The Wellington City Council is spending close to $600 million upgrading its social housing stock, but what historic deal sparked the move?
And experts have said the Interislander ferries can last another five years - but can they?
NZ Herald's Wellington issues reporter Georgina Campbell joined Nick Mills to talk through her stories of the week.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk sat B taking the pulse of the city.
The Capital Letter on news Talk sed B.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Joining us now for a regular Capital Letter slot, as
New Zealand Herald Warnington's issues reported. Georgina Campbell, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
George, good morning.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I'm good.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
You're looking very relaxed and vibrant.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Oh. Thanks, Well, there hasn't been much happening with the
fairies this week, which might be white.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
It doesn't.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
You're not stressing about the fairies. Let's start with the
Council Social Housing.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I have to take a deep breath when I think
about this. The council is spending nearly six hundred million
dollars on upgrading the existing housing stock.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Why Yeah, It's a lot of money, isn't it. And
that's why I wanted to look into it. And it's
actually an really interesting almost like a history lesson.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
This which I knew the answer for it.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
There's almost six hundred million dollars and you see, you're right, Neck.
We discussed this before we went on here. It harps
back to a deal that was made with in Clark's
government in two thousand and seven, so quite a long
time ago. Basically the council was, you know, bitcash strapped
in terms of coming up with the money to upgrade
(01:19):
at social housing stock. Sounds like a familiar story, doesn't it,
And so struck a deal with the then government. So
the government gave the council two hundred and twenty million
dollars to upgrade about half of the social housing stock
over ten to fifteen years. And then the plan was
always for Wellington City Council to fund the other half.
(01:40):
And the problem is for the council is that it
was always doing it sort of after the government's half.
And what's happened during that time inflation, COVID, a white
hot construction market. So it was thought in two thousand
and seven it was going to cost the council about
one hundred and eighty million dollars. Well it's now five
hundred and ninety three million dollars.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I remember that deal being done and I thought to myself, well,
of the council don't adhere to their side of the deal,
there's going to be a problem sooner or later, and
here it is.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
And the thing is that the housing stock needs to
be upgraded. You know, thousands of people live in this
social housing and you know, back in two thousand and seven,
Kirie Prendergast was the mayor, and you know, she said
things need to be improved like seismic strengthening, insulation, ventilation.
(02:37):
Chris Carter was the Housing minister and you know, basically
said that these existing units are small, cold, noisy and
poorly configured for modern living. Well that was back in
two thousand and seven. It's now twenty twenty four, So
I think those tenants deserve to finally have all of
the housing stock upgraded.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, great story. There was a story also from you
earlier in the week about the Inter Island Fairies. Maritime
experts have said they actually are okay, They're fine, they
can last for another five years.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
It's like which one is it? You know, are they
aging and in a state of disrepair or are they
actually okay. Well, it turns out that these maritime experts
have done the full assessment of the existing fleet and
KII row ordered this assessment when the Mega Fairies were killed,
and the experts say, actually, the existing fleet is in
(03:31):
better state than first thought. There are no systemic issues
that will prevent the Interalandar fleet safely and reliably operating
until twenty twenty nine, so that's quite some time. Interestingly
to me, at least, the fatigue age of the inter
Islander's steel hulls was less than a quarter of the
(03:53):
actual age of the ships. So they're in like really
good condition appearing with.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
The hulls so they're not going to sink.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, so the hull is good, which you know, I
should give you some comfort worry at the moment. The
hull is good as long as you don't you know,
run aground and maybe hit some rocks. That might be
it different situation. So and apparently the hulls are in
such good conditions because inter Island it doesn't sale the
fairies in very heavy seas and cook straight to you know,
avoid discomfort passengers and livestock. So yeah, the fleet seems
(04:22):
to be in good condition, but there will be higher
maintenance required to keep it going until twenty twenty nine.
And so inter Islander thinks that this will cost about
thirty six million dollars a year in maintenance.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Each one or the composal okay, yeah, thirty.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Six million okay, So in your humble opinion, well, my
humble opinion, I'm asking your expert opinion. Does that let
the government off the hook? Does it say they don't
have to worry about it for a couple more years?
Do they hate that terminology? Kick the can down the road.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
It's certainly helpful for the government, isn't it, Because the
mega fairies were meant to arrive in twenty twenty six,
and the government has not committed to having its replacement
plan for the theories in place by that time, So
it kind of buys the government a bit more time
to get its plan b into gear.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yeah, okay, buys thirty six million a year, buys Yeah,
it's a lot of money. It's a lot of buddy money.
