Claim OwnershipWellington Mornings with Nick Mills
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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.
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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Politics Thursday is back with National MP for Wairarapa Mike Butterick and Labour MP Ginny Andersen. They join Nick Mills to talk about the political issues of the week. Starting with the election date announcement - 7th November 2026. What are their plans leading up to it, what are their priorities? Plus, they discuss the state of the health system, what will they do to lower the volume of code reds in Wellington Hospital. There were 575 code reds in 2025, how will the health system cope? We find out what each party will do on Politics Thursday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wellington is buzzing with the arrival of Ed Sheeran tonight at Sky Stadium, but what happens to the city's event scene after he leaves? Nick is joined in the studio by WellingtonNZ Chief Executive Mark Oldershaw to talk the year ahead and our upcoming events calendar. How are we going to continue to bring life and money into the CBD? Mark tells us WellingtonNZ's plans and hopes for the year, and the success of the announced events like the sold-out Ultra Music festival. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week on Music Time, Nick and James give their takes on what makes a summer BBQ playlist. They also play (and judge) the crew's own playlists. What would each of their BBQs look like? - James has the answers on Music Time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nick Mills wraps the year with former Wellington Mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast and legendary broadcaster and journalist Mark Sainsbury. Are we in for a positive turn around with the new GDP growth? They face off live at Prefab, about the outlook going into the new year. Prendergast and Sainsbury then face off on the issues of the week, including the council’s sludge levy mistake. What do they think of it? Should there be penalties? As well as the new merger MCERT and subsequent job losses, McSkimming’s sentence, Avatar, James Cameron’s worries for our film industry and the Phoenix –how are we looking, and what do our guests think of Nick’s idea to move the team to Christchurch. Then it’s Christmas time! What are Sainsbury and Prendergast doing for the holidays plus they give their highlights and lowlights for the year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins Nick Mills live at Prefab for a look back on our economy this year. They reflect on the year that has been, and their hopes for the next year, election year. Why is the Willis v Richardson debate not happening? Is the GDP rise a sign of hope? Nick asks Nicola Willis the big questions. And they get in the Christmas spirit with some gift giving. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nick Mills is joined in studio by National Otaki MP Tim Costley and Labour MP and spokesperson for Health and Wellington Issues Ayesha Verrall. We get into the Christmas spirit with our guests, what’s their plans for their Christmas break and highlight from the year. As well as getting into the political issues from the week like the latest GDP announcement, surplus announcement, Health NZ efficiency targets, M-CERT merger plus the Avatar premiere and James Cameron's concerns about the future of the series. Is Wellington at risk of losing Weta? What will the government do to help? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Promoter and broadcast legend Stewart Macpherson joins Nick Mills in the studio to discuss the Stetson group's new Michelangelo exhibition. The exhibition at Takina opens on Monday 22nd December and offers visitors an experience of the art in the Sistine Chapel, without forking out for flights to Rome. They talk about what people can see from the exhibition as well as the tours from Christopher Longhurst, a former guide at the Vatican. Get tickets here: Buy Tickets - MICHELANGELO - A Different View LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nick Mills asks CEO of Infrastructure NZ Nick Leggett, is M-CERT a good plan? The merger of the Ministries of transport, environment, housing and urban development and the local government's Internal Affairs, will make the new ministry M-CERT. Nick Leggett tells us how this will effect outcomes, productivity and how the future of NZ will look from it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Christmas carols are back with Nick Tansley in the studio with Nick Mills. The Nicks discuss Carols by Candlelight, the vibe in Wellington this Christmas, then live in studio Nick Tansley sings a medley of his favourite Christmas songs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We sent our newsreader Max Towle to interview acclaimed director James Cameron before the premiere of his new film Avatar: Fire and Ash. Max sat down with the legend to ask him about the film, the future of the franchise and what makes Wellington special to him. LISTEN ABOVE OR WATCH BELOW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nick Mills wraps the week with Wellington City Councillor Andrea Compton and Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul. Wellington’s big day approaches – what are Paul and Compton excited for this weekend? Avatar, Te Papa, Cricket, Football, plenty going on in the capital this weekend. They then face off with Nick over the issues of the week, including their thoughts on Andrew Little’s mayoralty, Wellington’s rates, the state of cancer report, the disability carers supreme court case, their hot or nots for the week. Plus, who will win in the potential Willis v Richardson finance debate. And is a social media ban in NZ a good idea? Find out what they think on Friday Faceoff. