Are MPs entitlements fit for purpose, and at what point in a council term is it too early to announce you're running for the next one?
Those were the questions for our Friday Faceoff panel this week, consisting of Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy and Wellington City Councillor Nicola Young.
Also on the agenda was an apparent split in Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau's majority, how easy it would be to escape for two years, and the big match for the Hurricanes this weekend.
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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 dissecting the week sublime and
ridiculous Friday face off with Quinovic Property Management a better
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Speaker 2 (00:25):
I don't care about you. I'm joining us Friday face
off This week is Upper Hut Mayor won't guppy Gup's good.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
To see you, good to see you well and good
to be here?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Am I allowed to call you gup? Still? And that
is that inappropriate to call a mayor by his nickname? All?
You still get called that when you walk down the
streets of.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Upp Hut, still get called that? Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Can you get a bit closer to that microphone?
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Now?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I still get called that and it doesn't worry It
doesn't worry me at all.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
And one Inton City Councilor Nikola Young. I know there's
a lot of nicknames for you, but we wouldn't be
able to use any of them on radio.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
I don't know any of them.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Good morning, good boarding. I was only jesting with you,
like having a declar. Okay, tell me what's going on
in Wellington City Council before we start in the show
what's going on.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
It is so complicated and must be fascinating for the observer.
But basically, as we know, three of the left councilors
have broken away from supporting the mayor because they don't
agree with the airport share sale. It has to come now.
The whole thing comes as part of the long term
plan to council and it's touch and go whether the
long term plan gets passed by council.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Now, I can't remember whether you were supportive or not
support well.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
I supported the airport's sale, but then I voted against
the long term and then it was incorporated into the
long term plan and I voted against the long term
plan because I'm so concerned about the rates increase for
residents and street three point seven times that for businesses.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I mean, gubs, what would you think as a mayor
in one of the cities surrounding Wellington when you look
and what does it say to you what's going on? Well?
Speaker 6 (01:58):
I mean the reality of it is that the decisions
and things that happened in Wellington City has an effect
on all of us in the Wellington region. I mean
the perception from central government so and and how people
perceive the region has an effect on all of us things.
But look, it's all about for me. I mean, Wellington's
continually been burdened by the fact that there have been
(02:21):
fractions and the reality of it is, you know, it's
pretty simple for me make a decision, which is the
best decision for the city individual. Forget about your political
affiliations and allegiances. It's about what is best for the
city and when it's good for the city, it's good
for the region.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Do you have the same party voting knocks at Upperhart, No,
not at all.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
I think you see, all councilors should be independents. I
mean they can belong to a political party, but they
should be independent and not take Labor and Green got
instructed by their parties hard to vote on the airport's
share sale.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, and that complicates things totally and it takes you
away from being a counselor you're a puppet.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
So, I mean I stid for council because I want
the best for Wellington.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
That is my sole goal.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
What do you think is going to happen right now, Nicholas?
What's going to change?
Speaker 4 (03:09):
You mean because of the long term plan or.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
No, because of the fractions in the council.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Well, I think the mayor is going to have a
tougher time getting things through because he's got threes little
warriors out to get her. And it'll be interesting. She's
certainly being much nicer and more communicate with the independence
and think did and I had coffee last week?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Well that's due to us putting pressure on her.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I mean, will they kiss and make up quickly?
Speaker 4 (03:37):
No?
Speaker 5 (03:37):
No, no, because you know, as you know, I'm sure
Ben McNaughty is going to stand for the mayoralty that this.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Is part Well, he told me unequivocally live on the
show that he's got a young family and he could
not think of a worse job in the world than
be Mayor of Wellington and he would not do it.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Well, let's see what the ballot paper says.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Are we going to have lunch on it?
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Why not?
Speaker 4 (03:58):
I'll buy you lunch.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
If he doesn't.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
If he doesn't, okay, okay, I'll send you an email
to confirmed. I did lose the last bet. I maybe
there I lost a dollar, but in fact I gave
too because I got it so.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Wrong and and you didn't have change and I didn't
have change.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
But you know, I didn't want change.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
I'm generous with my own money, not other people's.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Okay, so you think he's I mean, everything about it
says that he wants to be mayor except him.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Well, we'll see.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Okay, you know, it's a long time to go, and
we've you know, only so so Tory says she's going
to do three terms, which is an unusual thing for
a politician to say. And I think Ray has already
declared that he's standing and he's been actively fundraising, and
so we'll see.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Let's can I combine two topics and one here I'm
going to I'm gonna. I'm going to I'm going to
go and be naughty because normally we keep him separately.
I mean, when is it too soon Wayne Guppy to stay?
Oh I'm going to run for mayor? I mean we're
we're only just halfway through. You've got somebody going against you,
has come out and said they're going to go against you.
So what's going to happen? I mean, was it too soon?
Speaker 6 (05:02):
Well? I think every individuals differently. I mean, you've got
to maintain a lot of momentum. When you declare a
long way out, it's not it's not that's not easy
to do. But certainly, and Issa said individually and that's
the that's the democratic process. People have different if you like,
of a different strategy of how they think will make
the biggest impact. But certainly one months out as a
(05:23):
fair way to maintain moment.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
But it does depend on the person's profile.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
I mean, just look at what's happened when the British
elections with Natal Fowers at the last moment declaring that
he's going to stand and now reform has overtaken the
Conservatives and the polls. So if you've got a high profile,
you can run it later. If you've got a low profile,
you need to start earlier.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Well, you need the time. I mean, gupt, how is
that going to change things for you? I mean you're
a long term mayor. You've said goodbye to another long
term mayor this week, which we we've got to pay
tribute to. What what how does it change your tune
when you're eighteen months out?
Speaker 6 (05:55):
Well, I mean we which business as usual for me
and as we move forward, we've got a lot of
a lot of tough decisions to make and in the
next only months and that's that's that's important, So that
what you've got to do is make sure that you
don't get you don't get blindsided or.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Will you run again?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Well, I haven't said or not, but you'll be the
first to know.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
I mean, I do think upper Hut's very lucky to
have Wayne. He's been a safe, steady pair of hands,
whereas well instance just had turbulance. You know, one term
mayor after one term mayor lucky upper Hut to have
you Wayne.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
How do we actually get I don't want to let
this go too so quickly because I really want to
get to a point where we have to be like
an independent thinker. Yes, if you're a member of the
National Party, that's fine, but when you get on the
around that table, you've got to be an independent thinker.
Is that a big too big a ask Nicola.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Well, I'm a member of the National Party. I mean,
I think it's pretty much stamped on my forehead. It's
never had any effect on how I vote. I've never
had anything.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
You've always voted right wing, though, haven't you?
Speaker 4 (06:53):
No, No, not not always? That was always the people
alway said. I was a surprise.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
Sometimes I've voted with a left. Sometimes it was the
right depends. It's issue vote issue for me. No one
from the National Party has ever talked to me about
how I vote. It's none of their business. I'm an
independent counselor and I will do what I think is
right for the city and hopefully what the majority of
people who vote for me want.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Onae Guppy, has this ship sailed? Is it gone? Now?
The opportunity to have independence around a council table or
having them all independent around a table.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
No, but you'd expect you'd expect people to to As
I said, I go back to things saying when you
you know, when an issue comes up, it's about what's
best for the city and that needs to take place.
Remember though, if and people see if that's affecting the
progress of the city or the council that they that
they are involved in, then you know the ballot boxes
(07:45):
where you make those changes.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
But we knew that, we saw that, we didn't do
anything about it in the last election.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
Nicolas, Well, the last election was you know, probably a
good subject for an academic study of.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
An electoral disaster. All in all sorts of respects.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I'm not just salking about who got elected, but the
way other candidates run that campaign when it was just hopeless.