It's a lot of buddy that could be going towards
a new one, couldn't it? Over five years? Thirty sixty nine,
one hundred and eighty million doll one hundred and eighty million.
You already done those numbers, hadn't you.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yep, it was in my headline, but you did it
on the spot very quickly. It was impressive.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
I didn't have your article in front of me. I
should have. I should have read it.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
But I can do three three three three, and it
was another story that I sort of got me thinking
this morning what happened at the Trenton Racecourse last week
that you did an article on because I didn't see
this article either naughty me, I'm going to get told
or for that producer.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, this is a funny little story about being in
the right place at the right time. Three teenagers broke
into the race course only to find that a police
patrol dog course happened to be training there at the time.
So basically that trainee dog handler teams were coordinated and
(06:13):
they were able to surround the building and got some
real life experience getting these teenagers arresting them and they've
been referred to Youth Aid services.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
But yeah, I mean wrong place, wrong time. Yeah, Well for.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
The teenagers, wrong place, wrong time, the.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Right place, right time for these training dogs.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yeah, so they've got some real life experience. You could
probably couldn't ask for more in terms of training, could you.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
I watched something on TV.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I must have been sitting waiting for someone to do
something and I watched something on TV a few weeks
ago when they showed them the program on them training
the police dogs, and it's incredible. Have you ever seen
any have you seen? These police dogs are so so
damn smart.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
We digress, but I've been to some of their graduations
and it is really incredible that the relationship between the
dog and the handler anything.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Because they don't get them for a couple of years,
or do they Because I know that some people look
after police dogs. I know families that have looked after
police dogs until they become a certain age. Then you
have to give them back. If they're any good and
they know good, you get to keep them.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Were they hard giving them little pup one.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Hundred percent, But they pay for everything. They give you
the dog food and they pay for everything. So yeah,
that's what happens. But if it doesn't make the cut
of it, doesn't go and pick up the things they're
supposed to pick up, you get to keep it in
free dog.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Oh that's a pretty good deal.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
A good deal. You don't have to give it up.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yeah, always a pleasure. George, Thank you for coming in
and coming into the show. Keep up all the good
work you do. Georgina campbell Is and use Wellington's issues
reported for The New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
He For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen
live to news talks. They'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 sat B taking the pulse of the city.
The Capital Letter on news Talk sed B.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Joining us now for a regular Capital Letter slot, as
New Zealand Herald Warnington's issues reported. Georgina Campbell, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
George, good morning.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I'm good.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
You're looking very relaxed and vibrant.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Oh. Thanks, Well, there hasn't been much happening with the
fairies this week, which might be white.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
It doesn't.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
You're not stressing about the fairies. Let's start with the
Council Social Housing.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I have to take a deep breath when I think
about this. The council is spending nearly six hundred million
dollars on upgrading the existing housing stock.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Why Yeah, It's a lot of money, isn't it. And
that's why I wanted to look into it. And it's
actually an really interesting almost like a history lesson.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
This which I knew the answer for it.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
There's almost six hundred million dollars and you see, you're right, Neck.
We discussed this before we went on here. It harps
back to a deal that was made with in Clark's
government in two thousand and seven, so quite a long
time ago. Basically the council was, you know, bitcash strapped
in terms of coming up with the money to upgrade
(01:19):
at social housing stock. Sounds like a familiar story, doesn't it,
And so struck a deal with the then government. So
the government gave the council two hundred and twenty million
dollars to upgrade about half of the social housing stock
over ten to fifteen years. And then the plan was
always for Wellington City Council to fund the other half.
(01:40):
And the problem is for the council is that it
was always doing it sort of after the government's half.
And what's happened during that time inflation, COVID, a white
hot construction market. So it was thought in two thousand
and seven it was going to cost the council about
one hundred and eighty million dollars. Well it's now five
hundred and ninety three million dollars.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I remember that deal being done and I thought to myself, well,
of the council don't adhere to their side of the deal,
there's going to be a problem sooner or later, and
here it is.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
And the thing is that the housing stock needs to
be upgraded. You know, thousands of people live in this
social housing and you know, back in two thousand and seven,
Kirie Prendergast was the mayor, and you know, she said
things need to be improved like seismic strengthening, insulation, ventilation.
