November 30, 2025 • 31 mins
Mayor Andrew Little is in studio for his last of the monthly catch ups for 2025 with Nick Mills.
He answers questions from Nick and listeners on the state of the city and the latest in council news.
They discuss regional council changes, the Golden Mile review, the Deloitte report plus the $48 billion cost of local water reforms.
And on December 13th James Cameron brings the Avatar Fire and Ash Australasia premiere to our city. How are the council preparing for this day – which also included a cruise ship arrival, black caps test and Te Papa exhibition opening. Will Wellington be ready?
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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.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome, welcome to the show, and welcome Andrew Little, Wellington
Mayor to the show. Good morning too. In a row,
two in a row, second monthly meeting and you're.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Both there was my promise a row?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
What do how many dubbers we'll get to? There's people
with a sweep skate, you know they what did? How long?
How long you'll keep doing it?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Cynical?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
That's so cynical. I don't know whether it's against me
or against you, but question I'll still be a whole.
Hopefully I'm still here and hopefully you'll still be here.
But it's getted to any years. Are you starting to
get the feel? Are you starting to get the Christmas feel?
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, no, definitely yeah. I've got had about quite a
bit actually in the last few weeks and definitely a
left in the mood and the affectiz out. There's the
last few days last week, I was surprised at the
number of people in town in a way that I
hadn't felt before. And I was talked to some retailers
that just oy over the weekend and to look my senses,
there's more people, and they said, yes, there is, and
they are really feeling it. They said things like the
(01:13):
Black Friday sale that went for sort of about two
or three weeks for some of them might have made
a difference, but they're definitely saying that they feel that
there's more people there. They're seeing a bit more across
the counter. So let's take that stays up.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
You know, when I felt it, and I felt I
could still feel the smile on my face when I
went down and helped out at the Merry Potter Hospice
Strawberry Fair. Oh yeah, you know what I mean. And
the day was beautiful. It was a fry I think
it was. Maybe I don't know what day it was,
but it was everywhere. There was crowds, there was bands, plague,
and there was people wadering out of it.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Hello yeah, yeah, no. And I was down there too
for that event and a lot of people around. But
just I just think, you know, even with some of
the you know that sort of weather that came and
went last week, I did that unveiled that the big
sculpture and white ting you part, the new one, the
big chromium thing, and just the mood was the mood
(02:03):
was positive, even though you know that the sun came
out and then the rain would come. I'm blowing that
someone come out again. People just felt good about something,
things happening, feel positive about the city. So that's good
and long may that last.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
You haven't haven't had any of these obstacles yet, you
know we've talked about before in the show. You've You've
had it pretty good, haven't you. You've had spin bowling
all the time. There's no Joel Garner bowling at you yet,
not so far. But then my second and third interview
with Nick Mills. But I also think I think people
are seeing there's some things happening with you must be
the library opening next to we've got the Avatar premiere
(02:37):
in a couple of weeks time down at Corney Place.
So things like that I think lift the spirit. But
actually people know that there's more people come into the
city and more money coming through the city, and that
that obviously is good as well. And you can't beat
Willington on a good day. Oh, I hate saying that.
Let's start with regional council. The government wants mayors to
effectively take over regional council functions. You've raised concerns about
(03:01):
the treaty obligations under the new structure. What specifically were
you about the treaty rights been upheld under the mayoral
panel when you're there to protect them anyway.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Yeah, I think the main thing is the look the
changes as the govern announced will add a lot to
MEA's workload. So there's that. But the other thing is
by swapping out regional counselors with the meyors. Some regional
councilors have dedicated marty representation, others have marty representation because
they've been elected there. You're not going to guarantee that
with swapping those folks out with the local mayors. The
(03:35):
whole thing about the treaty obligation is the one thing
the treaty said is Mary got to have rights of representation,
voice whatever in relation to land, land issues and their
villages and what have you. Regional councilors do that, City
councils do that as well. So in terms of fulfilling
the obligation of the treaty, we've just got to make
sure that voice and that right representation continues.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Now the government is going to push ahead with us
I don't think Andrew Little is going to be able
to stop us, no matter how powerful powerful he thinks
he is. What safeguards are you personally asking for?
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I think, look when you look at what they're saying,
because it's not going to stop it just putting the
mayors in charge of the regional councilors. Because what they're
then saying is once the mayors are in charge, which
they think will happen in twenty twenty seven, is then
the mayors have to put together a plan. So that's
got to be done by twenty twenty nine. And really
what they want as a proposal for amalgamation, that's what
this is all driving towards. And then so my prediction
(04:29):
is that if all that happens, and I don't.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Do you think you'll go to a referendum? Do you
think the amalgamation will go to a If you recognize.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
It's interesting the policy thing didn't say that that was
required under the local government, that is required. We'll see
what they say about that. They really want to see
that consolidation. And I have to say, in fairness too,
in terms of opposition parties, we haven't the opposition parties
Labor and others didn't say a lot about saying no,
we're going to stop this, So I think this is
probably going to happen. So my prediction is that probably
(04:58):
twenty thirty one will be an election for a consolidated
Wellington local body.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
It's pretty damn exciting, I think. I mean, I pushed
for it since the day I've been in this job
as a Wellington businessman. I want to hold hands with
potty heart Upperhart. I think it's a natural thing to do.
But how strong could we be?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, and I certainly talked it up in that my
electual campaign is something I'm in favor of, and I
set myself the task of getting the discussion going for
Wellington because I think it is I think if we
you know, you just look at we're a region now.
People live in the region. They an't just confined to
their cities. The services need to be organized across the city.
Taky why metro water is a classic example of course
that should happen. Transport's got to be organized on a
(05:39):
region wide basis. You think about why people come to
the region. They'll stay in one place, go to an
event or activity in another. So we should organize, organize
ourselves regional and I think that will have benefits, long
term benefits, financial benefits for every resident. Right it reduces
the cost of local government so.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
More and more at points that getting rid of regional
councils are the best thing to do.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Yeah, and I think the thing for Greater Wellington Regional
Council is of course what happens wide it up. But
then you know, the wided upper councils have a job
to do to They should be pulling themselves together, of course,
and then they should look north to any further amalgamation.
I think Kampity District Council. You know, they've got a
foot in the kind of the Wellington camp foot in
the horde of Fenua Camp. I think they are more
(06:22):
aligned to their north as opposed to their south. And
that means that the four Wellington Metro councils should come
together as a cluster because that makes the most sense.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
And realistically, I mean kapit is a growing area. We
all know, that wealthy area, you know, powerful area. Leave
them beyond their own maybe maybe Sneak and o TACKI
and Levern and maybe a couple of those, but leave them,
let them be because the are still big numbers up.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Yeah, yeah, they only they want to spread their cross,
get the benefits of scale and all the rest of it.
But they, as you say, their interests are more tied
to the likes of living and or takey and things
like that. That that neck of the woods of one
particular in Navera two. So I think there's some logic there.
I think that's where the government is heading, probably without
saying it.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
But and to be fair Labor, you know, I've done
enough interviews on this show to know Labor kind of
liked that idea too. I mean they would thinking there
was definitely no negative towards it with Labor.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
No, no, don't there's no. I don't see any hostility idea.
I think they know they sort of play for it.
