Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

How's business going in the Hutt, and how is the second-hand car market holding up in the face of a recession? Those were some of the questions for the business panel this week, consisting of Mexted Motors' dealer principal Mark Munkittrick and Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce chief executive Patrick McKibbin. The pair joined Adam Cooper to talk through their businesses, as well as the budget, Wellington's population and asset sales. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was an eventful Sunday night in Levin over the weekend, with hundreds of young people taking to the streets to watch illegal burnouts on the main drag. Police responded, arresting two people and impounding six cars - but two officers were injured in the process. Otaki MP Tim Costley, whose electorate also covers Levin, joined Adam Cooper to talk about the offending. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has broadly delivered what she promised on the election campaign trail, with millions of New Zealanders in line for a tax cut - some small, some a bit bigger. To talk through this week's budget, as well as other Wellington issues, Nick was joined by former United Future leader and former revenue minister Peter Dunne and Infometrics chief executive and economist Brad Olsen. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby had its long-awaited governance vote this week, and this weekend sees two top-of-the-table Super Rugby clashes. Newstalk ZB's Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and Wellington's All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills to talk all things sport. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former US President and current Republican nominee Donald Trump has been found guilty of 34 charges at the conclusion of his hush money trial in New York. Jurors convicted Trump on all 34 counts after deliberating for 9.5 hours. Judge Juan Merchan has set the former president’s sentencing for July 11, just days before Republicans are set to select him as 2024 nominee. Trump, talking to media after the decision, called the guilty verdicts “a disgrace”. Newstalk ZB's US correspondent Dan Mitchinson joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills just minutes after the verdicts were read, to talk through what this means for Trump and the upcoming presidential election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just three hours before the coalition government's first budget was unveiled, two politicians came in to debate what might be in it, and the other political issues of the week. Nick was joined by a Wellington Mornings newbie, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk, and Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION Now if you’re anything like me, you hate filling out the census. There's something about filling it out that makes you think you're giving away too much information. Soon you've got people knocking on your door making sure you fill it out. It's a giant pain in the backside. But I understand that the census is an important piece of data for the government to use to determine where the money goes. Well the results of the 2023 census came out yesterday and there was one pretty shocking result for Wellington. Try and think of something Wellington and the Chatham Islands have in common. Very little, you would have thought. Well, it was revealed yesterday that the only two places in the country where the population didn’t grow by a single person were Wellington City and the Chatham Islands. Not a single extra person since the census in 2018. Can you believe that? In actual fact, Wellington’s population dropped by 48 people. We’re smaller than we were in 2018. And if you think of the hundreds of thousands of immigrants that have arrived in New Zealand since 2018, it seems crazy that this city hasn’t grown at all. And we all know why. Wellington is nothing like it used to be. Right now I actually think I’d prefer to live on the Chatham islands. I jest... Regionally Wellington's growth is lagging behind the rest of the country. While Wellington City didn’t grow at all, the Wellington region had almost the slowest population growth rate in the country at 2.8% between 2018 and 2023. It was second only to the Southland region which grew by 2.7%. The population of Wellington region was almost exactly 521,000 as recorded on census night last year. The number of dwellings counted in the 2023 census is up 6.4% to 216,000. Why oh why does no one new want to live in Wellington? Wellington mayor Tory Whanau said people still want to live in Wellington, but housing affordability is pushing people further out of the region… Really Tory? I actually think that people have had enough of Wellington and think there are better options elsewhere in New Zealand. Wellington is in a hole right now. Tory also said it's important to remember that people move in and out of cities all the time. She said she knew anecdotally that people had opted to buy homes out of the city because it's more affordable. Yes I agree Tory, but the reason that people are moving is the high rates, high insurance and high cost of living in the capital city right now. A few interesting other facts; Porirua is the fastest growing city in the region with 5.1 % population growth. Kapiti Coast grew by 4.2%, Upper Hutt by 4% and Lower Hutt by 2.9%. And here's the star of the show, only a small trip over the hill. The Wairarapa is growing significantly