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For this week's Friday Sport Kick-off, Newstalk ZB’s All Sports Breakfast Adam Cooper and Nick Mills are joined by ZB’s cricket reporter Andrew Alderson to chat about the Black Caps test. What's the vibe at the basin this weekend, Alderson tells us all about the last few days, and how the coming ones are looking. Adam and Nick also discuss the Hurricanes. What will Gillies bring to the team, plus a new coaching addition. And, how will the Phoenix and Saints go this weekend? Find out on this week's Friday Sports Kickoff. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little, chair of the Wellington Mayoral forum, chats with Nick Mills to discuss talks of amalgamating. Talks between the councils in the greater Wellington region have begun, Nick asks when will it happen and what is the latest update on progress. Mayor Little also discusses the upcoming premiere of Avatar, and the big weekend Wellington has coming up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On Politics Thursday this week Nick Mills was joined by Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick and Labour MP and spokesperson for health Ayesha Verrall. They discussed the potential for NZ to follow Australia in banning social media for under 16s and other regulations. Verrall and Butterick then hit the other big political news of the week including Coster blaming Mark Mitchell and Chris Hipkins for getting McSkimming too late, as well as RMA changes and ACC going back on working from home orders. Also, they give their take on who will win the financial debate between Nicola Willis and Ruth Richardson. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Singer Frankie Stevens joins Nick Mills in the studio for a chat before his event at Carols in the Park at Harcourt Park in Upper Hutt this Saturday. Then we are treated to his rendition of Blue Christmas - live in the studio. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
New Hurricanes Rugby Chair Malcolm Gillies joins Nick Mills on the show to discuss his plans for bringing the Hurricanes back from financial despair. Yesterday it was announced that Gillies will take over as Chair with a 50% stake in the team. Nick asks what his plans are for changing the team for the better. More visibility in the community? Changes to the cities stadiums? Gillies shares his plans. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week on music time, Nick and James showcase a local songwriting talent with a connection to one of the biggest music superstars of a generation. They also go deep down the rabbit hole with some of the oddest and kooky Christmas tunes from around the world. As well as James' top Christmas song at the moment. LISTEN ABOVE Listen to Ali Whitton's music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2UWB732JnsuIC2YKluorqBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For the Business Panel this week, Nick chats to two business owners who have moved from the CBD out to Khandallah to see how is business better out in the suburbs? Nick is joined by Julie Gubbs from Gubbs Shoes and Sheila Murray-Hamilton from Hamilton & Murray Boutique. They discuss their businesses, what they do, and how it’s going at the moment out in Khandallah. What was the tipping point that made them move out? Would they move back to the CBD? Have things changed in the city since they’ve had their businesses? They also gave their advice on starting businesses in Wellington, how to keep up with the trends and the difference between local small businesses and chain operations. Sheila and Julie also give their take on the government and council from a small business perspective. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nick Mills wraps the week with former WCC Councillor and Infratil chairman Tim Brown and Regional Councillor, photographer and former WCC Councillor Simon Woolf. Is hey an okay introduction over email? What do they think of the RMA reform changes for local government? How’s Matt Prosser doing as WCC CEO? Brown and Woolf face off with Nick over the issues of the week, including their thoughts on the Deloitte's report – and Brown’s doubts. Plus, their hot and nots from the week. And amalgamation, is the RMA leading there? They discuss how this would work and what they think should be done? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For this week's Friday Sport Kick-off, Newstalk ZB’s sport gurus Adam Cooper and Jason Pine join Nick to discuss the latest in sport this week. With excitement building for Phoenix and Auckland FC Derby game, they talk about their predictions for tomorrow, plus chat about the next T20 They also discuss the Tokomanawa Queens upcoming game in Porirua this weekend, and their gift giving initiative for the Kindness collective. Bring an unwrapped toy and get free entry to the game. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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