If they could do this, could do that. But I
think in generally they understand the logic of it and
the economics of it. This stuff makes sense. It's about
reducing the cost of local government to the people who
have to pay for it.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Do you have any idea how it will work well?
Because this is my interpretation, purely my interpretation. There's twenty
seven thousand people in Upper Hut. They get three councilors
at Upper Hut, there's twenty nine thousand at Lowhart. They
might have four counts. Is that how it will work.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
I'm not sure that's going to be worked out. There
is an expectation there it will be. I think that
the interim stage of the mayors taking over the regional
councils is that each mayor's vote is proportionate to the
population they represent. So and Wellington, the Wellington City Council mayor,
hello me, my vote will be worth more than each
of the other mayor's votes.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
But they're still talk that's actually only going to be equal,
which would be ridiculous.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, the stuff I saw suggested not that could be
a possibility, But I think the government's preference is that
there's a bit of a proportional waiting. We've kind of
done a bit of that with with tiaku Y Metro Water,
where Willington's now got a waiting. They've got three votes,
whereas each of the other ones had one vote, which
is about right. But I meant but also arrange for
(08:36):
the sake of metro Water, arranged so that Willington City
Council doesn't control the organization, because that would make us
liable for all the debts and all their liblity.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Are you feeling okay about I want I need to
take a break, But are you feeling okay about t
tr Q Y? And and do you have you met
Michael Brewster, the CEO.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Michael Brewster yet he was announced last week? But yeah,
and I'm one of the next big decisions that Willington
City councilors to take in the next week or so
is the approving the establishment documents for that. There's a
whole lot the die was cast and a whole lot
of things, So there's not a lot I can do
about that. But we still got to work out some
of the principles around pricing and how they implement that
(09:15):
over time and those sorts of things. So there's still
work to do. In principle, it's a sensible thing to
have one entity managing all the water services, but the
demand or the expectations on them to get the infrastructure right,
do the repairs, upgrades, big investment required. I mean, that's
still there's still a big piece of work.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Are we do you You may not know this. Will
we get a separate bill? Yes, so not even not
part of our rates.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
So it won't so on your rates bill, there won't
be a line. It'll be a separate bill completely coming
from a different address saying here's your water bill.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
So you won't be responsible for collecting that money. Nothing
to do with the council's individual councils. It will all
be done by the water entity in South No.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
I think there's an arrangement and interim arrangement for Winington
City Council to use its systems for invoicing and sending
it out, But that's all the responsible for to j
Q why But what that does do is tell us,
you know, for city councils, when we are doing our
future rate setting, we have to be aware of that
water pricing because that water price is going to go
A price of getting water to your house and using
it is going to go up. So councils when they're
(10:18):
setting their rates are going to have to be thinking
about that aspect of affordability as well as setting the
cost or running the council. So I'm acutely aware that
these things are going to go hand in hand.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yeah, and people are going to think to themselves, on
my rates are the same, but I've actually got a
water bill. It's ridiculous. Andrew Little's in the studio for
his monthly catch up and he is taking your calls
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. He's taking your questions,
not your cause he doesn't want to have a chat. Well,
I don't want him to have a chat with you.
He's having a chat with me. But if you've got
a question, keep it quiet, tight, and I'm sure that
(10:50):
he'll do its best to answer it. Good morning, Ian,
you have a question for Andrew Little?
Speaker 5 (10:56):
Yeah, good morning Nick and Andrew graduations and on your
mail to election. Well done.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Cheers in es.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Firstly, I've got a property which, like many others, doesn't
have a sewage connection, never will have one. It's a
car pack and it's rated base. No sewage that's evating
that council gives it. And all of a sudden this
year I get a sledge levy popped on top of it,
and I find I'm paying thirty percent of the cost
of the sledge plant through my rates or levies or
(11:23):
whatever you call it. So I mean it's all the
same to me at the end of the dare you
pay the money? But the question is why do I
pay anything? At all for sledge of someone else's surge.
I don't know the m sewage all the tapp pubbies
in Tower and London, and Rulier is still paying three
percent the SoC plood. I guess the question is why
and who's it a thirty percent?
Speaker 3 (11:42):
That's a good question, and particularly if the property is
just a car pack and it's a rated non sewage.
So look, I don't have an answer to that except
to say I agree with you that it doesn't seem
to make sense on the face of it. Let me
take that away and find out some more information, and
if there's a way I can get back to you,
then I'd like to do that.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
So so thanks for leddy, and you can email the
Warata City Care and make the address to Andrew and Heill.
I'm sure he'll find out what the hell's going on
with that. Let's talk about Deloitte's report. Deloitte's found the
council significantly overstarts and identified major savings. Now we talked
before you when you were running for me, and I said,
(12:24):
could you make two hundred people redundant? So that was
a pretty good guess, wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Yeah? I think I mean the report it's interesting the
report did a bench topic exercise. They did what they said,
they compared it with sort of cromparable organizations, and there's
kind of their headline figure was they think that it's
overstated by overstaff by three hundred and thirty. What they
didn't say was, you know, for their organizer organizations they
were comparing it to given New Zealand, at least some
(12:51):
councils contract out a lot of stuff so they staff
aren't on their books and now there's a contract and stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
So that's it.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
I think what the report did highlight was a number
of things that can be done more efficiently and cost effectively,
and so there is going to be a question about
about how we achieved that. I know from Matt Price,
of the chief executive, he's already worked on a sinking
good policy. So a whole bunch of vacancies haven't been
filled and won't be filled and the plan is to
keep continuing that until there's a Now with the benefit
(13:20):
of the Delite report analysis is to work out what
we were not so much what we need to do,
the way we need to do it that is a
more cost effective way. Totally in support of that, approach,
and so Matt will be going ahead and doing that. Obviously,
where staff members are concerned, he's got to stay in
touch with them and their unions and so there'll be
a proper process for that. But if we can do
(13:42):
things more cost effectively, then we have to do that.
I mean, Matt Prosser went up a couple of levels
with me. I thought, what a smart u CEO he
put out.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
It gets a respected accountancy firm to come in and
have a look at it. I mean, that's pretty exciting
for rate payers, isn't it the fact that he's even
contemplating doing things like this.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Yeah, he commissioned that before the election, but in since
the Ian one of the one of the groups I've
set up as a group of council as a working
group on looking at the finances of the council and
value for money that's cheered by the diplomy of Ben
McNulty as people like Andrew Companty on it accountant. So
the whole idea is we as counsel, we've got to
(14:24):
get to grips with the cost of counsel and make
sure it's cost effective as possible. So that's what that's
we'll have the benefit of the delete report. Now, working
in tandem with the Chief Executive and this working group,
we are about driving as much cost as we can
out of the council and keeping that downward pressure on rates.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Are you willing to commit to any specific savings before
the next rate count? Are you determined to make this work? Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (14:50):
And I look I tempting as it might be to
put a percentage on it or a dollar figure on it.
I'm reluctant to because I don't look at anything as possible.
I've asked the working group to look at, you know,
the short term gains they can do. There'll be some
long term stuff as well. There'll be stuff that won't
be apparent until not the next thing to doing something. Absolutely,
(15:12):
we've got we've got to take cost out accouncil.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
We have another we have another question coming in, Stepha.
