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Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Newstalk ZB

Wellingtonians now have the chance to discuss the issues of the day one-on-one with proud local Nick Mills and have a forum to share their ideas, passions and outrages on a daily basis.

You don't find many people more passionate about the capital than Nick, and he comes to Wellington Mornings after decades of success as the man behind some of the city's leading hospitality and entertainment offerings - Spruce Goose, Hummingbird and the Wellington Saints basketball team just to name a few.

Nick's proud of his city but also knows much can be improved on to make Wellington an even better place, and brings an honest, edgy, fun and engaging show to Wellingtonians each weekday from 9 'til midday.
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  • 54 episodes
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  • Avg 18 min
  • English

Episodes 54

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  • Thursday · 31 min

    Friday Faceoff: Peter Dunne and Stephen Franks with Nick Mills

    In a Friday Faceoff Election special, Nick was joined by former MP's Peter Dunne and Stephen Franks. They reflected on the campaign and gave their thoughts on what may happen once votes start to be counted. The pair also gave their thoughts on the hotly contested electorate seats in the Wellington region. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • Wednesday · 23 min

    Wairarapa Electorate Panel: Kieran McAnulty and Mike Butterick

    Labour's Kieran McAnulty and National's Mike Butterick are contesting the Wairarapa electorate seat for a third successive election. Both have had one term as the sitting MP. The pair joined Nick Mills to discuss their election race, and prevalent issues such as cost of living, transport and funding for Wairarapa Hospital. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • Tuesday · 15 min

    Chris Luxon: National Leader with Nick Mills three days from the Election

    National leader Christopher Luxon is on the road in National's campaign bus three days out from the election. He joined Nick Mills to discuss his past three years as Prime Minister, and what a re-elected National government would mean for Wellington. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • Tuesday · 14 min

    Sophie Handford: Labour's Kapiti candidate in studio with Nick Mills

    A close race is expected in the Kapiti electorate on Saturday, with National's incumbent Otaki MP Tim Costley against Labour's first time candidate Sophie Handford. Handford joined Nick Mills to chat about her campaign. LISTEN ABOVE NOTE: National candidate Tim Costley joined Nick Mills in late October. Listen to his interview HERE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • Tuesday · 22 min

    Nicole McKee: ACT Deputy Leader four days from the election

    ACT Deputy Leader, and Wellington Bays candidate, Nicole McKee joined Nick Mills to discuss the party's bid for re-election on Saturday. They discussed what ACT has achieved in Government over the past three years, and whether the party is concerned about its traditionally low support from Wellington voters. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 29 · 32 min

    Friday Faceoff: Dame Kerry Prendergast and Justin Lester with Nick Mills

    Nick was joined on Friday Faceoff by two former Wellington Mayors, Dame Kerry Prendergast and Justin Lester. They discussed the upcoming election and which potential Governments would be better for Wellington. They also looked at Andrew Little's progress after marking LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 29 · 28 min

    Hutt South Panel: Chris Bishop and Ginny Andersen join Nick Mills

    The Hutt South election race is considered by many as one of the most intriguing of the 2026 Election. National's incumbent MP Chris Bishop, and Labour's Ginny Andersen, the MP between 2020 and 2023, are doing battle for a third consecutive election. Bishop is also fighting for political survival, with polling suggesting he may lose a seat in Parliament if he fails to win the Hutt South seat. Bishop and Andersen joined Nick Mills in the studio nine days out from polling day. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 29 · 11 min

    Chris Hipkins: Labour Leader with Nick Mills on the election race

    Newstalk ZB's Wellington Mornings checked in with Labour Leader Chris Hipkins nine days out from the Election. Hipkins discussed how Labour would rebuild Wellington's economy in the wake of public sector workforce cuts. He also was questioned on his plans if Labour is unsuccessful in the election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 22 · 32 min

    Friday Faceoff: Brigitte Morten and Dr Bryce Edwards

    It's Friday Faceoff and with two weeks till the general election Nick Mills is joined by political experts Brigitte Morten and Dr Bryce Edwards Starting with the news Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni resigned after she attended an event with Mongrel Mob members wearing her Labour-branded jacket. Was it necessary, and how bad will Labour be rocked following this? The Opportunity party is looking likely to pass the five percent threshold - but founder Gareth Morgan has hit out against their land tax, what do our panel think? Is there anything in rumours that David Seymour could be considering stepping down and Paul Henry take his place? Plus, the morals of politicising health, a recap of debates, MP safety, mood of the boardroom and hots and nots. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 21 · 21 min