(02:37):
Chris Carter was the Housing minister and you know, basically
said that these existing units are small, cold, noisy and
poorly configured for modern living. Well that was back in
two thousand and seven. It's now twenty twenty four, So
I think those tenants deserve to finally have all of
the housing stock upgraded.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, great story. There was a story also from you
earlier in the week about the Inter Island Fairies. Maritime
experts have said they actually are okay, They're fine, they
can last for another five years.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
It's like which one is it? You know, are they
aging and in a state of disrepair or are they
actually okay. Well, it turns out that these maritime experts
have done the full assessment of the existing fleet and
KII row ordered this assessment when the Mega Fairies were killed,
and the experts say, actually, the existing fleet is in
(03:31):
better state than first thought. There are no systemic issues
that will prevent the Interalandar fleet safely and reliably operating
until twenty twenty nine, so that's quite some time. Interestingly
to me, at least, the fatigue age of the inter
Islander's steel hulls was less than a quarter of the
(03:53):
actual age of the ships. So they're in like really
good condition appearing with.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
The hulls so they're not going to sink.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, so the hull is good, which you know, I
should give you some comfort worry at the moment. The
hull is good as long as you don't you know,
run aground and maybe hit some rocks. That might be
it different situation. So and apparently the hulls are in
such good conditions because inter Island it doesn't sale the
fairies in very heavy seas and cook straight to you know,
avoid discomfort passengers and livestock. So yeah, the fleet seems
(04:22):
to be in good condition, but there will be higher
maintenance required to keep it going until twenty twenty nine.
And so inter Islander thinks that this will cost about
thirty six million dollars a year in maintenance.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Each one or the composal okay, yeah, thirty.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Six million okay, So in your humble opinion, well, my
humble opinion, I'm asking your expert opinion. Does that let
the government off the hook? Does it say they don't
have to worry about it for a couple more years?
Do they hate that terminology? Kick the can down the road.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
It's certainly helpful for the government, isn't it, Because the
mega fairies were meant to arrive in twenty twenty six,
and the government has not committed to having its replacement
plan for the theories in place by that time, So
it kind of buys the government a bit more time
to get its plan b into gear.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yeah, okay, buys thirty six million a year, buys Yeah,
it's a lot of money. It's a lot of buddy money.
It's a lot of buddy that could be going towards
a new one, couldn't it? Over five years? Thirty sixty nine,
one hundred and eighty million doll one hundred and eighty million.
You already done those numbers, hadn't you.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yep, it was in my headline, but you did it
on the spot very quickly. It was impressive.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
I didn't have your article in front of me. I
should have. I should have read it.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
But I can do three three three three, and it
was another story that I sort of got me thinking
this morning what happened at the Trenton Racecourse last week
that you did an article on because I didn't see
this article either naughty me, I'm going to get told
or for that producer.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, this is a funny little story about being in
the right place at the right time. Three teenagers broke
into the race course only to find that a police
patrol dog course happened to be training there at the time.
So basically that trainee dog handler teams were coordinated and
(06:13):
they were able to surround the building and got some
real life experience getting these teenagers arresting them and they've
been referred to Youth Aid services.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
But yeah, I mean wrong place, wrong time. Yeah, Well for.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
The teenagers, wrong place, wrong time, the.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Right place, right time for these training dogs.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yeah, so they've got some real life experience. You could
probably couldn't ask for more in terms of training, could you.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
I watched something on TV.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I must have been sitting waiting for someone to do
something and I watched something on TV a few weeks
ago when they showed them the program on them training
the police dogs, and it's incredible. Have you ever seen
any have you seen? These police dogs are so so
damn smart.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
We digress, but I've been to some of their graduations
and it is really incredible that the relationship between the
dog and the handler anything.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Because they don't get them for a couple of years,
or do they Because I know that some people look
after police dogs. I know families that have looked after
police dogs until they become a certain age. Then you
have to give them back. If they're any good and
they know good, you get to keep them.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Were they hard giving them little pup one.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Hundred percent, But they pay for everything. They give you
the dog food and they pay for everything. So yeah,
that's what happens. But if it doesn't make the cut
of it, doesn't go and pick up the things they're
supposed to pick up, you get to keep it in
free dog.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Oh that's a pretty good deal.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
A good deal. You don't have to give it up.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yeah, always a pleasure. George, Thank you for coming in
and coming into the show. Keep up all the good
work you do. Georgina campbell Is and use Wellington's issues
reported for The New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
He For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen
live to news talks. They'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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