You have a question for Maya Andrew.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Little I do Nick, thank you, congratulations Mea on your
winning the election. My question is based around the proposals
for the scrapping of regional councils, where they're looking at
the voting system with the mayors and how they group
(15:40):
the waitings of that. How do you see that working
for Wellington, because my concerns looking at it on the
premia facy of it is that some councilors could hold
others to ransom or vice versa, getting more what they
want rather than actually looking at the benefit of the
bigger regions. So with the size of Wellington being as
(16:02):
big as it is and some of the issues that
it's got, how can we be sure that that's not
going to hold other councils to ransom being a heartbelly landowner.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Yeah, yeah, that's a good point.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I think.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Look only in the end the once the Meyors take
over the regional council the running of the regional councils,
they've got to put together a plan. That plan end
up ends up having to be approved by the Minister
for Local Government, so there is a bit of a
check and a balance on it. So anything that looks
as if it's it's unfair or exploitative of any council,
or it looks like it's there's an attempt to sort
(16:37):
of exercise a minority veto over what's good for the
region as a whole, I think that'll be pretty apparent
to the minister who will who will then not approve
the plan. So for the mes putting together the regional plan,
they will know that they're not the They're not the
final word on it. It will be the Minister, and
the minister will want to see a fear plan.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Seems like a hell of a lot of ball work.
You've got it. Still us to the new job much
listening to you. The holy hell that's a bit of work.
Does that? Con said?
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Well, that's what it is. I'm a bit of a
glutton for hard work and punishment. So look I'm required
to do it. I'll do it with my colleagues. But
it's not what I thought of when I was standing
for Willington.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Vicky's got a question. Good morning, Vicky, you have a question.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
For our mayor.
Speaker 6 (17:26):
I do thank you. Niche Hello, I'm just concerned or
interested to know when the council is planning to read
give us rate three dates please.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Okay, I wasn't aware that that had not happened, because
it's also tied up with the MSD because they end
up funding that. Again. Look if I don't know what
the details are, but if you contact me at the
Wellington City Council, I'm happy to follow that up.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
For you, Vicky, Thanks very much, Vicky, thanks very much. Meya, Right,
business owners and the public are waiting for answers on
the Golden Mile. People are a little bit more nervous
than they even were beforehand. Where's the review at today, Andrew?
And where at what stage will we actually know exactly
what's happening with the Golden Mile.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
So look, look, the reviews now been approved or commissioned
by the council, so that'll get underway. It'll take some
it'll take a few months to do that. It's going
to be independent. The reason for it is that we've
got news of the latest cost blowout that would push
it up another sixty million dollars. And that's the sixty
million dollars that the council just doesn't have. And I've
been very clear of me, very clear to offices as
(18:35):
indeed I have been to residents and rate paths. The
Council just cannot absorb these sort of out of the
blue big cost increases and cost shocks. So we have
to look at it again. And I know some people
are concerned, well, if we don't do what was originally planned,
we lose the government funding.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
But have you been speaking to the government about their funding.
Do we know where that's at LOK We've raised it.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
I've raised it with and I've raised it with ministers,
and I've had briefings for Amenzi Tatai and they say, look,
these are the conditions attached to it for government funding.
Look part of the review I want to I wanted
to look at as what what if the objectives can
we achieve that that is attached to the government funding,
things like you know, the bus movement and bust priority
and all the rest of it. But what is it
(19:17):
we can do to make it affordable because we just
we just cannot absorb another sixty million dollar blowout and
we're not going to.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
So how can you guarantee us as rate payers that
this is not going to be another drawn out, expensive
exercise or just the review?
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Yeah, I don't want it to be, of course, we
don't want it to be. I do want to give
businesses some certainty too about what's hamening. And look at
the other thing I'm aware of too, only that the
business community to certain it down the Courtney place and
some of them have commissioned their own sort of project
about what a good spruce up might look like, and
that's good. I think everybody says to me, look, we
do need to do something to tidy up Courtney Place,
look at more make it a lot more appealing and
(19:51):
attractive people.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
You know, are you talking about will Respond's reports and stuff,
because it seems to be they seem to be doing
a lot of work down there.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Yeah, they have done, and I think they've they've been
doing some stuff and some of the businesses have gone
behind it. Like a lot of people say, do we
need to do something to spruit it up? People like
getting down to Courtney Place. It is the kind of
the entertainment district. But we can't. We can't do what
we can't afford. And we've just got to We've just
got to accept that discipline now because the only people
(20:20):
who end up paying for that are the right payers,
and they've shouldered enough.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
I remember running into Tim Brown when he was telling
me that we're all going to pay a hell of
a lot more for the water about a year ago,
and he was damn right about that. I mean, he
also said to me that that the people at Wellington
don't realize how much that nightlife economy was worth to
the council and now they don't have that money. I
mean it's quite simple. It's money and money out.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Yeah, yeah, no, no, totally. And that's when when when
the economy takes a dip, the one bit of discretionary
spending that people stop is going out and and you know,
going to shows, having a drink, going out to eat,
what have you. So, uh, that's why what happens with
the economy generally. But the stuff the council can do
to promote and courage investment and well is important too
(21:06):
that it tracks people here. You know. One of the
big targets, big goals we got we've got to grow
the Wellington population. We've been static for seven or eight years.
We've got to change that. We do that partly by
making the city more affordable, partly by having things that
people want to come here for.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
What's your personal view about trying to get I know
a lot of developers are trying to get more people
living in the city. I mean, you know, Ian Castle's
has been doing it for twenty years, and you know
there's other people involved in trying to generate more people
living in the city. What's your own personal view on that.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Yeah, I think that's a good thing I think, and
the more people who are living in the city are
people who want that apartment kind of city lifestyle. That's
a good thing. Those people are living in the city,
they're placing demanding for services, for food, for entertainment on
the city. It's easy for them because the transport is
pretty easy. It's a walkable city, so they can get around.
What goes with that is making sure that we have
(21:56):
the amenities in the city, green spaces, and making sure
the waterfronts and attractive play all that sort of stuff.
That's one of the reasons why I want an Urban
Development Office in Wellington. That's pulling all those functions of
council together that have an impact on the city, so
we actually get some long term coherent planning about what
a great more in a city living looks like, what
(22:16):
we need to accompany it, and for those coming in
from the suburbs that it's easy for them to do
so as well and enjoy the city.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
You seem pretty excited, but I'm going to take a break.
I'll come back to you in a secment. You seem
a lot more fired up even than before you when
you're I think you're enjoying the job.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
So far I am.
Speaker 6 (22:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
You look like you're enjoying a sleep in the last
few weeks too, which helps. Oh, it does, a little
bit of sleep does help. And you've got an email
address for those people too, haven't you? And people people
want to email you? Yeah, thanks, I should have said
so MEA at WCC dot GVT dolling Z send you
your queris and questions there. It'll get done with, but
I'll make sure I respond personally as well.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
There you go. That's just for those people that we
spoke to earlier. Let's talk about something exciting that's going
to happen, the Avatar Australasian Premiere. Are you confident that
will be able to host it? Do you think it'll be,
you know, a big event? And tell us what your
thoughts are, right.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Yeah, no, it is going to be huge. And that
look works already going to sort of tidy up Corney
plays frong enough, not probably to the extent we're like,
but it'll be cleaned up, spruced up and ready to go.