Clarify that, Well, you know, everyone thought that Paul Eagle
was going to roar in, so other people didn't put
their names forward. Andy Foster was you know, tried his
best but was actually hopeless. And so then Paul took
(08:20):
ages to decide whether he's going to be independent or Labor.
Then he decided was sort of Labor light. Labor didn't
like him, so they were actively campaigning against him. Andy
was just continued being Andy, and meantime Tory was campaigning,
you know, very early on lots of those signs around
Wellington and guarante and campaigned to unite the council.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
So Paul imploded and he never featured.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Tory won. Yeah, well she went next election, I hope not.
What do you think, Wayne, looking out from the outside,
what do you think do you think that she'll she'll
have a chance of getting I mean you're well, as
you said, you're involved because you're right there and you
look from afar, well, she is.
Speaker 6 (09:03):
The incumbent, and I mean the next daighty months for
for Will and consider you a crucial and crucial for
all of us. I mean the fact you hope that
for the next you have a look at some of
the decisions that need to get made, and those decisions
have a regional impact. And so you'd hope that now
if there's been you know, there's been obviously some a
bit of a scrap in the last week, one would
(09:25):
hope now that people say, hey, let's put our political
affiliations aside. We need to be making the right decisions
for these big, big decisions for the city.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
And eighteen months is a long time.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
But the thing is when some of those counselors are
really more activists than counselors, so they're not going to
put them to one side. But I would say we've
had two elections in a row where mayors have had
one turn, they stood again and missed out. So it
does happen in relection.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Can I ask you about nik al Wanera, because I
dismissed him as a young radical wrongly? Probably he's obvious,
smart young guy. Tell me what your thoughts of him are?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Yeah, I probably don't really want to go into that
too much.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Okay, time for a break with that. It doesn't tell
me much, did it didn't tell us much? You don't
want to be sued Tim Costley is taking six thirty
six thousand a year of taxpayers money to rent a
CBD apartment despite being living forty five minutes up the road.
And why and I why Karen mcinnaughty is taking the
same amount to live in his wife's La Hut home
(10:28):
she owns as karen home is technically in Masterton, Wayne Guffy,
Are these MP's reasonably taking this cash? Isn't reasonable for
them to do this?
Speaker 6 (10:38):
Well, they're not breaking the law and it wasn't the question, no,
But they're not breaking the law. And I think I
think the press have climbed on board to hear and
and really I mean these these rules are set independently,
and I quite frankly think that from the point of
view of those MP's hearing what they you know, what
they're saying about the fact that they are late nights,
(10:58):
et cetera, et cetera, And I have no issue with
it or what are you going to change it to
the fact of the matter is they have to live
here in the city.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
They committed to being here, as I.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Said, late at night, early mornings, and so from my
point of view, I don't have an issue with this
at all. Again, we want to We want to look
at an issue. Say there's an issue, and then you say, well,
what do we change it to? And then we'll find
another issue.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Nicola, do you think that even we should even maybe
try and tighten up the rules?
Speaker 5 (11:28):
So, I mean a lot of what Wayne has said
is right, well, it's all right, but I do think
the rules need to be reviewed. I had to look
to see what they do in Britain. In Britain, of
course MPs get paid a lot less than our MPs,
but they're not allowed to use the accommodation allowance to
pay a mortgage. And I think maybe we should look
at that rule. But yeah, you know, I think it's
decided by the Remuneration Authority. But I think look, MPs
(11:49):
have a grueling life. They start early, really early, and
work late because it doesn't just it's not just what
parliament sitting hours are. And I wouldn't want them driving
back to Otaki or Marston or wherever.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
I mean late at night.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Why can I is? Why can I too? Tough? At does.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Think it's quite a long If it's eleven o'clock at night,
night after night and you started work at seven in
the morning, it might have been up since four Yeah,
I do. Yeah, Okay, I think it's tough, but I
think that it's the mortgage thing that gets up people's nose.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
I think so too, because it's not another perk, isn't it, Wayne.
I mean, you pay off your apartment, you sell it
after one term or two terms six years, capital gains
six years, you might make one hundred percent tax free
text free text free.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Perk might be a little bit emotional to use the
word it's going.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
To ar use it, But I mean the thing is
MPs do get a lot of allowances and things that
you know. Of course city councilors don't. But I mean
we get a car park and a mobile phone, which
is both great.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Do they check on the numbers you ring on your
mobile phone?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Well, they're very welcome to any time.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I'm just starting, do they or not?
Speaker 4 (12:49):
No, Look I don't know. I mean they might do.
Who knows, will.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Stop ringing me just in case one guppy That so
is nothing that needs to change here, I'm sure that.
I mean, these things are always reviewed at times.
Speaker 6 (13:01):
But as I said, at the moment, I think press
were making a lot out of something that, as I said,
has been in de pendantly put in place. Everyone has agreed,
and I don't see there's been a major issue.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Okay, Tom Phillips and as three kids have been missing
now for two and a half years now been put
up an eighty thousand dollars warter On offer for any
information that leads to Phillip's arrest. Nicola, Realistically, how easy
is it to disappear in New Zealand for two and
a half years these days.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Well, I would have thought it's pretty difficult.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
Although I must say when I've done some of the
great walks that you realize how much wilderness we have.
Of course I would be hopeless in the wilderness. I
think one of the things that we were asked to
think about for today's session is could you do it
in Wellington? And I'd have to say, you can't keep
anything secret in Wednington, as many people have found out
to their costs, because Weddington is a village full of people.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Who love information. But the wilderness.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
Yeah, look, I just I mean it's a terribly sad situation.
I just feel so sorry for those children, I mean, feeding, clothing, education, health,
it's just terrible. But I think probably there's so much
uncharted territory in New Zealand and the wilderness. Probably you
can do it.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
One of the kids. I mean, we've all had kids.
We all know what the situation. When you're a pharmacist,
you get sick, kids get sick. What happens in two
and a half years. None of those kids have got ill,
none of them have got anything wrong with them.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
They inoculations.
Speaker 6 (14:24):
The reality of it is society and the police have
slipped up here, I mean for two and a half years,
and now suddenly we see a reward going and what
a sad reflection on society. I see reports coming to
say that the eighty thousand went up, and suddenly people
are offering information. So that to me, as a very said,
(14:44):
so they knew it before the eighty thousand dollars. They
had information they could have shared. The police have been asking,
you know, for that for two and a half years.
Eighty thousand goes up and all of a sudden, But.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
It's interesting that they've been offered the possibility of immunity
from prosecution. They haven't had guaranteed immunity, so it could
cause a few family factions.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
I mean, they say that the eighty thousands put up
is a helicopter in the sky. So you know, would
you dib in a friend for eighty grand.
Speaker 6 (15:09):
Well, obviously some are because they're getting as I heard
being reported that they are getting a good information.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Well, I remember to Wayne looking at you, was that
case where those two people were murdered, A one where
people were murdered, person was murdered and upper hut and
nothing could happen, They couldn't find anything. Suddenly a reward
comes and there's a risk. I mean, are we that
sort of society that would sell out our mates or
sell out information for money?
Speaker 5 (15:35):
Well, I guess when times about hard financially, people are tempted.
I mean, I don't know, I've got no information that's
worth eighty thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Well you don't know, you probably would have. Oh gosh,
So Wayne, what do we do? How do we actually
fix this? Because I mean we've been talking about it
for two and a half years. What do you think
needs to happen?
Speaker 6 (15:53):
Well, I mean they need I mean, and we're seeing
it now. There's obviously the police are ramping it up.
But it's so important for as I say, for those children,
for those three young children, that it's obviously going to
have a lifelong effect on them, and the longer it
goes on and where you don't know what potentially could happen.
