Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Tory Whanau is bowing out of Wellington's mayoral race. 

The incumbent's confirmed she'll instead stand for the council's Māori ward seat to give former Labour Leader Andrew Little a clear run. 

She says Little will do a good job, and she hopes people see her withdrawal as a gracious move. 

Whanau told Nick Mills she had to consider what was going to deliver the best outcomes for Wellington, and that meant shifting t...

The Government has admitted the number of families it said would be eligible for the full $75 a week benefit of its flagship childcare tax policy was wrong. 

The government said 21,000 families would be eligible - but just 249 families had received the full entitlement since the policy came into force last year. So who is responsible for the blunder? 

Also, police have launched a wide-ranging investigation of hundreds of ...

Businesses in the capital city are still feeling glum - Westpac's latest survey has found Wellington has the lowest business confidence of any region in the country. With interest rates dropping and spending increasing, when will confidence return? 

Also, Wellington mayor Tory Whanau has officially turned the sod at the first tranche of Golden Mile works this morning. How will the plan affect businesses?

To answer those questi...

New Zealand First has introduced a member's bill to Parliament which would define in law what a woman is - but is this really necessary? 

Also, Pope Francis has died at the age of 88. What's his legacy, and what do you hope to see in the next Pope?

To answer those questions, PSA national secretary and former Wellington City Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons and Franks Ogilvie director and political commentator Brigitte Morten joined...

Tomorrow marks 110 years since Australian and New Zealand troops landed on the shores of Gallipoli, Turkey. A total of 2709 New Zealand soldiers lost their lives - and countless more were injured. 

Memorial services will be held across the Wellington region to remember those who served in the New Zealand armed forces. 

To discuss the plans, Wellington RSA president and retired army Colonel Kevin Arlidge joined Nick Mills....

It's an unusual topic to base a musical on; the change of a road rule. 

But that's exactly what Give Way The Musical does, putting a satirical spin on the 2012 change to the 'give way' law. 

The story follows idealistic Sophie who, wanting to make the world a better place, joins the Ministry of Transport. She seizes on fixing New Zealand’s 'give way' rule, but not everyone’s keenon a change. A protest movement gather...

Former Labour leader and Cabinet minister Andrew Little finally announced this week he is running to be the city's mayor. Is he automatically the hot favourite? 

Also, we learnt this week that Wellington Water received a report in 2021 outlining many of the conce...

Former Labour leader Andrew Little has today confirmed he will stand for the Wellington mayoralty in the upcoming local body elections.

Little said he is standing for mayor because Wellington needs “urgent change” and “serious leadership”.

“I’m confident I can win,” he said today.

He had previously ruled out throwing his hat in the ring but has revealed this morning that he wants to “end the chaos at council” which he believed he h...

A successful Wellington business owner says if he were starting again today, he wouldn't start his business in Wellington. 

"Whether you should do it in Wellington though, I would say no. I think Wellington is actually talent repellent system at the moment," Raygun founder John-Daniel Trask told Nick Mills. 

"We’ve had people in our own organisation who have left and said I’m going to places like Auckland because they are...

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has been in Hawaii this week, where he gave a speech discussing the United States tariffs on the rest of the world. 

But in that speech he criticised use of the term "trade war" - despite Prime Minister Christopher Luxon using the term himself. 

It also comes after Luxon had a number of conversations with world leaders. Peters said the pair hadn’t discussed Luxon’s speech or his calls with ...

David Seymour's Treaty Principles Bill is dead and buried - but was it worth having the conversation as a country? 

Also, former Labour leader Andrew Little says he is considering running to be Wellington's next mayor. Would he be right for the job? 

And TVNZ has confirmed production of a four-episode New Zealand version of The Chase. Who should host it?

To answer those questions, Integrity Institute director Dr Bryce Edw...

The Hurricanes take on the Crusaders at Sky Stadium tonight - a spectacle that will include fireworks for the first time at Sky Stadium in a decade. What can we expect from the game - and might we see a big crowd?

Also, the Wellington Saints are at the top of the table after beating Southland last night. Who are the stars? 

Newstalk ZB Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills for...

The government has announced $12 billion of funding for the Defence Force as part of it's new capability plan - but where will the money come from? 

Also, a new report from a the Ministerial advisory group says NZ is losing the fight against organised crime, with Customs "swimming against the tide" as meth use doubles. How do we better fight organised crime?

To answer those questions, Labour's health and Wellington issues spok...

It was on April 10th 1968, as Cyclone Giselle was bearing down on Wellington, that the Interisland ferry Wahine ran aground on Barrett Reef. 

A total of 52 passengers died, while rescuers - both professional and amateur - saved the lives of just under 700 others found in the harbour or along it's shores. 

Wellington Mornings dug into the archives and found reporting from the day. 

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Labour leader Chris Hipkins has thrown his support behind Andrew Little as the former party leader mulls a run for the Wellington mayoralty.

Speaking to Nick Mills today, Hipkins said Little is a “top bloke” and would be a “very, very good option for Wellingtonians”.

“He’s both a leader and a capable manager and I think Wellington city needs both at the moment,” Hipkins said.

“No one can doubt Andrew’s left-wing credentials, he’s a...