Advertise on podcast: Wellington Mornings 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.

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.

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.

10 days out from Election 2026, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters joined Nick Mills on Wellington Mornings. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 will be offered an appearance on Wellington Mornings before the Election. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wellington's Louis Baker has released his latest album, Trouble, ahead of a tour which includes a stop at Meow Nui later in October. Music reviewer James Irwin gave high praise to Baker's latest work. James and Nick also discussed the upcoming Wellington Jazz Festival. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.