So for me, it's and we're seeing it. The police
(16:15):
are ramping up and saying, hey, we've got to bring
this to an end.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
We have Friday face off and we have Upper Hunt.
Met Wayne Guppy and Wellington City Councilor Nicola Young in
the hot seats. Let's talk about squatting. A suspected squatter
was critically injured this week after falling three stories in
a derelict Wellington building. Wayne Guppy, do you have squatters
in Upper Heart? I'm sure you do.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Well, I think they're any They are everywhere.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
But certainly it's an issue from the what councils can
do about direct and empty buildings. And look, we might
be talking about the Wellington region, but those issues are
across the country and councils are.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Prelimited to why I can do? Why are they limited?
If you've got an old, derelict building in Upper Hunt
and you need someone to do something about it doesn't
look good for the city, it's not great. Why is
it such a problem to do anything about it?
Speaker 3 (17:04):
There is a process that you go through.
Speaker 6 (17:06):
But again it's a process, it takes time and at
the end you've got to have willing owners to want
to do it.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
But certainly we are and our.
Speaker 6 (17:16):
In the long term plan have put in place here
for increased rating burden on disuged buildings.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
Yeah, but it's interesting because the owners, you know, like
thinking of prime property. I mean, they went to great
lengths to secure that property. After all, if you can
get into if intruders can get into the Queen's dead
queen's bedroom, they can get in anywhere. But you know,
the way we get thought out derelict buildings is having
economic activity. If the city was pumping those buildings wouldn't
be derelict for very long. They'd be redone. So you know,
(17:45):
economic activity will drive the rebuilding and regenerate Wellington, which
it sorely needs.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Nicholas, There's been a hell of a lot of talk
about raising the rates on these buildings that aren't being
used or they have been set idle for too long.
What's the latest on that And do you think it'll
ever happen.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Yeah, I think it will, but I think it's quite
complex because some buildings are there yet and other buildings
are waiting for resource consents, you know, because the resource
consent process can be torturous.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
So it depends on how it's done.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
And I think at the stage it's all a little vague,
but I certainly think it is unacceptable to have buildings
like the building that we dare not name the redding,
sitting there for years of moldering away on a prime site.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
So we've got to do something.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
We will pull it down. I say, one guppy, do
you have the same problems in the upper hut?
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Well, I mean across the country.
Speaker 6 (18:32):
I mean there's and it's going to get worse because
the deadlines with earthquake prome buildings, and you know, property
owners are going to have to if they don't bring
them up to speed, reinvest in those buildings. So it's
going to be it's not an issue that's going to
go away.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Do you have earthquake prome buildings and a hut? Yes?
Speaker 6 (18:50):
We do?
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Do you really?
Speaker 3 (18:51):
We absolutely do.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
You've got no buildings over two stories there have you?
Speaker 6 (18:55):
There's a few, but the fact of the matter is
many of them were built back in the in the
in the fifties and sixties, and not reinforced, et cetera,
et cetera. So, in fact, only in the last week
we've pulled down three buildings that were part of the
council loon that were on the main street where you
know there's future development looking for for there from the
(19:16):
roading point of view, but it was do we reinvest
or or do we pause?
Speaker 3 (19:21):
So they've been pulled down.
Speaker 6 (19:22):
But certainly it's again working with the with the with
the landowners to make sure because it creates all sorts
of problems.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
I mean, Nikola Nichola, Sorry, Wayne Nichola, do we know
how big the squading problem is in Wellington?
Speaker 4 (19:34):
No, we don't.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
I mean, do you think it is as bad as
what they're saying two hundred?
Speaker 5 (19:39):
I'm sure, I'm sure it is. I mean they have
a pretty good grip on those sort of things. Look,
it's a real issue, but I just don't know quite
what the solution is because these buildings are sealed off
because they're dangerous, and yet people go into them. So
but they've got maybe very few alternatives. It's a real
it's a big social and economic issue.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Do you think the new government coalition will make any difference?
Because I'm talking about game on that, aren't they?
Speaker 5 (20:03):
Well, I know Chris Penk is doing a lot of
work on the whole thing to do with earthquake pro
and buildings, and I know that the apartment owners and
wellingson think he's been very constructive and pragmatic and helpful.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
So let's wait and see, Wayne, have you had any
contact with the government on.
Speaker 6 (20:16):
It, Not directly on that, but certainly watching and their developments,
and they are certainly talking that they want to address
the issues because again, the issue will get worse and
the noise will get louder because with the MP's when
you get into provincial New Zealand, because Provincial New Zealand,
you look across there are big issues with those zos
quake prime buildings and you know, to to to strengthen
(20:39):
or to redevelop in areas like that, it's about the
return and some land owners, I'm sure and right across
the country are going to just put up the shutters
and you know.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Well, it's not worth spending money millions of dollars if
they've got no one direct them to have they got
no income, there's no difference. They might leave them to
city and falling apart.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
And so there is the issue for for all of
us across the country.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Friday faced off up Hutma and Wayne Guppy and Wellington
City Council and look at young it thinks they should
have a shave. It might be it is grave my
hair is dark. For my hair is be it as gray? Anyway,
you can see it on Facebook anytime you want to
have a look at it. Rugby, let's talk rugby. Let's
really get Nicola really interested in the show. Right now,
the Canes take on the Chiefs at Sky Stadium Saturday afternoon. Oh,
(21:21):
Wayne Guppy, this is utopia to me and you, isn't
it four thirty in the afternoon. You don't have to
have your Nana nat You're straight in there.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
You'll be in there.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
But I reckon, Wayne Guppy, I've known you for thirty
five forty years. I reckon that you are going to
be in Wellington by one o'clock in the afternoon at
the very latest.
Speaker 6 (21:37):
Well, we've got to go and celebrate. We're at the
semi final stage and get ready for next week. And
look the stadium before. We need to celebrate the success
of these sports teams. And if you think about it
at the moment, across in the Wellington. In our region here,
Caine's on top. The Saints are going well, the Pulse
are going well, and the Phoenix had a great season.
(21:58):
And tomorrow the weather forecast is looking much better from
showers and then fine, there'll be fine right through. It
ll six o'clock at the end of the game. That
statium will be pumping and we will be getting ready
because next week it'll be finals time.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
You'll be painful to live with tonight. I know, I
know you're such a rugby head. I don't know where
our listeners know that Wayne Guppy played every sort of
representative football. He was a great footy playarias or hooker.
You wouldn't think you're a hooker, would you you were
a hooker? You know you don't look like no hooker now,
But well maybe Nikola, What why is this so good
for the city.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
Well, first of all, I'd just like to say that
I have not ever been a hooker, just to put
them one done first. So look, I mean, Weaningtonians will
turn in strength for a finals, especially when it's the Hurricanes.
But it is a tough economic time. But I just
wish the best to both sides. But especially the Hurricanes.
But as I said to you before, I'm not a
rugby faestalist, but I really enjoy the New Zealand Opera performance.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Well, we're not talking about the opera. We're talking about
semi final and Super Super twelve? Was it Super Rugby Pacific?
I mean this is you know, do you remember the
last time we wont it? Do you want Year?
Speaker 3 (23:03):
It was twoy sixteen. You know that Cory Jane. You're
going to bring that up too tomorrow and TJ was
in that team.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
You were going to mention Cory janeks he scored a
try he did? Where does he come from? Now? I
can never remember where he comes from, but he's always.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Most of us rugby at Maidstone Park.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Yeah, okay, he's an Upperhart boy. I think most of
our listeners would know that. And he's a defense of guru.