The red carpet will roll down Courtney Place and so
the James Cameron and the and the very stars who
can get here will be part of that and look,
it'll be a big deal. It's a big deal. It's
(23:33):
one of four premiers around the world. So we've got
this one here and that's because a lot of the
work was done in Wellington here and it just said
of underscores the importance and significance of that industry, the
film industry to Wellington and because of James Cameron and
his commitment to Willington Wellington. It's great. We've got their
premier year team. So you know, Wellington City Council is
(23:54):
putting a lot behind it.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
I mean I didn't realize this, but you probably did realize.
We've got a black Caps test match day, We've got
a Tapapa exhibition opening the same day. We've got a
crew ship and down the same day. We're going to
be full to the brim.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
It's gonna be there's gonna be a lot going on,
You're absolutely right. So it's gonna be a lot of
people in town visiting town. So look, things will be
at a premium and we've got to make sure too
that people don't all crowd into town with the cars.
We've got to work out with public transport how we
can move people around so that they don't all sort
of trying to eat up the dwinning a number of
(24:31):
parking spaces in the city. We'll work all that out,
but it's going to be a big day. The thirteenth
of December is going to be a big day in Wellington.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Right just quickly, because I know that Auckland are getting
all the attention on this, and rightly so, because they're
doing things people living on the street. I mean that's
a problem for Courtney place that we don't want a
World premiere or an Australasian premiere and everyone coming. Are
you Are you part of that conversation with the government.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Yeah, we are, and also with the local agencies too.
I went to a session with the Downtown City Ministry
and they sort of presenting their annual review and annual
report and telling me about the size of the problem.
Murray Eddrid was there also from the Willingness City Mission.
So look, they are working, we're not. I'm looking forward
to catching up with the police leadership very soon about that.
(25:18):
The question I'm asking is is there anything more the
council could be doing. We've got the City Safety Strategy,
We've got people from the council involved in trying to
support and coordinate. If there's anything more that needs to
be done, let us know. And if it's about having
more conversations with central government, let us let us know
that too. But look, that's a constant actual we're going
to have to keep addressing to keep our those people safe,
but it keep our streets looking good.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
We had Elizabeth Lester on the show with her group.
They're also working with Dwell, they're working with it too.
Are you in contact with them?
Speaker 3 (25:50):
And yeah, I've met I've met Liz Lester and look
the housing provider and they provide their wrap around stuff too.
I know the government does have a plan for some
more for government social housing, so we're waiting to see
what that is. But that will be helpful that can
come aboard. But it's that thing. It's that part of
the population who need a roof over the heads, but
(26:12):
they need other support too, and it's making sure that
they're getting access to that.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
But if if we're serious about cleaning up our city
and trying to make all these events, that would be
a monumental moment to try and clean that up.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and work we'll go on that.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Right after a messy year. People want to know that
the ship is steady and wanting the City Council. Everyone
I've spoke to and I've got to be upfront and clear,
have been very positive towards your leadership. They even both
sides of the fence, both the ones that don't like
you and do like your politically, if you know what
I mean. Now you're trying to say things the right way.
(26:50):
Tell me what you how do you really feel?
Speaker 5 (26:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (26:54):
I do feel good and for me it's what I expected.
It's that the effort is just on building the relationships,
So building the relationships with other counselors, working with council
staff and their leadership as well, working with the you know,
the government, central government, working on those relationships, and then
just I think getting out and about and restoring a
bit of confidence amongst the Weddingtonians. And you know, it's
(27:16):
a deliberate effort on my part to get to events
to be seen to be reassuring because there's a lot,
there's a lot positive happening and about to happen. I
think for counselors too, I think it's about letting the
conversations flow. People are going to know, everybody's going to
support everything. People you know people some counselor will be
concerned about other things. Let's have the discussion, but let's
(27:37):
not rip ourselves apart.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Have you have you lost your raggyit you have? You
got want that to happen.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Haven't needed to and that it's not Are you a
guy that does that? No, I'm not. I mean, like
I know, there was an article once the said when
I was at the time I was a union leader,
that I had to sort of controlled anger thing. I
mean then negotiating at a barking table. It's on one thing
when you're in a leadership role, leading a city, leading
a council. I think I have a pretty one of
my one of the characters I have in my mind
(28:03):
offer And is an old TV character from Hill Street Blues,
and it was the pre think Captain Frick Frank Ferrollo,
who was totally unflappable, didn't matter what was that, his
personal life was in crisis, the detectives and the police
officers and his precinct were all sorts of things. He
never ever lost it. He just kept steady. That's kind
of is.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
There a polar opposite to that, because that's what I am.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Well, that's kind of what I have in my mind,
so I don't and I'm not a panicer by nature.
I don't react. Some people criticize me for that, but
I don't reac because I'm often just absorbing. Right, what
is the next best thing to do? And you can't
make that decision unless you keep them cool.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Now, if you don't want to see me angry, you're
going to tell me what this figure the doubtspit on
car parking be, because you'll be teasing us, teasing us,
teasing us. You know, it's like being out in the
bar on a Friday night, you know, I know.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
And look, I thought we might have made a decision
by now. We won't. But what I tell you about
it's about the motorcycle parking charges. I just asked counsel
officers to have a look at I'm not convinced of
the economics of it. You know, a dollar an hour
or something that the the effort and cost and collecting
and and enforcing it. I don't think it's going to
make sense, so I ask counsel officers to have a
(29:10):
look at it with a view to removing it. I
expect we will make a decision before Christmas. I'd hope
it would be making. I thought it was more exciting
than that. I thought it was the you know, the
good looking girl looking at me across the bar on
Friday night.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
That was that's not that's not that. That was not
that announcement but.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Makes a big difference.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Okay, yeah too, You're right. Sorry motivate cycle riders. But
there might be announcement coming up. You've been teased. It's
twelve minutes to eleven. When we come back, we'll have
a final bit of a rap with wanting to Mayor
Andrew Little. We might even get him to give us
out his mayoralty. Christmas wish is that the word for it? Right?
We were talking with I was talking to the mayor
(29:48):
about something very separate to do you like a good beer?
I love I love craft beat. More about that later
Christmas time. Craft be is perfect for Christmas time. It's
not what do you got planned? What's the family got planned? What?
What do you want to give us a Christmas wish?
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Or plans are? We'll be around and willing to know
over Christmas. Then we're ducking away just before New Year,
up to New Plymouth, catch up with folks. So I'm
going to come back however for the New Year's Eve
event and go back the next day. But otherwise here
there's a couple of sports tournaments in January and Wellington
there's a floorball tournament, International tournament ten countries comparing, there's
a pickleball tournament. I want to be back for those,
(30:26):
so but my message is, look, twenty twenty five has
been tough. Twenty twenty six is looking really promising for Wellington.
There's a lot going on. There's going to be a
lot of activity. So this summer be safe and most
of all, be optimistic about welling to twenty twenty six.
It's going to be a magic year.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Thank you, Thank you for all you've done. And as
I said earlier, you look happy, you look content, you
look positive, and that's what we need from our mayor.
So thank you for how so far. Fantastic job well done.
I give you eight and a half out of ten.
