Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

The government has announced $164 million in extra funding for after-hours doctors clinics around the country - but the announcement doesn't include any specific funding for services in central Wellington. 

Currently, those seeking 24/7 care are required to travel to a clinic in Kenepuru - and that looks set to remain the case. 

To discuss the announcement and the importance of after hours primary care, Porirua GP and cha...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis will unveil her second budget on Thursday - and she's remaining tight lipped on what could be inside. What can we expect?

Also, Parliament will tomorrow debate the Privileges Committee's recommendation to suspend three Te Pati Maori MPs. How long could this debate go on? 

Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills for the Beehive Buzz. 

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It’s been quite a week in Parliament.

Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden dropped...

Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has hoisted his first PGA Tour trophy at the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina - but what happens next for the Kiwi golfer? 

Also, the Hurricanes take on the Highlanders at Sky Stadium tonight - and the bookies have a very firm favourite. What can we expect?

All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper and Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Nick Mills for the Friday Sport Kickoff.

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It was a fiery day in Parliament yesterday, with Workplace Relations minister Brooke van Velden quoting a controversial opinion piece and dropping the c-word in Parliament. Was this acceptable?

Also, the Greens have released their alternative budget, promising $88 billion in new taxes. Is this lunacy or realistic? 

To answer those questions, Transport minister and Hutt South MP Chris Bishop and Labour's health and Wellington i...

We're nearly halfway through New Zealand music month, and Wellington Mornings' look back on the greatest Kiwi songs ever released continues. 

This week; what was the first New Zealand number one single entirely in te reo Māori? And what was the first number one from a female artist?

Also, our music man James Irwin takes a look back at the TV shows of old that celebrated Kiwi music. 

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They are two Wellington organisations who have just spent millions of dollars on new projects - so how did they get them off the ground? 

In the Wellington City Mission's case, last year they opened Whakamaru - with a new cafe and safe transitional housing for the city's most vulnerable - and today they also launched a brand new catering business with profits going straight back to the mission. 

For Circa Theatre, the Wel...

The college of Caridinals has elected a new Pope - and he's the first to hail from the United States. Will he continue Francis' liberal legacy? 

Also, outgoing Labour MP David Parker says New Zealand's MMP system has led to more polarisation in our politics and is in favour of a preferential voting system. Is MMP working?

To answer those questions, former Minister Peter Dunne and BusinessDesk property editor Maria Slade joined...

NZ Rugby have posted yet another multi-million dollar loss - despite record turnover. 

The group lost $19.5 million last year - the third loss in a row. 

Is the issue that the game simply can't compete with the likes of football and basketball - or are they simply spending too much money? 

Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills for the Friday Sport Kickoff.

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The government has completely revamped the law surrounding pay equity - a move the opposition says was designed to save money. Was it?

Also, is it okay for Ministers to conduct official business via their personal email accounts? Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he is "relaxed" about it. 

To answer those questions, Labour's health and Wellington issues spokesperson Ayesha Verrall and National's Otaki MP Tim Costley joined...

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the government is letting down women across New Zealand by revamping the country's pay equity laws. 

Parliament is sitting under urgency today to change the law - expected to save the government billions of dollars. 

Hipkins joined Nick Mills to discuss the move, as well as a National MP's proposal to ban under-16s from social media, and former Labour leader Andrew Little's run to be Welli...

It's fifty years since the official New Zealand music charts were launched - and there have been plenty of number ones from Kiwi artists in the five decades since. 

Many records have been broken in that time too - including some artists who managed the feat of knocking one of their own songs from the number one position.

To discuss the history of the charts, Wellington Mornings' music man James Irwin joined Nick Mills for Musi...

Act party leader David Seymour says the size of New Zealand's government is too big - and there are too many ministerial positions, including some ministers with multiple portfolios. 

So what does Prime Minister Christopher Luxon make of the suggestion some ministerial positions should be cut?

Also, we're just weeks away from Finance Minister Nicola Willis unveiling this year's budget. What can we expect over the coming weeks?

It was a big weekend in Australia, with Anthony Albanese's Labor Party returned to power over Peter Dutton's Liberal/National coalition.

The result flew in the face of multiple polls, which as recent as two months ago were predicting a resounding win for Dutton.

The 'Trump effect' has been widely attributed to Labor's rise in the polls during the campaign. Could we see something similar in New Zealand? 

New Zealand Labour's ca...