    Tim Costley: National's incumbent Otaki MP on the Kapiti Election race

    Our Election 2026 coverage continued with a spotlight on the Kapiti electorate, and the close race between National's incumbent Otaki MP Tim Costley, and Labour candidate Sophie Handford. Tim Costley joined Nick Mills in the Newstalk ZB studio to discuss his campaign. LISTEN ABOVE NOTE: Labour's Sophie Handford was scheduled to appear on this panel discussion, but had to withdraw due to a family bereavement. Handford joined Nick Mills in early November - you can listen to that interview HERE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 21 · 15 min

    Midge Ure joins Nick Mills ahead of Wellington show

    Ahead of his Wellington concert at Meow Nui on Friday, Live Aid co-founder and former Ultravox frontman Midge Ure joined Nick Mills to share his memories and inspiration in the music industry. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 19 · 21 min

    Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong with Nick Mills

    The Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong joined Nick Mills on Wellington Mornings, to discuss how the Election campaign has gone so far, and how much they will fight for particular policies in coalition negotiations. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 19 · 32 min

    Business Panel: Nat Woodhall and Hannah Wiles on indieProper

    On this week's business panel, Nick was joined by two Wellington retailers who are hoping to spread the word on the capital's unique independent retail sector. That Was Then, This is Now's Nat Woodhall, and Iris Store + Studio's Hannah Wiles, have launched indieProper, aiming to showcase independent retailers in the capital. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 16 · 32 min

    Friday Faceoff: Thomas Coughlan and Peter Dunne

    With three weeks until the 2026 Election, Friday Faceoff had a strong political focus. Former Cabinet Minister, and long-time Ohariu MP Peter Dunne, and NZ Herald's Political Editor Thomas Coughlan joined Nick Mills in studio. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 16 · 15 min

    WOW CEO Meg Williams in studio with Nick Mills

    Newstalk ZB's Nick Mills was joined in studio by Meg Williams, Chief Executive of World of Wearable Art (WOW), to review 2026. They discussed the event's continued success, the tragic passing in-season death of the show's head rigger Nic Balkum, and the prospects of the event remaining in Wellington well into the future. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 15 · 3 min

    Nick Mills: Why have 31,000 Wellingtonians not paid their water bills?

    OPINION: I've got a confession. I'm one of the 31,000 Wellingtonians who haven't paid their first Tiaki Wai water bill. There you go. I've admitted it. And I'll tell you why. I've got a $1,200 water bill for a business that hasn't even been open for four months. $1,200, For what? I'm still trying to get to the bottom of it. I've also got a tenant who's arguing about paying his water bill. So I've got reasons. I'm not refusing to pay. I'm trying to sort things out. And I'll tell you something else. I feel guilty. Genuinely guilty. And I'm going to get these bills sorted today. But here's what really worries me. 31,000 unpaid bills. $21-million outstanding. That's an entire stadium full of people. Imagine filling Hnry Stadium with Wellingtonians who haven't paid their water bills. And you know what? I actually thought the number would be higher. I genuinely did. Because I know how tough things are out there. I know what businesses are going through. I know what households are going through. And suddenly, on top of everything else, along comes another enormous bill. Now, some people will be like me, disputing charges. Some will have forgotten. Some will be protesting. But how many simply cannot afford to pay? That's the question I want answered. And here's another extraordinary figure: Of the 163,000 bills issued, nearly one in five remains unpaid. And Tiaki Wai tells us that's pretty much what they expected! Well, I'm sorry, but I don't find that particularly reassuring. We've got a water company that needs hundreds of millions of dollars to fix our pipes, and already it's chasing $21 million in unpaid bills. And apparently only about 50 people have entered hardship arrangements. Are we seriously suggesting that only 50 Wellingtonians need help? Look, I understand we have to pay for water. I understand our infrastructure is falling apart. But there's a difference between needing money and sending people bills they simply cannot understand or afford. And I want to know whether this is the beginning of something much bigger. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 15 · 22 min

    Wellington Bays Electorate: Julie Anne Genter, Craig Renney and Karuna Muthu join Nick Mills

    The response to the Moa Point disaster has been the major point of contention during Newstalk ZB's Wellington Bays election panel. Nick Mills was joined by three candidates for the revised electorate - the Greens' incumbent Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter, Labour's first-time candidate Craig Renney and National's second-time candidate Karuna Muthu. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
  • October 13 · 20 min

    Marama Davidson: Greens co-leader in studio with Nick Mills

    Greens co-leader Marama Davidson says her Party could work with anyone, but they're categorically ruling out forming a coalition with National. Opportunity's Qiulae Wong accused the Greens in last night's Multi-Party Debate - of not being open to working with either side. Davidson told Nick Mills on Newstalk ZB's Wellington Mornings the Greens have worked with National on policy in the past, but a formal coalition is off the table. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • Transcript
Showing 1–20 of 54 episodes