There's no such thing as ten out of ten in
my in my world, there's nothing's perfect. But I give
(31:05):
you an eight and a half half out of ten
for the first three months or two and a half months. Congratulations,
job well.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Done, Thanks Nick, Thank you catch you next year. Well
do you Merry Christmas to you Anie, your listeners, and
we'll see you in the new year.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
There you go, Wellington meyor Andrew. He just seems so
much more relaxed than normally Andrew Little Wellington meor.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, Listen live
to news talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from news Talk said b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome, welcome to the show, and welcome Andrew Little, Wellington
Mayor to the show. Good morning too. In a row,
two in a row, second monthly meeting and you're.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Both there was my promise a row?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
What do how many dubbers we'll get to? There's people
with a sweep skate, you know they what did? How long?
How long you'll keep doing it?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Cynical?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
That's so cynical. I don't know whether it's against me
or against you, but question I'll still be a whole.
Hopefully I'm still here and hopefully you'll still be here.
But it's getted to any years. Are you starting to
get the feel? Are you starting to get the Christmas feel?
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, no, definitely yeah. I've got had about quite a
bit actually in the last few weeks and definitely a
left in the mood and the affectiz out. There's the
last few days last week, I was surprised at the
number of people in town in a way that I
hadn't felt before. And I was talked to some retailers
that just oy over the weekend and to look my senses,
there's more people, and they said, yes, there is, and
they are really feeling it. They said things like the
(01:13):
Black Friday sale that went for sort of about two
or three weeks for some of them might have made
a difference, but they're definitely saying that they feel that
there's more people there. They're seeing a bit more across
the counter. So let's take that stays up.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
You know, when I felt it, and I felt I
could still feel the smile on my face when I
went down and helped out at the Merry Potter Hospice
Strawberry Fair. Oh yeah, you know what I mean. And
the day was beautiful. It was a fry I think
it was. Maybe I don't know what day it was,
but it was everywhere. There was crowds, there was bands, plague,
and there was people wadering out of it.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Hello yeah, yeah, no. And I was down there too
for that event and a lot of people around. But
just I just think, you know, even with some of
the you know that sort of weather that came and
went last week, I did that unveiled that the big
sculpture and white ting you part, the new one, the
big chromium thing, and just the mood was the mood
(02:03):
was positive, even though you know that the sun came
out and then the rain would come. I'm blowing that
someone come out again. People just felt good about something,
things happening, feel positive about the city. So that's good
and long may that last.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
You haven't haven't had any of these obstacles yet, you
know we've talked about before in the show. You've You've
had it pretty good, haven't you. You've had spin bowling
all the time. There's no Joel Garner bowling at you yet,
not so far. But then my second and third interview
with Nick Mills. But I also think I think people
are seeing there's some things happening with you must be
the library opening next to we've got the Avatar premiere
(02:37):
in a couple of weeks time down at Corney Place.
So things like that I think lift the spirit. But
actually people know that there's more people come into the
city and more money coming through the city, and that
that obviously is good as well. And you can't beat
Willington on a good day. Oh, I hate saying that.
Let's start with regional council. The government wants mayors to
effectively take over regional council functions. You've raised concerns about
(03:01):
the treaty obligations under the new structure. What specifically were
you about the treaty rights been upheld under the mayoral
panel when you're there to protect them anyway.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Yeah, I think the main thing is the look the
changes as the govern announced will add a lot to
MEA's workload. So there's that. But the other thing is
by swapping out regional counselors with the meyors. Some regional
councilors have dedicated marty representation, others have marty representation because
they've been elected there. You're not going to guarantee that
with swapping those folks out with the local mayors. The
(03:35):
whole thing about the treaty obligation is the one thing
the treaty said is Mary got to have rights of representation,
voice whatever in relation to land, land issues and their
villages and what have you. Regional councilors do that, City
councils do that as well. So in terms of fulfilling
the obligation of the treaty, we've just got to make
sure that voice and that right representation continues.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Now the government is going to push ahead with us
I don't think Andrew Little is going to be able
to stop us, no matter how powerful powerful he thinks
he is. What safeguards are you personally asking for?
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I think, look when you look at what they're saying,
because it's not going to stop it just putting the
mayors in charge of the regional councilors. Because what they're
then saying is once the mayors are in charge, which
they think will happen in twenty twenty seven, is then
the mayors have to put together a plan. So that's
got to be done by twenty twenty nine. And really
what they want as a proposal for amalgamation, that's what
this is all driving towards. And then so my prediction
(04:29):
is that if all that happens, and I don't.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Do you think you'll go to a referendum? Do you
think the amalgamation will go to a If you recognize.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
It's interesting the policy thing didn't say that that was
required under the local government, that is required. We'll see
what they say about that. They really want to see
that consolidation. And I have to say, in fairness too,
in terms of opposition parties, we haven't the opposition parties
Labor and others didn't say a lot about saying no,
we're going to stop this, So I think this is
probably going to happen. So my prediction is that probably
(04:58):
twenty thirty one will be an election for a consolidated
Wellington local body.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
It's pretty damn exciting, I think. I mean, I pushed
for it since the day I've been in this job
as a Wellington businessman. I want to hold hands with
potty heart Upperhart. I think it's a natural thing to do.
But how strong could we be?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, and I certainly talked it up in that my
electual campaign is something I'm in favor of, and I
set myself the task of getting the discussion going for
Wellington because I think it is I think if we
you know, you just look at we're a region now.
People live in the region. They an't just confined to
their cities. The services need to be organized across the city.
Taky why metro water is a classic example of course
that should happen. Transport's got to be organized on a
(05:39):
region wide basis. You think about why people come to
the region. They'll stay in one place, go to an
event or activity in another. So we should organize, organize
ourselves regional and I think that will have benefits, long
term benefits, financial benefits for every resident. Right it reduces
the cost of local government so.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
More and more at points that getting rid of regional
councils are the best thing to do.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Yeah, and I think the thing for Greater Wellington Regional
Council is of course what happens wide it up. But
then you know, the wided upper councils have a job
to do to They should be pulling themselves together, of course,
and then they should look north to any further amalgamation.
I think Kampity District Council. You know, they've got a
foot in the kind of the Wellington camp foot in
the horde of Fenua Camp. I think they are more
(06:22):
aligned to their north as opposed to their south. And
that means that the four Wellington Metro councils should come
together as a cluster because that makes the most sense.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
And realistically, I mean kapit is a growing area. We
all know, that wealthy area, you know, powerful area. Leave
them beyond their own maybe maybe Sneak and o TACKI
and Levern and maybe a couple of those, but leave them,
let them be because the are still big numbers up.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Yeah, yeah, they only they want to spread their cross,
get the benefits of scale and all the rest of it.
But they, as you say, their interests are more tied
to the likes of living and or takey and things
like that. That that neck of the woods of one
particular in Navera two. So I think there's some logic there.
I think that's where the government is heading, probably without
saying it.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
But and to be fair Labor, you know, I've done
enough interviews on this show to know Labor kind of
liked that idea too. I mean they would thinking there
was definitely no negative towards it with Labor.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
No, no, don't there's no. I don't see any hostility idea.
I think they know they sort of play for it.
If they could do this, could do that. But I
think in generally they understand the logic of it and
the economics of it. This stuff makes sense. It's about
reducing the cost of local government to the people who
have to pay for it.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Do you have any idea how it will work well?