He is a coach that relies on defense. So I
don't know whether I've got this wrong, but I'm extremely
excited by it. I'm sorry Nikola that you're not I
know Wayne is So will it be a sellout? Wayne?
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (23:39):
You reckon to be a sellout.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
They'll be look, I bet you by the end of
the night, there'll be thirty thousand there and with a
weather not as bleak as they'd been predicting all week,
there will be a great walk up crowd and they'll
sell it out because Wellingtonian's love winners and this team
is a winner.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Okay, well we'll celebrated that.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
Enough.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Let's talk about when staying overstaying you're welcome? Because this
is something that I've always thought about because I've got
to say, can I say it my other half? She
doesn't want to leave as quickly as I want to leave.
If we go somewhere visiting, she'll be the last person
to leave. I'm the first one out right, So when
is it too long? When do you actually out weigh
(24:16):
you're welcome? And there's a big story about a Hawks
Bay cafe who's kicked out a reporter because he was
having a like a coffee and a scan or something
and that wasn't spending any money, so they kicked him out.
One guppy, is it a right to kick somebody out
when they've actually overstayed their welcome? How do you get
rid of the visitor that you don't want there too long?
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Well? When do you say you stay too long? I
mean the fact that he's been there for an hour,
you'd bought one coffee. Who's to say, wasn't suddenly want
another one and something else to eat? The issue that
you always have as a business owner, and particularly a
cafe like that, the one thing you know he won't
be going back there.
Speaker 5 (24:49):
So the extraordinary thing was there were empty tables. I mean,
the thing is, I can understand that if the place
was pumping full, but people had a prefab for example,
and do that sort of thing, and places like Boulder
in Colorado. I went to stay with my niece there
a few years ago, and that's part of the culture.
Take their laptops and they've got you know, in those
days there was no Wi Fi that plug them in
(25:10):
and spend the morning there with a couple of coffee.
And if the waiters have they're short of tables, they
can say to them, you know, like restaurants, do you
know you've got a two hour booking or something? But
I just thought that weight it was ridiculous, Okaya, people
won't go back.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Move it on to someone coming visiting in your house.
You know, when is too long? Too long? And when
do you know it's time to go? I mean, you
know when you go to someone's place and you think, oh,
well we've had our cup of tea, we've had us gone,
had our dinner, had our glass are white. You know,
I've said a few things. What time is it right?
How do you know when it's time? You know that
you're overstaying? You're welcome.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Well, usually that people who have come to see are
friends and you can talk friendly. So mate, I'm on
the way.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
I mean, could you have you if it's your house?
Can you actually be that rude in your own home?
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Well, I mean you can. I mean, if you've got
other things to do, it's you need to sometimes.
Speaker 5 (26:01):
But I think actually as we get older our friends.
You know then that most of my friends are beyond
the two o'clock in the mornings, you know, which would
have done a few years ago.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
But some people have to be nudged, no doubt about it.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Do you do?
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Yeah? I mean I've had enough. I want to go
to bed. Is that a right to say that when
you've got visitors in your house? I mean, my day,
you'd never do that.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
My father used to.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
He used to say to people, first of all, he
take them in to show them the electricity meter, which
we always thought was a bit dodgy, but it wasn't
really at all to see it was inland and once
he even came back in this pajamas to make it
quite clear.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Count yourself lucky. If that's the problem that it means
you've got friends, it's the.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
One head still people still take friends at home. I
mean that's another thing. I mean that's that culture has changed.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
You.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Yeah, but you're you're kind of like that. You're that person.
I'm the only one in Wellington hasn't been invited to
your place for dinner.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Well, we're going to have a lunch when I win
that bed.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Okay, all right, Wayne, I've got to push you one
more time because it's kind a couple of texts coming through.
What when do you think you'll make up your mind
whether you'll run again? Is it something you're thinking about
conscience in the oir? I know I don't want to
push it, but I've had a couple of people text
me and say.
Speaker 6 (27:06):
I mean when someone went when when the first candidates
got announced, she start to think about it, And that's
something we we'll discuss with with Sue.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Yeah, my wife, But does she want you to carry
on or is she don't want you, because that'll be
the end result. Let's be honest. If she wants you
to carry on, you'll be carried on. If she wants
you to stop, you'll be stopping. I mean that's normal life,
isn't it. You can't do that position without having again.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
You need support.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Absolutely absolutely no, I wasn't being rude. I was just
absolutely practical.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
I'm keen to go again.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
You are keen to go again. Absolutely, that's great news. First,
that's great news. That's really good news. There you go, listeners,
Wayne Gupp is going to go again. We've got something.
Thanks for giving it to us. Hots and notts. Next,
that's my heart. Now can I give us your hots
and nuts?
Speaker 4 (27:52):
Well, my heart is really a nott.
Speaker 5 (27:53):
I just want to talk about Thorndon Key, which has
become a slalom course for cars and so now the
Thorndon Key and Hot Road Collective has launched a petition
asking for the work to be paused until it has
been independently reviewed. Businesses are dying, motor shoppers are avoiding
the area, councils losing money from the lost car parks.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
It's an absolute disaster.
Speaker 5 (28:14):
For the city, and we know that at some stage
they're going to have to fix the pipes underneath. So
I won't give you a petition address on the website
on air, but i'll give it to your producer. We've
got to try and stop the Thorndon thing. It is
killing thornd and Key. It is killing those businesses.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
And you're and you're hot, so that it's obviously you're not.
Speaker 5 (28:34):
That is a kind of hot, because I've got the
other ones aread now are not too, which is why
is the city council moving the bus stops from outside
the Saint James when we have spent over nearly over
three quarters of a billion dollars on buildings in that area,
and now the council's planning to remove the bus stop
outside the Saint James and the Reading seaer.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
Move it one hundred yards down the road or something
of that.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Oh yeah, but in the wind. And if you're old
and you know, I know.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
I'm agreeing with you, I'm agreeing with you.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
Nuts.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Yeah, Wayne Guppy, what are your hots?
Speaker 3 (29:00):
Are not my heights?
Speaker 6 (29:01):
Is a visit of the Chinese premier Le Kuwang. I
think that's really important again, signaling to the world that
we're open for business and the Chinese relationships so important
for us as a country you trade and tourism.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
So that's my hot for the for the.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Very good point, very good point. I mean, they've sent
the second most powerful man, probably in the top five
in the world after the people, and he's in our
country right now talking to our prime minister. What does
it tell us. It tells us that hey, we met
it to them, yep, and we need them.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
You can have all your political affiliations and you know issues,
but the fact of the matter is we need them,
and we need them and we need them. They're tourists
to come back and numbers. So yeah, they're not hot
and they're not thing for me as we can't lose.
We've lost one hundred and thirty thousand people this year
in the last year have gone mostly I meet it'll
(29:54):
be young people going on II, but most of them
will be a young graduates and now bright young people.
And that number of ki We's leaving this country is
going to be a real issue for us.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
And my high is one guppy deciding that he's going
to go again facing opposition, looking at them fair and
square in the eyes and says I'm going to go
again eighteen months out. I mean, that's pretty impressive to
actually say, hey, Nicolas, even you would say that. I mean,
he normally people would say, oh, wait and see what
happens is.
Speaker 5 (30:23):
He hasn't said whether he's discussed it with his wife yet,
which he said was a critical factor.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
All I can tell you is that he would have
discussed it with his wife. I'm good, That's what I mean.
And I don't know Sue at all. I don't know
her and never mete it. I don't know, but I
know that I know the man that he is. He
would have discussed it with his wife. He would not
make that decision without her support. Am I right way?
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I like your confidence, nick I got it wrong.