faster than this side of the hill with an increase of 9.9 percent in South Wairarapa and Carterton, and 8.3% in Masterton. I get the feeling Wairarapa is the new Kapiti. And Wellington... Well. We have issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby’s provincial unions have convincingly voted through their polarising governance proposal to spark a civil war showdown with the game’s professional players. Newstalk ZB Weekend Sport host Jason Pine has been at NZR HQ all morning, and joined Nick Mills to talk through the result of the two important votes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ferry operator Bluebridge has been warned by the Commerce Commission after over compensation for cancelled ferry sailings. NZ Herald Wellington Issues reporter Georgina Campbell is across the issue and joined Nick Mills for her weekly slot. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand music community woke up to tragic news on Tuesday morning. Legendary Wellington trombonist Rodger Fox has died, aged 71. Music guru James Irwin, who knew Fox well, joined Nick Mills to talk through his legacy, including his time in Quincy Conserve and forming the Rodger Fox Big Band. In March last year, the legendary artist joined Nick for an extended interview, which you can find here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau says a council vote to sell the council's entire 34% stake in Wellington Airport is unlikely to pass. "It doesn't look like we'd have the support for that," she told Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills on Monday. The other option being considered by the council is a partial sale of the council's stake. "It's something I'm looking at proactively." "Of course I am [concerned by it], no one wants to sell the airport, no one wants to do that, but we have to address a very real problem of insurance, or lack of insurance we have." Also, it's halfway through Whanau's term as Mayor, so how does she rate her performance so far? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is set to unveil its first budget on Thursday, and all eyes are on Finance Minister Nicola Willis and her promised tax cuts. What else could be in the budget, and will there be any other surprises? Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills about what we can expect. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our dreams for the Phoenix didn't quite come true... but we got close. What next for the team? And will Rob Penney stay on as coach of the Crusaders? Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills to talk all things sport. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Its Friday again, and time for two Wellingtonians to debate the issues of the week. On Friday Faceoff this week, Nick was joined by Wellington City Councillor Diane Calvert and political commentator Dr Bryce Edwards. On the agenda was Te Pati Maori's comments about Karen Chhour, private parking companies, and whether or not we should charge tourists visiting our national parks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a faceoff between Act leader David Seymour and Labour's health and Wellington issues spokesperson Ayesha Verrall on Politics Thursday this week. On the agenda was comments from Te Pati Maori about Childrens Minister Karen Chhour, the government ditching first home grants, and whether or not Adrian Orr should remain in his job. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Khandallah Pool is still facing the chop, and New Zealand has a midwife shortage... and Wellington has it particularly bad. NZ Herald Wellington issues reporter Georgina Campbell joined Nick Mills for her regular slot. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is the exodus of a record number of Kiwi citizens affecting businesses, and is 24/7 parking for Wellington CBD a good idea? Those were the questions for the Business Panel this week, made up of Capital's Aimie Hines and Brezelmania bakery director Tony Parun. The pair joined Nick Mills to talk all things business in Wellington. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julie Anne Genter is set to return to Parliament this week, as the house meets after a recess week. Her return comes after yesterday's State of the Planet speech from Green co-leaders Chloe Swarbrick and Julie Anne Genter. Also on the horizon is the government's first budget at the end of the month. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills to talk through what we can expect this week in politics. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington is buzzing ahead of the biggest game ever for the Wellington Phoenix tomorrow night, so who better than former All White David Chote to run us through what it means for the team. Joining him for Friday Faceoff this week was Capital director Neale Jones, not a football fan, but excited nonetheless. Also on the agenda was charter schools, gangs, Tory Whanau's meeting attendence and migration. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the biggest game for the Wellington Phoenix in its 17-year history tomorrow night, as they take on Melbourne Victory in the first A-League semi-final. Sky Stadium has completely sold out for the event, making it the biggest home crowd for a Phoenix game ever. Manager Giancarlo Italiano sat down with Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills to talk about the team's successful season, and the semi-final hurdle in front of them. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.