Because this is my interpretation, purely my interpretation. There's twenty
seven thousand people in Upper Hut. They get three councilors
at Upper Hut, there's twenty nine thousand at Lowhart. They
might have four counts. Is that how it will work.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
I'm not sure that's going to be worked out. There
is an expectation there it will be. I think that
the interim stage of the mayors taking over the regional
councils is that each mayor's vote is proportionate to the
population they represent. So and Wellington, the Wellington City Council mayor,
hello me, my vote will be worth more than each
of the other mayor's votes.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
But they're still talk that's actually only going to be equal,
which would be ridiculous.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, the stuff I saw suggested not that could be
a possibility, But I think the government's preference is that
there's a bit of a proportional waiting. We've kind of
done a bit of that with with tiaku Y Metro Water,
where Willington's now got a waiting. They've got three votes,
whereas each of the other ones had one vote, which
is about right. But I meant but also arrange for
(08:36):
the sake of metro Water, arranged so that Willington City
Council doesn't control the organization, because that would make us
liable for all the debts and all their liblity.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Are you feeling okay about I want I need to
take a break, But are you feeling okay about t
tr Q Y? And and do you have you met
Michael Brewster, the CEO.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Michael Brewster yet he was announced last week? But yeah,
and I'm one of the next big decisions that Willington
City councilors to take in the next week or so
is the approving the establishment documents for that. There's a
whole lot the die was cast and a whole lot
of things, So there's not a lot I can do
about that. But we still got to work out some
of the principles around pricing and how they implement that
(09:15):
over time and those sorts of things. So there's still
work to do. In principle, it's a sensible thing to
have one entity managing all the water services, but the
demand or the expectations on them to get the infrastructure right,
do the repairs, upgrades, big investment required. I mean, that's
still there's still a big piece of work.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Are we do you You may not know this. Will
we get a separate bill? Yes, so not even not
part of our rates.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
So it won't so on your rates bill, there won't
be a line. It'll be a separate bill completely coming
from a different address saying here's your water bill.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
So you won't be responsible for collecting that money. Nothing
to do with the council's individual councils. It will all
be done by the water entity in South No.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
I think there's an arrangement and interim arrangement for Winington
City Council to use its systems for invoicing and sending
it out, But that's all the responsible for to j
Q why But what that does do is tell us,
you know, for city councils, when we are doing our
future rate setting, we have to be aware of that
water pricing because that water price is going to go
A price of getting water to your house and using
it is going to go up. So councils when they're
(10:18):
setting their rates are going to have to be thinking
about that aspect of affordability as well as setting the
cost or running the council. So I'm acutely aware that
these things are going to go hand in hand.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yeah, and people are going to think to themselves, on
my rates are the same, but I've actually got a
water bill. It's ridiculous. Andrew Little's in the studio for
his monthly catch up and he is taking your calls
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. He's taking your questions,
not your cause he doesn't want to have a chat. Well,
I don't want him to have a chat with you.
He's having a chat with me. But if you've got
a question, keep it quiet, tight, and I'm sure that
(10:50):
he'll do its best to answer it. Good morning, Ian,
you have a question for Andrew Little?
Speaker 5 (10:56):
Yeah, good morning Nick and Andrew graduations and on your
mail to election. Well done.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Cheers in es.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Firstly, I've got a property which, like many others, doesn't
have a sewage connection, never will have one. It's a
car pack and it's rated base. No sewage that's evating
that council gives it. And all of a sudden this
year I get a sledge levy popped on top of it,
and I find I'm paying thirty percent of the cost
of the sledge plant through my rates or levies or
(11:23):
whatever you call it. So I mean it's all the
same to me at the end of the dare you
pay the money? But the question is why do I
pay anything? At all for sledge of someone else's surge.
I don't know the m sewage all the tapp pubbies
in Tower and London, and Rulier is still paying three
percent the SoC plood. I guess the question is why
and who's it a thirty percent?
Speaker 3 (11:42):
That's a good question, and particularly if the property is
just a car pack and it's a rated non sewage.
So look, I don't have an answer to that except
to say I agree with you that it doesn't seem
to make sense on the face of it. Let me
take that away and find out some more information, and
if there's a way I can get back to you,
then I'd like to do that.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
So so thanks for leddy, and you can email the
Warata City Care and make the address to Andrew and Heill.
I'm sure he'll find out what the hell's going on
with that. Let's talk about Deloitte's report. Deloitte's found the
council significantly overstarts and identified major savings. Now we talked
before you when you were running for me, and I said,
(12:24):
could you make two hundred people redundant? So that was
a pretty good guess, wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Yeah? I think I mean the report it's interesting the
report did a bench topic exercise. They did what they said,
they compared it with sort of cromparable organizations, and there's
kind of their headline figure was they think that it's
overstated by overstaff by three hundred and thirty. What they
didn't say was, you know, for their organizer organizations they
were comparing it to given New Zealand, at least some
(12:51):
councils contract out a lot of stuff so they staff
aren't on their books and now there's a contract and stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
So that's it.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
I think what the report did highlight was a number
of things that can be done more efficiently and cost effectively,
and so there is going to be a question about
about how we achieved that. I know from Matt Price,
of the chief executive, he's already worked on a sinking
good policy. So a whole bunch of vacancies haven't been
filled and won't be filled and the plan is to
keep continuing that until there's a Now with the benefit
(13:20):
of the Delite report analysis is to work out what
we were not so much what we need to do,
the way we need to do it that is a
more cost effective way. Totally in support of that, approach,
and so Matt will be going ahead and doing that. Obviously,
where staff members are concerned, he's got to stay in
touch with them and their unions and so there'll be
a proper process for that. But if we can do
(13:42):
things more cost effectively, then we have to do that.
I mean, Matt Prosser went up a couple of levels
with me. I thought, what a smart u CEO he
put out.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
It gets a respected accountancy firm to come in and
have a look at it. I mean, that's pretty exciting
for rate payers, isn't it the fact that he's even
contemplating doing things like this.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Yeah, he commissioned that before the election, but in since
the Ian one of the one of the groups I've
set up as a group of council as a working
group on looking at the finances of the council and
value for money that's cheered by the diplomy of Ben
McNulty as people like Andrew Companty on it accountant. So
the whole idea is we as counsel, we've got to
(14:24):
get to grips with the cost of counsel and make
sure it's cost effective as possible. So that's what that's
we'll have the benefit of the delete report. Now, working
in tandem with the Chief Executive and this working group,
we are about driving as much cost as we can
out of the council and keeping that downward pressure on rates.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Are you willing to commit to any specific savings before
the next rate count? Are you determined to make this work? Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (14:50):
And I look I tempting as it might be to
put a percentage on it or a dollar figure on it.
I'm reluctant to because I don't look at anything as possible.
I've asked the working group to look at, you know,
the short term gains they can do. There'll be some
long term stuff as well. There'll be stuff that won't
be apparent until not the next thing to doing something. Absolutely,
(15:12):
we've got we've got to take cost out accouncil.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
We have another we have another question coming in, Stepha.