Speaker 5 (30:48):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I like the look at your spear bed tonight when
you get home. Thank you both very much. Was lovely
having you both the study. It always good to catch
up with both of you, great people. Grateful what you
do for our city, Wellington and uppert our sister city
and very closely aligned city.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Dissecting the week sublime and ridiculus us Friday face off
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You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
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Speaker 2 (00:25):
I don't care about you. I'm joining us Friday face
off This week is Upper Hut Mayor won't guppy Gup's good.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
To see you, good to see you well and good
to be here?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Am I allowed to call you gup? Still? And that
is that inappropriate to call a mayor by his nickname? All?
You still get called that when you walk down the
streets of.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Upp Hut, still get called that? Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Can you get a bit closer to that microphone?
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Now?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I still get called that and it doesn't worry It
doesn't worry me at all.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
And one Inton City Councilor Nikola Young. I know there's
a lot of nicknames for you, but we wouldn't be
able to use any of them on radio.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
I don't know any of them.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Good morning, good boarding. I was only jesting with you,
like having a declar. Okay, tell me what's going on
in Wellington City Council before we start in the show
what's going on.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
It is so complicated and must be fascinating for the observer.
But basically, as we know, three of the left councilors
have broken away from supporting the mayor because they don't
agree with the airport share sale. It has to come now.
The whole thing comes as part of the long term
plan to council and it's touch and go whether the
long term plan gets passed by council.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Now, I can't remember whether you were supportive or not
support well.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
I supported the airport's sale, but then I voted against
the long term and then it was incorporated into the
long term plan and I voted against the long term
plan because I'm so concerned about the rates increase for
residents and street three point seven times that for businesses.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I mean, gubs, what would you think as a mayor
in one of the cities surrounding Wellington when you look
and what does it say to you what's going on? Well?
Speaker 6 (01:58):
I mean the reality of it is that the decisions
and things that happened in Wellington City has an effect
on all of us in the Wellington region. I mean
the perception from central government so and and how people
perceive the region has an effect on all of us things.
But look, it's all about for me. I mean, Wellington's
continually been burdened by the fact that there have been
(02:21):
fractions and the reality of it is, you know, it's
pretty simple for me make a decision, which is the
best decision for the city individual. Forget about your political
affiliations and allegiances. It's about what is best for the
city and when it's good for the city, it's good
for the region.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Do you have the same party voting knocks at Upperhart, No,
not at all.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
I think you see, all councilors should be independents. I
mean they can belong to a political party, but they
should be independent and not take Labor and Green got
instructed by their parties hard to vote on the airport's
share sale.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, and that complicates things totally and it takes you
away from being a counselor you're a puppet.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
So, I mean I stid for council because I want
the best for Wellington.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
That is my sole goal.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
What do you think is going to happen right now, Nicholas?
What's going to change?
Speaker 4 (03:09):
You mean because of the long term plan or.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
No, because of the fractions in the council.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Well, I think the mayor is going to have a
tougher time getting things through because he's got threes little
warriors out to get her. And it'll be interesting. She's
certainly being much nicer and more communicate with the independence
and think did and I had coffee last week?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Well that's due to us putting pressure on her.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I mean, will they kiss and make up quickly?
Speaker 4 (03:37):
No?
Speaker 5 (03:37):
No, no, because you know, as you know, I'm sure
Ben McNaughty is going to stand for the mayoralty that this.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Is part Well, he told me unequivocally live on the
show that he's got a young family and he could
not think of a worse job in the world than
be Mayor of Wellington and he would not do it.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Well, let's see what the ballot paper says.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Are we going to have lunch on it?
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Why not?
Speaker 4 (03:58):
I'll buy you lunch.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
If he doesn't.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
If he doesn't, okay, okay, I'll send you an email
to confirmed. I did lose the last bet. I maybe
there I lost a dollar, but in fact I gave
too because I got it so.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Wrong and and you didn't have change and I didn't
have change.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
But you know, I didn't want change.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
I'm generous with my own money, not other people's.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Okay, so you think he's I mean, everything about it
says that he wants to be mayor except him.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Well, we'll see.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Okay, you know, it's a long time to go, and
we've you know, only so so Tory says she's going
to do three terms, which is an unusual thing for
a politician to say. And I think Ray has already
declared that he's standing and he's been actively fundraising, and
so we'll see.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Let's can I combine two topics and one here I'm
going to I'm gonna. I'm going to I'm going to
go and be naughty because normally we keep him separately.
I mean, when is it too soon Wayne Guppy to stay?
Oh I'm going to run for mayor? I mean we're
we're only just halfway through. You've got somebody going against you,
has come out and said they're going to go against you.
So what's going to happen? I mean, was it too soon?
Speaker 6 (05:02):
Well? I think every individuals differently. I mean, you've got
to maintain a lot of momentum. When you declare a
long way out, it's not it's not that's not easy
to do. But certainly, and Issa said individually and that's
the that's the democratic process. People have different if you like,
of a different strategy of how they think will make
the biggest impact. But certainly one months out as a
(05:23):
fair way to maintain moment.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
But it does depend on the person's profile.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
I mean, just look at what's happened when the British
elections with Natal Fowers at the last moment declaring that
he's going to stand and now reform has overtaken the
Conservatives and the polls. So if you've got a high profile,
you can run it later. If you've got a low profile,
you need to start earlier.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Well, you need the time. I mean, gupt, how is
that going to change things for you? I mean you're
a long term mayor. You've said goodbye to another long
term mayor this week, which we we've got to pay
tribute to. What what how does it change your tune
when you're eighteen months out?
Speaker 6 (05:55):
Well, I mean we which business as usual for me
and as we move forward, we've got a lot of
a lot of tough decisions to make and in the
next only months and that's that's that's important, So that
what you've got to do is make sure that you
don't get you don't get blindsided or.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Will you run again?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Well, I haven't said or not, but you'll be the
first to know.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
I mean, I do think upper Hut's very lucky to
have Wayne. He's been a safe, steady pair of hands,
whereas well instance just had turbulance. You know, one term
mayor after one term mayor lucky upper Hut to have
you Wayne.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
How do we actually get I don't want to let
this go too so quickly because I really want to
get to a point where we have to be like
an independent thinker. Yes, if you're a member of the
National Party, that's fine, but when you get on the
around that table, you've got to be an independent thinker.
Is that a big too big a ask Nicola.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Well, I'm a member of the National Party. I mean,
I think it's pretty much stamped on my forehead. It's
never had any effect on how I vote. I've never
had anything.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
You've always voted right wing, though, haven't you?
Speaker 4 (06:53):
No, No, not not always? That was always the people
alway said. I was a surprise.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
Sometimes I've voted with a left. Sometimes it was the
right depends. It's issue vote issue for me. No one
from the National Party has ever talked to me about
how I vote. It's none of their business. I'm an
independent counselor and I will do what I think is
right for the city and hopefully what the majority of
people who vote for me want.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Onae Guppy, has this ship sailed? Is it gone? Now?
The opportunity to have independence around a council table or
having them all independent around a table.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
No, but you'd expect you'd expect people to to As
I said, I go back to things saying when you
you know, when an issue comes up, it's about what's
best for the city and that needs to take place.
Remember though, if and people see if that's affecting the
progress of the city or the council that they that
they are involved in, then you know the ballot boxes
(07:45):
where you make those changes.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
But we knew that, we saw that, we didn't do
anything about it in the last election.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
Nicolas, Well, the last election was you know, probably a
good subject for an academic study of.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
An electoral disaster. All in all sorts of respects.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I'm not just salking about who got elected, but the
way other candidates run that campaign when it was just hopeless.
Clarify that, Well, you know, everyone thought that Paul Eagle
was going to roar in, so other people didn't put
their names forward. Andy Foster was you know, tried his
best but was actually hopeless. And so then Paul took
(08:20):
ages to decide whether he's going to be independent or Labor.
