
I am putting words in your mouth. Do you want
to see Bigonia House and the City to Bridge dropped?
Speaker 3 (25:37):
I mean, in an ideal world, no, because I do
love them both that the problem with the City to
see Bridge is that it is earthquake prome and to
upgrade it would cost at least fifty million dollars. For
full upgrade over eighty million dollars. What we've learned from
the town hall is that it's such a risky upgrade.
(25:58):
So to demolish it is about thirty million dollars. So
it's a cost thing as well as and for those
who have said just keep it up a bit longer,
I mean the risk of it collapsing, even if it
was small that I'm not comfortable with that.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Right, There is no risk of it falling there really
is there an earthquake there is, Yeah, there's I mean,
we could be here in an earthquake and it's going
to fall and we'll be saying goodbye together. I mean,
we don't know, it's likely. Yeah, we don't know.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
We don't know.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
But couldn't these sort of things just wait a little
bit longer, can we? I know that you're trying to
do these things, and I know you're trying to be proactive,
but going to your house is part of our history.
City to Bridge. Some people might love it and some
people might hate I'm not a fan of it myself. Yeah,
I mean I don't. I don't dig it. I don't
think it looks as funky as what everybody else does. Yes,
and I don't think it needs to be there, but
(26:47):
I don't want to see it come down.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Well neither do I. But again for me, like it's
quite simple for me, the risk to life or nostalgia
that that's how you know, that's what I've got.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Realistically, if that bridge comes down, me and you both know,
there's probably going to be one person, if we're lucky,
well two people. There's never anyone. I'm the damn thing.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Any So, let's just say it was five thirty pm
on a Thursday afternoon, there'd probably be like a whole
bunch of cars under it.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Okay, yeah, gone, you know, is it really that bad?
You really think it's bad because the engineers are calling
the show the whole damn time and telling us it's
not that bad. And you can get another report to
say we had the same thing at Freiburg. Remember we
all thought that in another engineer came in and said,
it's fine.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Yes we've had but we've had so many reports done
and at some point we as governors just have to go, Okay,
this is the information we've received. We're going to make
this decision what we have. Other people who generally disagree
with it. There's been a little bit of misinformation out
there as well, but it's quite simple. It's again, if
(27:50):
it collapses versus holding onto something we love, we're going
to repurpose a lot of the art that's put there,
a lot of the storytelling, and put it into something
new and safe. You know, back back in the day
when council decided on upgrading the town hall, when that
was quite prode the original quote was something like fifty
million dollars. It's now over three hundred million. Again, loss
(28:13):
of life or cost escalation. I'm not willing to take
that risk.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Okay, but going to your house that couldn't that's not
earthquake risk. It's just old and caddy and needs to
be loved.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Yeah, it's old and taddy, and there was a massive
storm a few months ago that has basically made it
a bit unsafe. However, that one's a little bit easier
to deal with. So we have asked officers to bring
back options in the new year.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
So that's the chance that we could save that maybe, but.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
We've also had people offer to help co fund it,
so we will look at that. Legitimately, it's just that
the initial quote of upgrading it for twenty four million dollars,
which is we can't afford that on our own, so
we'll look at options.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
We haven't got much time left, but Tori a couple
of questions I've got to finish with Vision Wellington, Concern
or non concern. Have they had any contact that they said, Hey,
we're the Vision of Wellington. Can we have a cup
of tea with you and help you?
Speaker 3 (29:02):
So I actually did have a sit down with Kerrie
last Friday. Yeah, it was a good chat. And look,
I know there have been things said in the public
because I didn't like the way it landed and seeing
the text messages to government around the time of our
government and fiction that didn't sit well with me. But
I did speak to Kerry and I've seen the news
about James Cameron speaking and well you know that messaging
(29:25):
like you know that that sounds great think tank. What
I would say to them is, you know, I still
don't think it's overly representative of Wellington. My mayoral group,
including some new members. I would say, represent the next
generation of Wellington. And it's also very diverse. You know,
(29:45):
if you, if you, if you want a wide range
of views. Hey, no my height am I let's have
a chat.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Last one yes or no.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
To what?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Well? You know what I mean? Yes, are going to stand? Yes,
one hundred percent confirmed right here, right now. Yes on
News Talk Sea Beat Wellington Mornings. Yes you've got a
campaign manager, it answers No, I'm too busy.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Yeah, yeah, too busy, Like this is why I'm looking
forward to the sun.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
I said, I'm too busy. If you're gonna ask me.
Speaker 3 (30:19):
It wouldn't be my manager, would you.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
No, I'm gonna do all that sort of you know,
campaign political thinking over the over the break.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
But it's one hundred percent yes, one hundred percent yes.
Good on you, Good on you for making that comment.
Good on you for making that stand.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
I think people deserve it. I think you deserve it.
I think it's great for the city that they know
that you are going to stand and they can do
what they want. They can't vote whatever they want, but
people can speak how they want. You're you're a yes, and.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
I respect that. I respect democracy. I think the city
needs continuity. And yes, well I've been a controversial figure
over the last couple of years. I've worked really hard,
our counselors worked really hard. I do love this city.
I think we need to work together a lot more.
My call to Vision Wellington, Vision Wellington is let's work together.
You know, it's tuning into a generational thing. That's not
(31:10):
what I want.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Okay, Merry Merry Christmas. I know it's been a tough year.
It's been a tough year for a lot of people
in Wellington, and it's been a tough year for you.
Thank you for always coming and making yourself available to
the show and really good luck. Thank you. I have
a great summer break, relax, kick back, go back to
the Naki I will. I'm going near as well, so
enjoy and we'll catch you next year.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Nick. 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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