You have a question for Maya Andrew.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Little I do Nick, thank you, congratulations Mea on your
winning the election. My question is based around the proposals
for the scrapping of regional councils, where they're looking at
the voting system with the mayors and how they group
(15:40):
the waitings of that. How do you see that working
for Wellington, because my concerns looking at it on the
premia facy of it is that some councilors could hold
others to ransom or vice versa, getting more what they
want rather than actually looking at the benefit of the
bigger regions. So with the size of Wellington being as
(16:02):
big as it is and some of the issues that
it's got, how can we be sure that that's not
going to hold other councils to ransom being a heartbelly landowner.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Yeah, yeah, that's a good point.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I think.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Look only in the end the once the Meyors take
over the regional council the running of the regional councils,
they've got to put together a plan. That plan end
up ends up having to be approved by the Minister
for Local Government, so there is a bit of a
check and a balance on it. So anything that looks
as if it's it's unfair or exploitative of any council,
or it looks like it's there's an attempt to sort
(16:37):
of exercise a minority veto over what's good for the
region as a whole, I think that'll be pretty apparent
to the minister who will who will then not approve
the plan. So for the mes putting together the regional plan,
they will know that they're not the They're not the
final word on it. It will be the Minister, and
the minister will want to see a fear plan.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Seems like a hell of a lot of ball work.
You've got it. Still us to the new job much
listening to you. The holy hell that's a bit of work.
Does that? Con said?
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Well, that's what it is. I'm a bit of a
glutton for hard work and punishment. So look I'm required
to do it. I'll do it with my colleagues. But
it's not what I thought of when I was standing
for Willington.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Vicky's got a question. Good morning, Vicky, you have a question.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
For our mayor.
Speaker 6 (17:26):
I do thank you. Niche Hello, I'm just concerned or
interested to know when the council is planning to read
give us rate three dates please.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Okay, I wasn't aware that that had not happened, because
it's also tied up with the MSD because they end
up funding that. Again. Look if I don't know what
the details are, but if you contact me at the
Wellington City Council, I'm happy to follow that up.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
For you, Vicky, Thanks very much, Vicky, thanks very much. Meya, Right,
business owners and the public are waiting for answers on
the Golden Mile. People are a little bit more nervous
than they even were beforehand. Where's the review at today, Andrew?
And where at what stage will we actually know exactly
what's happening with the Golden Mile.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
So look, look, the reviews now been approved or commissioned
by the council, so that'll get underway. It'll take some
it'll take a few months to do that. It's going
to be independent. The reason for it is that we've
got news of the latest cost blowout that would push
it up another sixty million dollars. And that's the sixty
million dollars that the council just doesn't have. And I've
been very clear of me, very clear to offices as
(18:35):
indeed I have been to residents and rate paths. The
Council just cannot absorb these sort of out of the
blue big cost increases and cost shocks. So we have
to look at it again. And I know some people
are concerned, well, if we don't do what was originally planned,
we lose the government funding.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
But have you been speaking to the government about their funding.
Do we know where that's at LOK We've raised it.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
I've raised it with and I've raised it with ministers,
and I've had briefings for Amenzi Tatai and they say, look,
these are the conditions attached to it for government funding.
Look part of the review I want to I wanted
to look at as what what if the objectives can
we achieve that that is attached to the government funding,
things like you know, the bus movement and bust priority
and all the rest of it. But what is it
(19:17):
we can do to make it affordable because we just
we just cannot absorb another sixty million dollar blowout and
we're not going to.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
So how can you guarantee us as rate payers that
this is not going to be another drawn out, expensive
exercise or just the review?
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Yeah, I don't want it to be, of course, we
don't want it to be. I do want to give
businesses some certainty too about what's hamening. And look at
the other thing I'm aware of too, only that the
business community to certain it down the Courtney place and
some of them have commissioned their own sort of project
about what a good spruce up might look like, and
that's good. I think everybody says to me, look, we
do need to do something to tidy up Courtney Place,
look at more make it a lot more appealing and
(19:51):
attractive people.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
You know, are you talking about will Respond's reports and stuff,
because it seems to be they seem to be doing
a lot of work down there.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Yeah, they have done, and I think they've they've been
doing some stuff and some of the businesses have gone
behind it. Like a lot of people say, do we
need to do something to spruit it up? People like
getting down to Courtney Place. It is the kind of
the entertainment district. But we can't. We can't do what
we can't afford. And we've just got to We've just
got to accept that discipline now because the only people
(20:20):
who end up paying for that are the right payers,
and they've shouldered enough.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
I remember running into Tim Brown when he was telling
me that we're all going to pay a hell of
a lot more for the water about a year ago,
and he was damn right about that. I mean, he
also said to me that that the people at Wellington
don't realize how much that nightlife economy was worth to
the council and now they don't have that money. I
mean it's quite simple. It's money and money out.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Yeah, yeah, no, no, totally. And that's when when when
the economy takes a dip, the one bit of discretionary
spending that people stop is going out and and you know,
going to shows, having a drink, going out to eat,
what have you. So, uh, that's why what happens with
the economy generally. But the stuff the council can do
to promote and courage investment and well is important too
(21:06):
that it tracks people here. You know. One of the
big targets, big goals we got we've got to grow
the Wellington population. We've been static for seven or eight years.
We've got to change that. We do that partly by
making the city more affordable, partly by having things that
people want to come here for.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
What's your personal view about trying to get I know
a lot of developers are trying to get more people
living in the city. I mean, you know, Ian Castle's
has been doing it for twenty years, and you know
there's other people involved in trying to generate more people
living in the city. What's your own personal view on that.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Yeah, I think that's a good thing I think, and
the more people who are living in the city are
people who want that apartment kind of city lifestyle. That's
a good thing. Those people are living in the city,
they're placing demanding for services, for food, for entertainment on
the city. It's easy for them because the transport is
pretty easy. It's a walkable city, so they can get around.
What goes with that is making sure that we have
(21:56):
the amenities in the city, green spaces, and making sure
the waterfronts and attractive play all that sort of stuff.
That's one of the reasons why I want an Urban
Development Office in Wellington. That's pulling all those functions of
council together that have an impact on the city, so
we actually get some long term coherent planning about what
a great more in a city living looks like, what
(22:16):
we need to accompany it, and for those coming in
from the suburbs that it's easy for them to do
so as well and enjoy the city.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
You seem pretty excited, but I'm going to take a break.
I'll come back to you in a secment. You seem
a lot more fired up even than before you when
you're I think you're enjoying the job.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
So far I am.
Speaker 6 (22:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
You look like you're enjoying a sleep in the last
few weeks too, which helps. Oh, it does, a little
bit of sleep does help. And you've got an email
address for those people too, haven't you? And people people
want to email you? Yeah, thanks, I should have said
so MEA at WCC dot GVT dolling Z send you
your queris and questions there. It'll get done with, but
I'll make sure I respond personally as well.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
There you go. That's just for those people that we
spoke to earlier. Let's talk about something exciting that's going
to happen, the Avatar Australasian Premiere. Are you confident that
will be able to host it? Do you think it'll be,
you know, a big event? And tell us what your
thoughts are, right.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Yeah, no, it is going to be huge. And that
look works already going to sort of tidy up Corney
plays frong enough, not probably to the extent we're like,
but it'll be cleaned up, spruced up and ready to go.
The red carpet will roll down Courtney Place and so
the James Cameron and the and the very stars who
can get here will be part of that and look,
it'll be a big deal. It's a big deal. It's
(23:33):
one of four premiers around the world. So we've got
this one here and that's because a lot of the
work was done in Wellington here and it just said
of underscores the importance and significance of that industry, the
film industry to Wellington and because of James Cameron and
his commitment to Willington Wellington. It's great. We've got their
premier year team. So you know, Wellington City Council is
(23:54):
putting a lot behind it.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
I mean I didn't realize this, but you probably did realize.