Then he decided was sort of Labor light. Labor didn't
like him, so they were actively campaigning against him. Andy
was just continued being Andy, and meantime Tory was campaigning,
you know, very early on lots of those signs around
Wellington and guarante and campaigned to unite the council.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
So Paul imploded and he never featured.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Tory won. Yeah, well she went next election, I hope not.
What do you think, Wayne, looking out from the outside,
what do you think do you think that she'll she'll
have a chance of getting I mean you're well, as
you said, you're involved because you're right there and you
look from afar, well, she is.
Speaker 6 (09:03):
The incumbent, and I mean the next daighty months for
for Will and consider you a crucial and crucial for
all of us. I mean the fact you hope that
for the next you have a look at some of
the decisions that need to get made, and those decisions
have a regional impact. And so you'd hope that now
if there's been you know, there's been obviously some a
bit of a scrap in the last week, one would
(09:25):
hope now that people say, hey, let's put our political
affiliations aside. We need to be making the right decisions
for these big, big decisions for the city.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
And eighteen months is a long time.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
But the thing is when some of those counselors are
really more activists than counselors, so they're not going to
put them to one side. But I would say we've
had two elections in a row where mayors have had
one turn, they stood again and missed out. So it
does happen in relection.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Can I ask you about nik al Wanera, because I
dismissed him as a young radical wrongly? Probably he's obvious,
smart young guy. Tell me what your thoughts of him are?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Yeah, I probably don't really want to go into that
too much.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Okay, time for a break with that. It doesn't tell
me much, did it didn't tell us much? You don't
want to be sued Tim Costley is taking six thirty
six thousand a year of taxpayers money to rent a
CBD apartment despite being living forty five minutes up the road.
And why and I why Karen mcinnaughty is taking the
same amount to live in his wife's La Hut home
(10:28):
she owns as karen home is technically in Masterton, Wayne Guffy,
Are these MP's reasonably taking this cash? Isn't reasonable for
them to do this?
Speaker 6 (10:38):
Well, they're not breaking the law and it wasn't the question, no,
But they're not breaking the law. And I think I
think the press have climbed on board to hear and
and really I mean these these rules are set independently,
and I quite frankly think that from the point of
view of those MP's hearing what they you know, what
they're saying about the fact that they are late nights,
(10:58):
et cetera, et cetera, And I have no issue with
it or what are you going to change it to
the fact of the matter is they have to live
here in the city.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
They committed to being here, as I.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Said, late at night, early mornings, and so from my
point of view, I don't have an issue with this
at all. Again, we want to We want to look
at an issue. Say there's an issue, and then you say, well,
what do we change it to? And then we'll find
another issue.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Nicola, do you think that even we should even maybe
try and tighten up the rules?
Speaker 5 (11:28):
So, I mean a lot of what Wayne has said
is right, well, it's all right, but I do think
the rules need to be reviewed. I had to look
to see what they do in Britain. In Britain, of
course MPs get paid a lot less than our MPs,
but they're not allowed to use the accommodation allowance to
pay a mortgage. And I think maybe we should look
at that rule. But yeah, you know, I think it's
decided by the Remuneration Authority. But I think look, MPs
(11:49):
have a grueling life. They start early, really early, and
work late because it doesn't just it's not just what
parliament sitting hours are. And I wouldn't want them driving
back to Otaki or Marston or wherever.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
I mean late at night.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Why can I is? Why can I too? Tough? At does.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Think it's quite a long If it's eleven o'clock at night,
night after night and you started work at seven in
the morning, it might have been up since four Yeah,
I do. Yeah, Okay, I think it's tough, but I
think that it's the mortgage thing that gets up people's nose.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
I think so too, because it's not another perk, isn't it, Wayne.
I mean, you pay off your apartment, you sell it
after one term or two terms six years, capital gains
six years, you might make one hundred percent tax free
text free text free.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Perk might be a little bit emotional to use the
word it's going.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
To ar use it, But I mean the thing is
MPs do get a lot of allowances and things that
you know. Of course city councilors don't. But I mean
we get a car park and a mobile phone, which
is both great.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Do they check on the numbers you ring on your
mobile phone?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Well, they're very welcome to any time.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I'm just starting, do they or not?
Speaker 4 (12:49):
No, Look I don't know. I mean they might do.
Who knows, will.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Stop ringing me just in case one guppy That so
is nothing that needs to change here, I'm sure that.
I mean, these things are always reviewed at times.
Speaker 6 (13:01):
But as I said, at the moment, I think press
were making a lot out of something that, as I said,
has been in de pendantly put in place. Everyone has agreed,
and I don't see there's been a major issue.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Okay, Tom Phillips and as three kids have been missing
now for two and a half years now been put
up an eighty thousand dollars warter On offer for any
information that leads to Phillip's arrest. Nicola, Realistically, how easy
is it to disappear in New Zealand for two and
a half years these days.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Well, I would have thought it's pretty difficult.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
Although I must say when I've done some of the
great walks that you realize how much wilderness we have.
Of course I would be hopeless in the wilderness. I
think one of the things that we were asked to
think about for today's session is could you do it
in Wellington? And I'd have to say, you can't keep
anything secret in Wednington, as many people have found out
to their costs, because Weddington is a village full of people.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Who love information. But the wilderness.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
Yeah, look, I just I mean it's a terribly sad situation.
I just feel so sorry for those children, I mean, feeding, clothing, education, health,
it's just terrible. But I think probably there's so much
uncharted territory in New Zealand and the wilderness. Probably you
can do it.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
One of the kids. I mean, we've all had kids.
We all know what the situation. When you're a pharmacist,
you get sick, kids get sick. What happens in two
and a half years. None of those kids have got ill,
none of them have got anything wrong with them.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
They inoculations.
Speaker 6 (14:24):
The reality of it is society and the police have
slipped up here, I mean for two and a half years,
and now suddenly we see a reward going and what
a sad reflection on society. I see reports coming to
say that the eighty thousand went up, and suddenly people
are offering information. So that to me, as a very said,
(14:44):
so they knew it before the eighty thousand dollars. They
had information they could have shared. The police have been asking,
you know, for that for two and a half years.
Eighty thousand goes up and all of a sudden, But.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
It's interesting that they've been offered the possibility of immunity
from prosecution. They haven't had guaranteed immunity, so it could
cause a few family factions.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
I mean, they say that the eighty thousands put up
is a helicopter in the sky. So you know, would
you dib in a friend for eighty grand.
Speaker 6 (15:09):
Well, obviously some are because they're getting as I heard
being reported that they are getting a good information.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Well, I remember to Wayne looking at you, was that
case where those two people were murdered, A one where
people were murdered, person was murdered and upper hut and
nothing could happen, They couldn't find anything. Suddenly a reward
comes and there's a risk. I mean, are we that
sort of society that would sell out our mates or
sell out information for money?
Speaker 5 (15:35):
Well, I guess when times about hard financially, people are tempted.
I mean, I don't know, I've got no information that's
worth eighty thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Well you don't know, you probably would have. Oh gosh,
So Wayne, what do we do? How do we actually
fix this? Because I mean we've been talking about it
for two and a half years. What do you think
needs to happen?
Speaker 6 (15:53):
Well, I mean they need I mean, and we're seeing
it now. There's obviously the police are ramping it up.
But it's so important for as I say, for those children,
for those three young children, that it's obviously going to
have a lifelong effect on them, and the longer it
goes on and where you don't know what potentially could happen.
So for me, it's and we're seeing it. The police
(16:15):
are ramping up and saying, hey, we've got to bring
this to an end.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
We have Friday face off and we have Upper Hunt.
Met Wayne Guppy and Wellington City Councilor Nicola Young in
the hot seats. Let's talk about squatting. A suspected squatter
was critically injured this week after falling three stories in
a derelict Wellington building. Wayne Guppy, do you have squatters
in Upper Heart? I'm sure you do.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Well, I think they're any They are everywhere.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
But certainly it's an issue from the what councils can
do about direct and empty buildings. And look, we might
be talking about the Wellington region, but those issues are
across the country and councils are.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Prelimited to why I can do? Why are they limited?
If you've got an old, derelict building in Upper Hunt
and you need someone to do something about it doesn't
look good for the city, it's not great. Why is
it such a problem to do anything about it?
Speaker 3 (17:04):
There is a process that you go through.
Speaker 6 (17:06):
But again it's a process, it takes time and at
the end you've got to have willing owners to want
to do it.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
But certainly we are and our.
Speaker 6 (17:16):
In the long term plan have put in place here
for increased rating burden on disuged buildings.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
Yeah, but it's interesting because the owners, you know, like
thinking of prime property. I mean, they went to great
lengths to secure that property. After all, if you can
get into if intruders can get into the Queen's dead
queen's bedroom, they can get in anywhere. But you know,
the way we get thought out derelict buildings is having
economic activity. If the city was pumping those buildings wouldn't
be derelict for very long. They'd be redone. So you know,
(17:45):
economic activity will drive the rebuilding and regenerate Wellington, which
it sorely needs.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Nicholas, There's been a hell of a lot of talk
about raising the rates on these buildings that aren't being
used or they have been set idle for too long.
What's the latest on that And do you think it'll
ever happen.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Yeah, I think it will, but I think it's quite
complex because some buildings are there yet and other buildings
are waiting for resource consents, you know, because the resource
consent process can be torturous.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
So it depends on how it's done.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
And I think at the stage it's all a little vague,
but I certainly think it is unacceptable to have buildings
like the building that we dare not name the redding,
sitting there for years of moldering away on a prime site.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
So we've got to do something.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
We will pull it down. I say, one guppy, do
you have the same problems in the upper hut?
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Well, I mean across the country.
Speaker 6 (18:32):
I mean there's and it's going to get worse because
the deadlines with earthquake prome buildings, and you know, property
owners are going to have to if they don't bring
them up to speed, reinvest in those buildings. So it's
going to be it's not an issue that's going to
go away.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Do you have earthquake prome buildings and a hut? Yes?
Speaker 6 (18:50):
We do?
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Do you really?
Speaker 3 (18:51):
We absolutely do.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
You've got no buildings over two stories there have you?
Speaker 6 (18:55):
There's a few, but the fact of the matter is
many of them were built back in the in the
in the fifties and sixties, and not reinforced, et cetera,
et cetera. So, in fact, only in the last week
we've pulled down three buildings that were part of the
council loon that were on the main street where you
know there's future development looking for for there from the
(19:16):
roading point of view, but it was do we reinvest
or or do we pause?
Speaker 3 (19:21):
So they've been pulled down.
Speaker 6 (19:22):
But certainly it's again working with the with the with
the landowners to make sure because it creates all sorts
of problems.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
I mean, Nikola Nichola, Sorry, Wayne Nichola, do we know
how big the squading problem is in Wellington?
Speaker 4 (19:34):
No, we don't.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
I mean, do you think it is as bad as
what they're saying two hundred?
Speaker 5 (19:39):
I'm sure, I'm sure it is. I mean they have
a pretty good grip on those sort of things. Look,
it's a real issue, but I just don't know quite
what the solution is because these buildings are sealed off
because they're dangerous, and yet people go into them. So
but they've got maybe very few alternatives. It's a real
it's a big social and economic issue.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Do you think the new government coalition will make any difference?
Because I'm talking about game on that, aren't they?
Speaker 5 (20:03):
Well, I know Chris Penk is doing a lot of
work on the whole thing to do with earthquake pro
and buildings, and I know that the apartment owners and
wellingson think he's been very constructive and pragmatic and helpful.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
So let's wait and see, Wayne, have you had any
contact with the government on.
Speaker 6 (20:16):
It, Not directly on that, but certainly watching and their developments,
and they are certainly talking that they want to address
the issues because again, the issue will get worse and
the noise will get louder because with the MP's when
you get into provincial New Zealand, because Provincial New Zealand,
you look across there are big issues with those zos
quake prime buildings and you know, to to to strengthen
(20:39):
or to redevelop in areas like that, it's about the
return and some land owners, I'm sure and right across
the country are going to just put up the shutters
and you know.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Well, it's not worth spending money millions of dollars if
they've got no one direct them to have they got
no income, there's no difference. They might leave them to
city and falling apart.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
And so there is the issue for for all of
us across the country.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Friday faced off up Hutma and Wayne Guppy and Wellington
City Council and look at young it thinks they should
have a shave. It might be it is grave my
hair is dark. For my hair is be it as gray? Anyway,
you can see it on Facebook anytime you want to
have a look at it. Rugby, let's talk rugby. Let's
really get Nicola really interested in the show. Right now,
the Canes take on the Chiefs at Sky Stadium Saturday afternoon. Oh,
(21:21):
Wayne Guppy, this is utopia to me and you, isn't
it four thirty in the afternoon. You don't have to
have your Nana nat You're straight in there.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
You'll be in there.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
But I reckon, Wayne Guppy, I've known you for thirty
five forty years. I reckon that you are going to
be in Wellington by one o'clock in the afternoon at
the very latest.
Speaker 6 (21:37):
Well, we've got to go and celebrate. We're at the
semi final stage and get ready for next week. And
look the stadium before. We need to celebrate the success
of these sports teams. And if you think about it
at the moment, across in the Wellington. In our region here,
Caine's on top. The Saints are going well, the Pulse
are going well, and the Phoenix had a great season.
(21:58):
And tomorrow the weather forecast is looking much better from
showers and then fine, there'll be fine right through. It
ll six o'clock at the end of the game. That
statium will be pumping and we will be getting ready
because next week it'll be finals time.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
You'll be painful to live with tonight. I know, I
know you're such a rugby head. I don't know where
our listeners know that Wayne Guppy played every sort of
representative football. He was a great footy playarias or hooker.
You wouldn't think you're a hooker, would you you were
a hooker? You know you don't look like no hooker now,
But well maybe Nikola, What why is this so good
for the city.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
Well, first of all, I'd just like to say that
I have not ever been a hooker, just to put
them one done first. So look, I mean, Weaningtonians will
turn in strength for a finals, especially when it's the Hurricanes.
But it is a tough economic time. But I just
wish the best to both sides. But especially the Hurricanes.
But as I said to you before, I'm not a
rugby faestalist, but I really enjoy the New Zealand Opera performance.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Well, we're not talking about the opera. We're talking about
semi final and Super Super twelve? Was it Super Rugby Pacific?
I mean this is you know, do you remember the
last time we wont it? Do you want Year?
Speaker 3 (23:03):
It was twoy sixteen. You know that Cory Jane. You're
going to bring that up too tomorrow and TJ was
in that team.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
You were going to mention Cory janeks he scored a
try he did? Where does he come from? Now? I
can never remember where he comes from, but he's always.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Most of us rugby at Maidstone Park.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Yeah, okay, he's an Upperhart boy. I think most of
our listeners would know that. And he's a defense of guru.
He is a coach that relies on defense. So I
don't know whether I've got this wrong, but I'm extremely
excited by it. I'm sorry Nikola that you're not I
know Wayne is So will it be a sellout? Wayne?