We've got a black Caps test match day, We've got
a Tapapa exhibition opening the same day. We've got a
crew ship and down the same day. We're going to
be full to the brim.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
It's gonna be there's gonna be a lot going on,
You're absolutely right. So it's gonna be a lot of
people in town visiting town. So look, things will be
at a premium and we've got to make sure too
that people don't all crowd into town with the cars.
We've got to work out with public transport how we
can move people around so that they don't all sort
of trying to eat up the dwinning a number of
(24:31):
parking spaces in the city. We'll work all that out,
but it's going to be a big day. The thirteenth
of December is going to be a big day in Wellington.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Right just quickly, because I know that Auckland are getting
all the attention on this, and rightly so, because they're
doing things people living on the street. I mean that's
a problem for Courtney place that we don't want a
World premiere or an Australasian premiere and everyone coming. Are
you Are you part of that conversation with the government.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Yeah, we are, and also with the local agencies too.
I went to a session with the Downtown City Ministry
and they sort of presenting their annual review and annual
report and telling me about the size of the problem.
Murray Eddrid was there also from the Willingness City Mission.
So look, they are working, we're not. I'm looking forward
to catching up with the police leadership very soon about that.
(25:18):
The question I'm asking is is there anything more the
council could be doing. We've got the City Safety Strategy,
We've got people from the council involved in trying to
support and coordinate. If there's anything more that needs to
be done, let us know. And if it's about having
more conversations with central government, let us let us know
that too. But look, that's a constant actual we're going
to have to keep addressing to keep our those people safe,
but it keep our streets looking good.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
We had Elizabeth Lester on the show with her group.
They're also working with Dwell, they're working with it too.
Are you in contact with them?
Speaker 3 (25:50):
And yeah, I've met I've met Liz Lester and look
the housing provider and they provide their wrap around stuff too.
I know the government does have a plan for some
more for government social housing, so we're waiting to see
what that is. But that will be helpful that can
come aboard. But it's that thing. It's that part of
the population who need a roof over the heads, but
(26:12):
they need other support too, and it's making sure that
they're getting access to that.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
But if if we're serious about cleaning up our city
and trying to make all these events, that would be
a monumental moment to try and clean that up.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and work we'll go on that.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Right after a messy year. People want to know that
the ship is steady and wanting the City Council. Everyone
I've spoke to and I've got to be upfront and clear,
have been very positive towards your leadership. They even both
sides of the fence, both the ones that don't like
you and do like your politically, if you know what
I mean. Now you're trying to say things the right way.
(26:50):
Tell me what you how do you really feel?
Speaker 5 (26:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (26:54):
I do feel good and for me it's what I expected.
It's that the effort is just on building the relationships,
So building the relationships with other counselors, working with council
staff and their leadership as well, working with the you know,
the government, central government, working on those relationships, and then
just I think getting out and about and restoring a
bit of confidence amongst the Weddingtonians. And you know, it's
(27:16):
a deliberate effort on my part to get to events
to be seen to be reassuring because there's a lot,
there's a lot positive happening and about to happen. I
think for counselors too, I think it's about letting the
conversations flow. People are going to know, everybody's going to
support everything. People you know people some counselor will be
concerned about other things. Let's have the discussion, but let's
(27:37):
not rip ourselves apart.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Have you have you lost your raggyit you have? You
got want that to happen.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Haven't needed to and that it's not Are you a
guy that does that? No, I'm not. I mean, like
I know, there was an article once the said when
I was at the time I was a union leader,
that I had to sort of controlled anger thing. I
mean then negotiating at a barking table. It's on one thing
when you're in a leadership role, leading a city, leading
a council. I think I have a pretty one of
my one of the characters I have in my mind
(28:03):
offer And is an old TV character from Hill Street Blues,
and it was the pre think Captain Frick Frank Ferrollo,
who was totally unflappable, didn't matter what was that, his
personal life was in crisis, the detectives and the police
officers and his precinct were all sorts of things. He
never ever lost it. He just kept steady. That's kind
of is.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
There a polar opposite to that, because that's what I am.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Well, that's kind of what I have in my mind,
so I don't and I'm not a panicer by nature.
I don't react. Some people criticize me for that, but
I don't reac because I'm often just absorbing. Right, what
is the next best thing to do? And you can't
make that decision unless you keep them cool.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Now, if you don't want to see me angry, you're
going to tell me what this figure the doubtspit on
car parking be, because you'll be teasing us, teasing us,
teasing us. You know, it's like being out in the
bar on a Friday night, you know, I know.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
And look, I thought we might have made a decision
by now. We won't. But what I tell you about
it's about the motorcycle parking charges. I just asked counsel
officers to have a look at I'm not convinced of
the economics of it. You know, a dollar an hour
or something that the the effort and cost and collecting
and and enforcing it. I don't think it's going to
make sense, so I ask counsel officers to have a
(29:10):
look at it with a view to removing it. I
expect we will make a decision before Christmas. I'd hope
it would be making. I thought it was more exciting
than that. I thought it was the you know, the
good looking girl looking at me across the bar on
Friday night.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
That was that's not that's not that. That was not
that announcement but.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Makes a big difference.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Okay, yeah too, You're right. Sorry motivate cycle riders. But
there might be announcement coming up. You've been teased. It's
twelve minutes to eleven. When we come back, we'll have
a final bit of a rap with wanting to Mayor
Andrew Little. We might even get him to give us
out his mayoralty. Christmas wish is that the word for it? Right?
We were talking with I was talking to the mayor
(29:48):
about something very separate to do you like a good beer?
I love I love craft beat. More about that later
Christmas time. Craft be is perfect for Christmas time. It's
not what do you got planned? What's the family got planned? What?
What do you want to give us a Christmas wish?
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Or plans are? We'll be around and willing to know
over Christmas. Then we're ducking away just before New Year,
up to New Plymouth, catch up with folks. So I'm
going to come back however for the New Year's Eve
event and go back the next day. But otherwise here
there's a couple of sports tournaments in January and Wellington
there's a floorball tournament, International tournament ten countries comparing, there's
a pickleball tournament. I want to be back for those,
(30:26):
so but my message is, look, twenty twenty five has
been tough. Twenty twenty six is looking really promising for Wellington.
There's a lot going on. There's going to be a
lot of activity. So this summer be safe and most
of all, be optimistic about welling to twenty twenty six.
It's going to be a magic year.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Thank you, Thank you for all you've done. And as
I said earlier, you look happy, you look content, you
look positive, and that's what we need from our mayor.
So thank you for how so far. Fantastic job well done.
I give you eight and a half out of ten.
There's no such thing as ten out of ten in
my in my world, there's nothing's perfect. But I give
(31:05):
you an eight and a half half out of ten
for the first three months or two and a half months. Congratulations,
job well.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Done, Thanks Nick, Thank you catch you next year. Well
do you Merry Christmas to you Anie, your listeners, and
we'll see you in the new year.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
There you go, Wellington meyor Andrew. He just seems so
much more relaxed than normally Andrew Little Wellington meor.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
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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