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (23:39):
You reckon to be a sellout.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
They'll be look, I bet you by the end of
the night, there'll be thirty thousand there and with a
weather not as bleak as they'd been predicting all week,
there will be a great walk up crowd and they'll
sell it out because Wellingtonian's love winners and this team
is a winner.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Okay, well we'll celebrated that.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
Enough.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Let's talk about when staying overstaying you're welcome? Because this
is something that I've always thought about because I've got
to say, can I say it my other half? She
doesn't want to leave as quickly as I want to leave.
If we go somewhere visiting, she'll be the last person
to leave. I'm the first one out right, So when
is it too long? When do you actually out weigh
(24:16):
you're welcome? And there's a big story about a Hawks
Bay cafe who's kicked out a reporter because he was
having a like a coffee and a scan or something
and that wasn't spending any money, so they kicked him out.
One guppy, is it a right to kick somebody out
when they've actually overstayed their welcome? How do you get
rid of the visitor that you don't want there too long?
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Well? When do you say you stay too long? I
mean the fact that he's been there for an hour,
you'd bought one coffee. Who's to say, wasn't suddenly want
another one and something else to eat? The issue that
you always have as a business owner, and particularly a
cafe like that, the one thing you know he won't
be going back there.
Speaker 5 (24:49):
So the extraordinary thing was there were empty tables. I mean,
the thing is, I can understand that if the place
was pumping full, but people had a prefab for example,
and do that sort of thing, and places like Boulder
in Colorado. I went to stay with my niece there
a few years ago, and that's part of the culture.
Take their laptops and they've got you know, in those
days there was no Wi Fi that plug them in
(25:10):
and spend the morning there with a couple of coffee.
And if the waiters have they're short of tables, they
can say to them, you know, like restaurants, do you
know you've got a two hour booking or something? But
I just thought that weight it was ridiculous, Okaya, people
won't go back.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Move it on to someone coming visiting in your house.
You know, when is too long? Too long? And when
do you know it's time to go? I mean, you
know when you go to someone's place and you think, oh,
well we've had our cup of tea, we've had us gone,
had our dinner, had our glass are white. You know,
I've said a few things. What time is it right?
How do you know when it's time? You know that
you're overstaying? You're welcome.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Well, usually that people who have come to see are
friends and you can talk friendly. So mate, I'm on
the way.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
I mean, could you have you if it's your house?
Can you actually be that rude in your own home?
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Well, I mean you can. I mean, if you've got
other things to do, it's you need to sometimes.
Speaker 5 (26:01):
But I think actually as we get older our friends.
You know then that most of my friends are beyond
the two o'clock in the mornings, you know, which would
have done a few years ago.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
But some people have to be nudged, no doubt about it.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Do you do?
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Yeah? I mean I've had enough. I want to go
to bed. Is that a right to say that when
you've got visitors in your house? I mean, my day,
you'd never do that.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
My father used to.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
He used to say to people, first of all, he
take them in to show them the electricity meter, which
we always thought was a bit dodgy, but it wasn't
really at all to see it was inland and once
he even came back in this pajamas to make it
quite clear.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Count yourself lucky. If that's the problem that it means
you've got friends, it's the.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
One head still people still take friends at home. I
mean that's another thing. I mean that's that culture has changed.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
You.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Yeah, but you're you're kind of like that. You're that person.
I'm the only one in Wellington hasn't been invited to
your place for dinner.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Well, we're going to have a lunch when I win
that bed.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Okay, all right, Wayne, I've got to push you one
more time because it's kind a couple of texts coming through.
What when do you think you'll make up your mind
whether you'll run again? Is it something you're thinking about
conscience in the oir? I know I don't want to
push it, but I've had a couple of people text
me and say.
Speaker 6 (27:06):
I mean when someone went when when the first candidates
got announced, she start to think about it, And that's
something we we'll discuss with with Sue.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Yeah, my wife, But does she want you to carry
on or is she don't want you, because that'll be
the end result. Let's be honest. If she wants you
to carry on, you'll be carried on. If she wants
you to stop, you'll be stopping. I mean that's normal life,
isn't it. You can't do that position without having again.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
You need support.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Absolutely absolutely no, I wasn't being rude. I was just
absolutely practical.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
I'm keen to go again.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
You are keen to go again. Absolutely, that's great news. First,
that's great news. That's really good news. There you go, listeners,
Wayne Gupp is going to go again. We've got something.
Thanks for giving it to us. Hots and notts. Next,
that's my heart. Now can I give us your hots
and nuts?
Speaker 4 (27:52):
Well, my heart is really a nott.
Speaker 5 (27:53):
I just want to talk about Thorndon Key, which has
become a slalom course for cars and so now the
Thorndon Key and Hot Road Collective has launched a petition
asking for the work to be paused until it has
been independently reviewed. Businesses are dying, motor shoppers are avoiding
the area, councils losing money from the lost car parks.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
It's an absolute disaster.
Speaker 5 (28:14):
For the city, and we know that at some stage
they're going to have to fix the pipes underneath. So
I won't give you a petition address on the website
on air, but i'll give it to your producer. We've
got to try and stop the Thorndon thing. It is
killing thornd and Key. It is killing those businesses.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
And you're and you're hot, so that it's obviously you're not.
Speaker 5 (28:34):
That is a kind of hot, because I've got the
other ones aread now are not too, which is why
is the city council moving the bus stops from outside
the Saint James when we have spent over nearly over
three quarters of a billion dollars on buildings in that area,
and now the council's planning to remove the bus stop
outside the Saint James and the Reading seaer.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
Move it one hundred yards down the road or something
of that.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Oh yeah, but in the wind. And if you're old
and you know, I know.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
I'm agreeing with you, I'm agreeing with you.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
Nuts.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Yeah, Wayne Guppy, what are your hots?
Speaker 3 (29:00):
Are not my heights?
Speaker 6 (29:01):
Is a visit of the Chinese premier Le Kuwang. I
think that's really important again, signaling to the world that
we're open for business and the Chinese relationships so important
for us as a country you trade and tourism.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
So that's my hot for the for the.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Very good point, very good point. I mean, they've sent
the second most powerful man, probably in the top five
in the world after the people, and he's in our
country right now talking to our prime minister. What does
it tell us. It tells us that hey, we met
it to them, yep, and we need them.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
You can have all your political affiliations and you know issues,
but the fact of the matter is we need them,
and we need them and we need them. They're tourists
to come back and numbers. So yeah, they're not hot
and they're not thing for me as we can't lose.
We've lost one hundred and thirty thousand people this year
in the last year have gone mostly I meet it'll
(29:54):
be young people going on II, but most of them
will be a young graduates and now bright young people.
And that number of ki We's leaving this country is
going to be a real issue for us.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
And my high is one guppy deciding that he's going
to go again facing opposition, looking at them fair and
square in the eyes and says I'm going to go
again eighteen months out. I mean, that's pretty impressive to
actually say, hey, Nicolas, even you would say that. I mean,
he normally people would say, oh, wait and see what
happens is.
Speaker 5 (30:23):
He hasn't said whether he's discussed it with his wife yet,
which he said was a critical factor.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
All I can tell you is that he would have
discussed it with his wife. I'm good, That's what I mean.
And I don't know Sue at all. I don't know
her and never mete it. I don't know, but I
know that I know the man that he is. He
would have discussed it with his wife. He would not
make that decision without her support. Am I right way?
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I like your confidence, nick I got it wrong.
Speaker 5 (30:48):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I like the look at your spear bed tonight when
you get home. Thank you both very much. Was lovely
having you both the study. It always good to catch
up with both of you, great people. Grateful what you
do for our city, Wellington and uppert our sister city
and very closely aligned city.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Dissecting the week sublime and ridiculus us Friday face off
with Quinovic Property Management A better rental experience for all
call eight hundred Quinovic. 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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